Posts by Peridot

Participate now!

Don’t have an account yet? Register yourself now and be a part of our community!

Register Yourself Login

  • Have Gun - Will Travel (1957-1963)

    Quote from The Ringo Kid

    Hi P/ So far I would say the ones i liked best that ive seen are most any after the first episode. They are well written and have a very good set of guest stars and such. Ep 2 w/ Charles Bronson was excellent, and the one following with Claude Akins was good but would have been better had Akins had more of a part in it. I dont remember which one that had Michael pate in it--but that was another very well made episode. Im on Disc 2 now-saw three more today and thought all three were at least a 9 of 10 if not a 10. The last one I saw had James Best, William Schallert in it and it was very well made. If the series gets better? I know ill be a huge fan of it.



    PS, your doing an excellent job posting about each episode-I never thought of doing it that way...



    Claude Akins was in The Mojave Chase, written by the great Gene Roddenberry. He was stepping up from extra roles at the time. There's no information whether he attended RB's acting school.


    The episode with James Best and William Schallert is called The Long Night. It's one of the best HGWT episodes IMO, containing the best acting and the best guest stars.


    :blush: That's very kind of you to say. It's labour of love.

  • Have Gun - Will Travel (1957-1963)

    Quote from The Ringo Kid

    3 more eps of: Have Gun Will Travel. Ill say one thing-this series sure had its fair share of Guest Stars. Ive seen many uncredited (at least in the opening credits in the part (on DvD) where you can go to see who the guest is that episode) for stars like: Claude Akins, Willis Bouchey, and so many others.


    Which did you like best? The first 20 or so weren't the best, except for those written by Roddenberry. The next I'll review is an interesting one with June Lockhart and Grant Withers as guest stars.

  • Have Gun - Will Travel (1957-1963)

    Quote from Gorch

    Thank you Peridot, for taking the time to distill these episodes. Really like your score card stats. Instead of RBIs - runs batted in, we have KBPs - killed by Paladin.



    We deal in lead, friend.



    You're welcome. It's a pleasure to post my reviews where they'll be read. I started out doing these a while back and I stopped somewhere in the first season. I'm glad to have a reason to finish.


    I wrote Hal Needham's son, David, and asked for episode titles where he appeared in the background as an extra. I'm waiting for his reply. I want to be certain to list him in those in which he appeared. I can't always spot him in the saloon crowd but I usually do see him there. I should be hearing back from him soon.

  • Have Gun - Will Travel (1957-1963)

    Quote from The Ringo Kid

    Great suff on he series. Till yesterday, I have never seen any of the episodes-at least in full-except for a few that were played in 1980-81? when there was a channel called: CBN? Christian Broadcast Network, and all they played on Sundays were old Western TV shows and then in the afternoons to evenings-Western movies. I remember starting Sundays out with shows they played 2 episodes in a row of shows like; Sky King, The Cisco Kid, The Lone Ranger, The Rifleman, F Troop, Rin Tin Tin (which I never could get "in to" Wagon Train, Rawhide, and some others. Man I miss those days.


    All I had was a tiny B&W TV back then. Was it 19"? 15"? It was a wee thing. I kept it in the closet and brought it out for broadcasting I needed to see or wanted to watch. Without a den I disliked having a TV in the living room. Now I live in the same house again a flat-screen is less intrusive but I still dislike it. No den, what can one do?


    These days I have a 50" flat-screen in the bedroom. Only my closest friends know about that secret! :wink_smile: Still, I would have brought the babble box out of the (literal) closet for HGWT on Sundays had I but known! Don't tell anyone, but there's a 40" Sony Bravia in the closet right now. :ohmy: Shhh! I won't tell if you won't. :lol

  • Have Gun - Will Travel (1957-1963)

    The Long Night


    written by Sam Rolfe, Herb Meadow


    Here there be spoilers


    A Tight Western Film Noir



    A jealous husband searches for the man he thinks is his dead wife's paramour. With no more evidence than the man's black clothes and colour of his horse, he detains Paladin and two others on the road. Overnight this man insists he will hang all three of them unless the guilty man confesses and submits to one of the three nooses dangling from the tree.


    Paladin, an excellent judge of character, soon solves a part of the mystery. Working with the other accused gentlemen, they fight back and all becomes clear at the end.


    Kent Smith gives a proper dodgy tone to the character of the jealous Louis Strome. Strome is a man who thinks his wife is another piece of property to which he holds title just as he owns his land. At the time a woman was legal chattel under the law as were her children. Treating a woman as such was considered bad taste in good society. Behind closed doors a man could do as he liked, as long as he didn't leave visible marks. Outside good society or with the very rich, as with Strome, the rules were different: there were none.


    When each of the three takes a turn at insisting that he is the man beloved by the dead woman, it's Emmy-worthy. Watch Boone closely when he steps up to be the fall guy for the madman. Was it he in the night, slipping away from her beauty?


    Paladin's Horse: Black with a white star and white boots on its rear hocks.


    Paladin's Gear: Black concha hat, black Western button down shirt open at the neck, black pants, black holster with Colt, a single shot derringer. The spurs are back in this episode, proving that it was shot earlier in sequence.


    Paladin Shoots: Strome's lackeys.


    Deaths: Strome's lackey.


    Paladin Kills: Strome's lackey


    Total Kills: 6


  • Have Gun - Will Travel (1957-1963)

    Show of Force


    written by Ken Kolb and Lee Erwin


    Here there be spoilers


    Do heroes always win?



    Veteran character actor Ned Glass makes his second of three appearances as Bernard, a poker player who tries to cheat Paladin by dumping 50 outdated rifles on him for a wager. Paladin finds a use for them and gets a payday for his trouble. Paladin faces the firing squad with great presence of mind and courage.


    No women appear in this episode. It's very much as the West must have been in certain places: dry and dusty with women thin on the ground. Bechdel Test: Fail.


    This episode has the feel of Gene Roddenberry but he is not credited. In later years he claimed to have been the head writer for HGWT. The producers are on record with the statement that there was no head writer for HGWT. Roddenberry's response was that the staff of writers all worked as script doctors and he did more than all put together. Nevertheless, the plot is extremely Roddenberry-esque, if the word can be forgiven. This is not the only episode that has the flavour of Roddenberry. There are more to come.


    Paladin's Horse: Buckboard drawn by two horses, a borrowed horse belonging to Valdez with wide white face blaze and white stockings on front legs


    Paladin's Gear: Black concha hat, black Western button down shirt, black pants, black holster with Colt


    Paladin Shoots: Martin's minion Russ in shoulder and another nameless minion


    Deaths: Everybody lives!


    Paladin's Total Kills: Manfred Holt, Anonymous Jailbreak Team 3, Miguel Rojas


    Total Kills: 5


  • Have Gun - Will Travel (1957-1963)

    High Wire



    written by Don Brinkley



    Here there be spoilers





    Paladin as Trickster



    Paladin attempts to help a man who has lost his nerve and confidence regain it. Strother Martin is brilliant as Dewey Delaware, a circus performer down on his luck. Someone certainly walked a rope across Salamander Canyon (or another high place) in this episode but it wasn't Martin. It's possible that Martin could have learned this skill. Martin was a championship diver and gymnast in college, according to Dobe Carrey's autobiography.


    Great to see both actors who played the role of Paladin in a single episode. John Dehner (Ben Marquette) was the first choice but he wasn't free to take the role so Richard Boone stepped in. HGWT was the first television series to have a hit radio series after it was a television show. Dehner took on the radio role for the two years HGWT was on the airwaves. At the end of the radio series, Paladin inherited and left San Francisco to go home, wherever that was for him. We never learned his name there, either.


    A treat is Buddy Baer in the role of Bolo, Marquette's large minion. At 6'7" Buddy is little brother to Max Baer and Uncle to Max Baer, Jr. They certainly grew them big in that family! It's not often that RB looks short on the screen, but Buddy Baer makes Boone look like a little guy.


    Paladin's Horse: Stagecoach


    Paladin's Gear: Black hat with concha trim, black Western button down shirt, black pants, black holster with colt, single shot derringer, decorated Western saddle.


    Paladin Shoots: no one


    Paladin Kills: Manfred Holt, Jailbreak Team 3, Miguel Rojas


    Total Kills: 5

  • Have Gun - Will Travel (1957-1963)

    Strange Vendetta


    written by Ken Kolb


    Here there be spoilers


    What's in the box?



    Hey Boy seems to be attempting to discover Paladin's business and employment. Has Paladin removed recently into the Carlton? Is it possible that this episode was filmed immediately after Three Bells to Perdito?


    Strange Vendetta paints a portrait of Paladin's life in San Francisco and some of his activities in town. Unfortunately the plot is weak and the subterfuge is simple to figure out by the sophisticated viewer of today.


    Things are not quite as they seem when Paladin is asked to accompany a body across the border at the request of a dying man. One observes that the stagecoach driver Timmons does most of the defensive firing when the border bandits attack. That seems peculiar within the context of driver and defender. Shouldn't the driver be driving while Paladin defends the coach? It isn't until after Timmons is killed that Paladin begins to return fire.


    Paladin's Horse: Stagecoach and 4


    Paladin's Gear: Tuxedo with ruffled shirt, concha black hat, black Western button down shirt, black pants, black holster with colt, single shot derringer, decorated Western saddle...no spurs, no necktie.


    Paladin Shoots: at Mexican border bandits, Miguel Rojas


    Paladin Kills: Manfred Holt, Jailbreak Team 3, Miguel Rojas


    Total Kills: 5




  • Have Gun - Will Travel (1957-1963)

    The Bride


    by Steve Fisher


    Here there be spoilers


    Sometimes a Damsel Doesn't Have Sense Enough To Know When She's Is In Distress



    At last the series is hitting its stride. RB is settling into the character of Paladin and the writing is improving. Boone knew Marian Seldes from acting school in the east and each was comfortable with the other's acting style.


    It's great to see Paladin's curmudgeonly side when he realises he must disembark from the stage to look after a stubborn woman who insists in stranding herself in the middle of the desert. Christie Smith claims to be plain but actor Marian Seldes is far too beautiful to be considered unattractive.


    The stubborn lady turns out to be a mail order bride and Paladin must see her safely to the ranch of her intended husband. The remainder of the story deals with the solution to the mystery of the man's failure to meet Ms Smith at the appointed place and time.


    Why didn't Paladin step on the tarantula? Why did he have to use the firewood log? Are tarantulas difficult to squash?


    Mike Connors and Bruce Gordon are the ersatz fiance and the real thing, respectively. Paladin helps to solve a mystery for the Bride.


    Marian Seldes was later on the faculty of Julliard from 1967 to 1991. Her students included Laura Linney, Kevin Kline, Patti LuPone and Kevin Spacey. She studied dance under Martha Graham. Boone liked to use up-and-coming new talent as guest stars in HGWT. A review of the list of guest stars indicates Boone had a good eye for talent.


    Paladin's Horse: Bay with crooked blaze and front white stockings on both legs


    Gear: Concha black hat, black Western button down shirt, white tie, black pants, black holster with colt, decorated Western saddle...the spurs have been abandoned.


    Shoots: Johnny Dart (Mike Connors) in the shoulder


    Kills: Not by Paladin


    Total Kills: 4


  • Have Gun - Will Travel (1957-1963)

    A Matter of Ethics


    by Sam Rolfe & Herb Meadow


    Here there be spoilers


    Platinum wasn't generally available for the use or production of jewelry at the very end of the 19th Century. Even then it was a metal used for Kings and Emperors. However, in the Fifties and Sixties it was extremely popular with those who could afford it. Either Paladin had amazing taste and huge sacks of money or the writer had no clue about the history of platinum. Shall we blame it on the writer? True, platinum was discovered in the 18th century. Still, the point of the piece was for Paladin to possess it and to bestow it as he wished later in the series. This is a quibble.


    There's a rare scene inside a train carriage, although Paladin must often have traveled by train to arrive at his destinations so quickly. Stagecoach is his usual manner of transport after the horse. This is not the sole train scene but they are infrequent, perhaps because of staging costs. In later seasons another episode has train car scenes. and one takes place at a train station.


    Paladin is paid by a defendant to make certain he isn't lynched before he comes to his trial. Paladin carries a mysterious carpetbag containing what he says are 'the tools of his trade.' The somewhat weak plot hinges on the contents of that bag.


    Harold J Stone is the accused murderer, delivering a perfect performance. Look for a 26-year-old Angie Dickinson (looking younger) as Amy Bender. Strother Martin is the sleazy attorney Fred Coombs and one of the Jailbreak Team is portrayed by Robert Mitchum's younger brother, John Mitchum. These great actors do their best with what they've been given and they bring grade C material to a B+. Bravo!


    Paladin's Horse: None


    Paladin's Gear: Concha black hat, black Western button down shirt, white tie, black pants, black holster with colt, derringer, 'tools of his trade'= the Mysterious Bag.


    Paladin Shoots: Jailbreak Team 3


    Forgot To Duck: 0


    Paladin Disarmed: 2


    Paladin Shoots: 3 men


    Paladin Kills: Jailbreak Team 3


    Total Accumulated Kills: 4


  • Have Gun - Will Travel (1957-1963)

    Winchester Quarantine
    by Herb Meadow


    Here there be spoilers



    Dude-dressed Paladin disembarks from a stagecoach in a town where two men are fighting in the dirt. The man being beaten is an Indian, Joseph Whitehorse. His horse has been killed by Joe Peavy. Paladin surreptitiously slips his business card into Mr Whitehorse's vest.


    Paladin befriends Mr Whitehorse as he's cleaning up at a spring. Paladin offers him a ride on his spare mount. Mr and Mrs Whitehorse's cattle are dying. Why? Paladin solves the mystery with Science!


    The focus of this tale is bigotry and hatred. McNally hates every Indian he sees because his father and brother were murdered by the Sioux 25 years previously. Mr Whitehorse and his wife are Cherokee and have nothing to do with McNally or his tragic past. Nevertheless, he still blames every Indian he meets for what happened so long ago. The plot is heavy-handed but the message may have required it at the time.


    Paladin's Horse: Dappled with a straight white blaze and white stockings on all legs. Since he came into town on the stage, it must be a rental, because it's not Curley. Perhaps a relative of Curley?


    Paladin's Gear: Concha black hat, black Western button down shirt, white tie, black pants, black holster with colt, derringer, regular Western saddle...no spurs.


    Paladin Shoots: 0


    Forgot To Duck: 0


    Paladin Shoots: Holt


    Paladin Kills: 0


    Total Accumulated Kills: 1


    Paladin Disarmed: 2

  • Have Gun - Will Travel (1957-1963)

    The Great Mojave Chase by Gene Roddenberry


    Here there be spoilers


    Have Camel - Will Race


    There's some humour in this episode as well as a lesson that wrongs can be righted without violence. In the volume of mail that was received by Richard Boone as the star of HGWT, teachers wrote to say that they recommended his series because he spoke proper English with correct grammar.


    A water baron sells precious H20 for $1 per gallon to the denizens of the Mojave desert. Paladin decides this is heinous and solicits the townspeople to employ his services to reclaim their water rights. Paladin bets $5,000 cash against the water rights on himself to win in the race across the Mojave Desert.


    Look for Claude Akins as a henchman for the water baron.


    Goofs: There's an editing error in this episode. When Dever looks out the door and sees Paladin outside he shouts, 'He's dropped the gun!' Then the cut shows Paladin mounting the camel holding the stakes and dropping his weapon.


    Paladin's Horse: A camel, Ezekiel


    Paladin's Gear: Concha black hat, black Western button down shirt, white tie, black pants, black holster with colt, derringer, regular Western saddle...the spurs have been abandoned. The necktie comes off, too.


    Paladin Shoots: At Billy Joe Kane, Water Baron, and his posse


    Forgot To Duck: 0


    Paladin Shoots: Holt


    Paladin Kills: No one in this episode


    Paladin Disarmed: Dropped his Colt


    Accumulated Kills: 1


    Total Kills: 1


  • Have Gun - Will Travel (1957-1963)

    The Outlaw


    Here there be spoilers


    Today's more sophisticated audiences may find the ending is telegraphed, but this one was unusual for its time. The question Paladin asks is 'what's the difference between justice and murder?' We learn that Paladin is a complex character rather than a shoot 'em, plant 'em gunslinger.


    Paladin shows great compassion and humanity in granting the last wish of killer Manfred Holt (Bronson). But can a man change his nature?


    In an interview in the book, Richard Boone: A Knight Without Armor In A Savage Land, Peggy Stewart (Sarah Holt) remembers that Bronson spoke more words to her in character than he did in person. In later years Stewart was formally introduced to Bronson by her husband and Bronson said 'hello' to her at last. Ms Stewart had no memories of Boone by the time she was interviewed.


    The gunfight between the two men is beautifully filmed. The timing is set for them to draw weapons when a drop of water falls from the water pump. The camera angle frames them perfectly. One would expect this scene to appear in a film rather than a 30 minute television Western


    Wouldn't a gunfight would have been better arranged without the horses in the background, liable to be struck by stray bullets?


    Paladin's Horse: Bay with crooked white blaze and two front white stockings (Curley), playing the part of Rafter. Through the first years of the series, Curley is the preferred mount of Paladin.


    Paladin's Gear: Concha black hat, black Western button down shirt, white tie, black pants, black holster with colt, spurs, regular Western saddle


    Forgot To Duck: Shot in the shoulder by Holt


    Paladin Shoots: Holt


    Paladin Kills: 1


    Paladin Disarmed: 2



  • Have Gun - Will Travel (1957-1963)

    Three Bells to Perdido


    Here there be spoilers



    In Spanish perdido means lost...Three bells for the lost is a poignant title. If anyone here is a native Spanish speaker, please correct my syntax.


    Jack Lord, Janice Rule and Richard Boone appear in the pilot episode of Have Gun - Will Travel. The pacing of the episode is different from the rest of the series, as is often the case with pilots. It takes a while for actors to hit their stride with their character.


    Boone's Paladin costume at this point includes a white necktie and spurs. These disappeared sometime during or after the first season. Paladin was one of the television first characters who wore a black hat and drank alcohol who fought on the side of good. Perhaps the necktie was meant to be a clue to Paladin's good character to unsophisticated audiences of the time when the series aired. According to the biography, Richard Boone: A Knight Without Armor In A Savage Land, it had a red pin in it that cut Boone's face when he was riding a horse at a gallop. Boone gave the pin to Johnny Western who later affixed it to his guitar.


    We learn tidbits about Paladin's past in this introduction: he was in the Army, he went to West Point and there was fine bone china in his home when he was a boy. These dribs and drabs are all we get as the series goes on. We never learn Paladin's true name.


    In the veranda fight watch Boone slamming the stunt man face-first into the wall rather than Lord. When televisions were all less than 20 inches across no one could see the subterfuge. It's a hard blow straight into the scenery. Boone was a powerful man who held a boxing title more than 2 years when he was in the Navy. That must have hurt a bit.


    Jack Lord and Richard Boone were good friends. Fascinating to see Boone as the hero and Lord as a villain in this episode. Boone was first asked to play the part Lord took in Hawaii Five-O. Boone was also instrumental in persuading Hollywood to shoot that series in Hawaii rather than doing location shoots in Hawaii and studio work in Hollywood. Boone didn't think he was right for the part and he didn't want to be tied down.


    Paladin's Horse: Dappled grey, name unknown. This horse appeared in the fewest episodes. Was this Mexico, Frisco, or Rudy?


    Paladin's Gear: White necktie, black Western front buttoned shirt, concha hat, spurs, plain saddle, black colt pistol, two-shot derringer, black pants, black boots; no rifle


    Paladin Disarmed: Twice. The first time he immediately retrieved the weapon from his client using his backup derringer. On the second occasion he helped himself to Dave Enderby's weapon.


    Stats


    Forgot To Duck: 0


    Paladin Shoots: 0


    Paladin Kills: 0

  • Richard Boone

    Quote from Gorch

    Peridot, you made me laugh. You mean the caveman approach really works on a woman? I don't think you'd want to be downwind of old Bors.
    Glad you appreciated the photo.


    We deal in lead, friend.



    Only when it's Richard Boone, Gorch. It's what's behind the caveman that counts.


    All through The War Lord, I was wondering what Bors was wearing beneath that bearskin... :wink_smile: I was a naughty wee girl, wasn't I? They made models for action figures. Too bad The War Lord wasn't a hit, I'd love to own a Bors action figure. The original Richard Boone Bors model came up on eBay last month but I couldn't afford to bid on it. :angry: More siding on my stupid house, damn the bad luck.

  • Richard Boone

    Quote from Gorch




    Love a man in a tunic holding a club. Bors is hot. Looks like real bearskin, Gorch. Oooh!


    Heston wrote in his book about RB, 'I didn't know he was going to do it (Bors) like that.' Exact quote, slightly paraphrased.


    It's good he did so. Boone added greatly to the film. Without RB no one would have know the Warlord's wound at the end was fatal. That plot point was perhaps too subtle. There are discussions about it on the IMDB. I had to watch it three times to figure out that bit myself.

  • Have Gun - Will Travel (1957-1963)

    Quote from Paula

    Please post the answer here as I would be very curious to hear her answer. Also if there is anything else you might be willing to ask her about Richard Boone and Ben Johnson... I'd be grateful!



    Mrs Boone is 93 years old. So far I've had more success with Hal Needham. What would you like to know?

  • Have Gun - Will Travel (1957-1963)

    Ben Johnson gave RB riding lessons and RB gave BJ acting lessons. I've always wondered what Boone thought when BJ won his Oscar. I must ask Mrs Boone that question.


    There's a story that Boone claimed that he could make anyone into an actor. When challenged he put up on his claim. He got a waitress from what we'd now call a fast food restaurant (it was a diner) and brought her into his classroom. After working with her for a few hours she acted with him in a scene from a play. The wager was won.