Ultimate TV Westerns: 150 Episodes

Another great western collection, a must have now buy before it's too late. John McHugh United Kingdom.

i like this the tv westerns were good

Fantastic video collection for the TV Western Lover in your life. This made the ideal Christmas gift for my father-in-law as it included many of his favourite actors and shows.

There are numerous TV Western collections out there on the dvd praire and all showing real signs of age and neglect. However here is one thats sure to delight anyone who grew up playing cowboys & indians in the 1950's and 60's. Again, the quality isn't too bad considering they haven't been really professionally restored the way most movies are. But remember, when we first used to see them on TV at that time, the TV picture via the old aerial, wasn't always too great either. TV stations before tape, showed these episodes via telecine, that is they physically ran 16mm prints on special movie projectors. Even though the exspensively produced "Bonanza" was the first TV Western to be aired in color, thanks to those RCA sets which the show did so well at selling. The first show to be shot in color was "The Cisco Kid". Years earlier and on a shoe-string budget and with 16mm cameras. The producers were smart to predict that color was coming and gave that particular show an even longer life in syndication. At their height in 1959, there were 48 westerns on the air, mostly half hour shows of course, but they dominated our living rooms morning, noon and night.Let's face it for the money, this collection is a better steal than anything ever taken in one of those endless stage or bank robberies, these oaters are always depicting. And for anyone who grew up after their intial runs and even the many years of syndication, these shows are an education. A look at a perceived simpler time with simpler values!Oh! one other thing pardner -try to get hold of a copy of TV's Western Heroes hosted by Will "Sugarfoot" Hutchins. It's the perfect companion to this set, as not only profiles the shows, but shows the very classic commercials that inter-rupted them. That plus network promos and bloopers. HAPPY TRAILS!

Excellent movie

With the advent of television most US network studios turned to the ever-reliable Western for potential ratings winners. As a kid I was always thrilled by the pure adventure and excitement on offer. Gunfights, pretty girls, clever horses, comical sidekicks and heroic deeds were the order of the day.Watching these shows from a modern perspective makes me realise that there was so much more on offer. With the country starting to examine some of its darker sides we find many shows sympathetically portaying Native Americans with honor and grace. For visual delights it is hard to go past the stunning scenery in early full color versions of 'The Cisco Kid'. And if you think 1950s America was too stuck up to peddle sex on the small-screen, I'll bet more than a few women tuned in to check out the provocative camera angles afforded the Lone Ranger and Tonto. In short, most American studios already knew how to make a good Western and they blossomed under the creative freedom of the small-screen format.Not all of these shows are pure Westerns. The ones set on the early American and Canadian frontiers tend to be some of the better shows on offer. Those set in 'contemporary' times will most likely miss the mark with those seeking real Western adventure - especially the entire fairly pedestrian disc devoted to 'The Roy Rogers Show'.It's a minor quibble. There is simply so much topnotch entertainment on offer at a bargain price that it is a sure bet most will seek out the two companion volumes that have followed so far. Young and old alike are certain to delight in these superb budget offerings from Mill Creek Entertainment.

Great value for the money and history of the western