Who's the "Baddest" TV western good guy?
- Thread starter Fun2Shoot
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Thanks for the thread, guys! I had never heard of "Paladin" before this. I think all we ever had access to as kids was "The Lone Ranger" for a series and any number of John Wayne/Clint Eastwood movies. I do remember "Gunsmoke" but I never watched it.
jm
jm
Leedavisone
Member
I have to speak up again here... as a Paladin fan, I am fairly well sold on his cool and intelligence, but when it comes to realism, one can not ignore some of the others out there. Hopalong Cassidy actually was quite realistic, concerning the weapons. And why not? William Boyd was a SSA collector. Duke Wayne was a shooter, and his later movies (True Grit, The Shootist, The Cowboys) are extremely realistic, with some memorable John Wayne lines about his pistols. So many of the TV westerns were such nonsense... the rifleman (when it comes to weapons), etc. We have such ingrained notions about firearms from such shows...
James T Thomas
Member
having a boy do a man's work
Thanks for mentioning Hopalong Cassidy, Lee. His realism, and the fact that he was a grown; "mature" man made me have much admiration for him.
Even as a child, I recognized this character, though I didn't know until later just what it was that I liked.
The trend in later years was for the bad boy types, which did not have the charisma that the older actors posessed. They just did not have that quality, and the shows had to be carried by writing in more action to keep interest.
Now, it wasn't cowboy era time line, but Sky King was another "mature" favorite.
Thanks for mentioning Hopalong Cassidy, Lee. His realism, and the fact that he was a grown; "mature" man made me have much admiration for him.
Even as a child, I recognized this character, though I didn't know until later just what it was that I liked.
The trend in later years was for the bad boy types, which did not have the charisma that the older actors posessed. They just did not have that quality, and the shows had to be carried by writing in more action to keep interest.
Now, it wasn't cowboy era time line, but Sky King was another "mature" favorite.
Archer1945
Member
Might have missed a post about this. The Rebel was Johnny Yuma and his sidearm(?) was an extremely short shotgun.
Clint Walker, Cheyenne, was an extremely talented actor. Had an excellent singing voice and did a number of Broadway shows. Saw him in the role of Curly in Oklahoma at the St Louis Muny Opera one summer.
I think I'd also have to go with Paladin as the baddest good guy. Not too bad for a guy who originally broke into show business as a dancer with the New York City Ballet.
Clint Walker, Cheyenne, was an extremely talented actor. Had an excellent singing voice and did a number of Broadway shows. Saw him in the role of Curly in Oklahoma at the St Louis Muny Opera one summer.
I think I'd also have to go with Paladin as the baddest good guy. Not too bad for a guy who originally broke into show business as a dancer with the New York City Ballet.
My vote goes to Paladin, or Maverick; and I would have to say it edges toward Paladin.
Now let me ask all of the John Wayne fans: In exactly what television series was John Wayne portrayed as a bad good guy? I cannot rememebr any, but sure would like to watch that series.
All the best,
Glenn B
Now let me ask all of the John Wayne fans: In exactly what television series was John Wayne portrayed as a bad good guy? I cannot rememebr any, but sure would like to watch that series.
All the best,
Glenn B
beaucoup ammo
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Brown's Fan
I had the pleasure of doing a telethon with Ken Curtis (Festus) from "Gunsmoke" in the Fall of 1970. He was the genuine article..really down to earth and a nice guy. Packed his "iron" for the event in full costume..I enjoyed inspecting the "prop" which looked like the real thing.
Always got a hoot out of the exchanges between him and Doc (Milburn Stone)!
I promised the gentleman never to reveal his name, however there's a poster here on "The High Road" who wrote several episodes of "Gunsmoke." Shows to go ya that you never know!
Not a TV series, but I thought Henry Fonda was as bad as they come in "Once Upon A Time In The West." Great flick and Fonda just exuded "bad guyishness!" Saw it in Corpus Christi when it came out in '69. Those were crazy days.. two friends and myself went to see it in an "expanded frame of mind." The movie really had an impact! BTW, it took us 20 minutes to get in the car when it was over..like I say, crazy days..long gone.
I had the pleasure of doing a telethon with Ken Curtis (Festus) from "Gunsmoke" in the Fall of 1970. He was the genuine article..really down to earth and a nice guy. Packed his "iron" for the event in full costume..I enjoyed inspecting the "prop" which looked like the real thing.
Always got a hoot out of the exchanges between him and Doc (Milburn Stone)!
I promised the gentleman never to reveal his name, however there's a poster here on "The High Road" who wrote several episodes of "Gunsmoke." Shows to go ya that you never know!
Not a TV series, but I thought Henry Fonda was as bad as they come in "Once Upon A Time In The West." Great flick and Fonda just exuded "bad guyishness!" Saw it in Corpus Christi when it came out in '69. Those were crazy days.. two friends and myself went to see it in an "expanded frame of mind." The movie really had an impact! BTW, it took us 20 minutes to get in the car when it was over..like I say, crazy days..long gone.
silverking
Member
Of all the names mentioned for the" Baddest" good guy, I am super surprised nobody remembers Will Hutchins as "Sugarfoot". I know this one goes way back, but he was a pretty cool dude.
ryoushi
Member
Walker Texas Ranger aka Chuck Norris. An absolute badass trying his best to be an actor instead of the other way around.
Christopher Reeve didn't fall off that horse. Chuck Norris hates superman.
Christopher Reeve didn't fall off that horse. Chuck Norris hates superman.
mcneill
Member
1. Richard Boone as Paladin in "Have Gun Will Travel"
2. John Russell as ? and Peter Brown (as the young deputy) in "Lawman"
3. Robert Culp as Hobie Gilman in "Trackdown"
Jim
2. John Russell as ? and Peter Brown (as the young deputy) in "Lawman"
3. Robert Culp as Hobie Gilman in "Trackdown"
Jim
One of Many
Member
Does anyone remember the name of the character played by Rory Calhoun, and the name of the show he starred in?
At the beginning of each episode, he stopped his horse at the edge of town, lifted the thong off of his pistol hammer, and eased the pistol in the holster, before proceeding into town.
I think the show may have been titled the gunfighter, or similar to that.
Another TV western star was Dale Robertson; I don't remember what his show was named.
At the beginning of each episode, he stopped his horse at the edge of town, lifted the thong off of his pistol hammer, and eased the pistol in the holster, before proceeding into town.
I think the show may have been titled the gunfighter, or similar to that.
Another TV western star was Dale Robertson; I don't remember what his show was named.
Axman
Member
Rory Calhoun played in "The Texan" but I don't remember the series enough to know if it was the one you are referring to.
Bwana John
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Anybody remember Chuck Conners as Jason McCord in the series "Branded"?
Tommygunn
Member
In THE TEXAN Rory Calhoun played Bill Longley. It is interesting that this man was in fact a real person.One of Many said:
In real life, Longley, also known as "Wild Bill Longley" was a lowlife skummy murderer. He was reputed to be very good with a gun.
One bit of history is that he shot a man in a neighboring hotel room. Reason? The deceased was snoring.
So in real life Longley was far from the hero portrayed in that TV series.
I used to enjoy it as a little kid.
I have a couple of episodes of it on VHS today.
The show as fair production values ... and a dang good music score in the credits.
beaucoup ammo
Member
The "Western Channel" runs 2 episodes of "Bat Masterson" back to back every week day. These from '59 - '60 of late. Gene Barry played the title roll and, while not a "bad" guy, Masterson enjoyed gambling, womanizing and seemed to be a heck of a shot!
Series is interesting in that it gives a little history lesson regarding each plot. More than once, they've had an alternate ending to provide both sides of a story..or the different versions. Not bad for almost 50 years ago.
Series is interesting in that it gives a little history lesson regarding each plot. More than once, they've had an alternate ending to provide both sides of a story..or the different versions. Not bad for almost 50 years ago.
beaucoup ammo
Member
Sam Peckinpah's first (and perhaps only) tv directorial effort..I agree...also like Dave's "Dog!"
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