Have DVD Will Travel

'The only way you will learn to not cheat, is by this Gun....'

Wow!

Having only been somewhat acquainted with Have Gun, I was and am impressed with the CBS/Paramount release of Have Gun Will Travel-The Complete First Season. From the opening credits of the DVD with images of Richard Boone, and a silhouette coming at you, to the pistol as the cursor, it is a winner.

Each of the six DVDs is truly enjoyable. Those who have not seen Have Gun for some time or the first time, will be surprised. Richard Boone, as Paladin, a gambler and all-around good guy, from his base in San Francisco, manages to travel throughout the US, righting wrongs, and defending those who need help.

In "Three Sons," he gives his hotel room to a newlywed couple and defends a man against an insanity plea. In "The Silver Queen," he befriends a prospector, only to help his heir, a dance hall girl, defend the will. Other wrongs he rights in these episodes include rescuing a Holy relic, dealing with smallpox, slavery, and a corrupt businessman. His heart of gold, which often led him to trouble, was at odds with his gambling lifestyle. More often, his heart won out.

That I think is the appeal of the show. Richard Boone, in his pursuit of justice for the underdog, used his skills as a gambler and knowledge of the law (and courtrooms) to win against those who sought to harm innocent people. As fast as he was with his wit, he was just as fast with his guns, and just as dangerous with his fists. A friend of mine and I were talking about Have Gun, and he said that in one of the introductions, Boone twirled around, and talked about the gun, and bullets. The speed was as fast as death. The hardened surface knew no boundaries, and often death followed. Your time for final decisions was only the time it took for the bullet to travel from gun to your body. He said it gave him chills, and the episode built on that.

I love the narratorial beginning, with the theme of the show hinted at, then expounded on. A first-rate cast, first-rate scripts, and a first-rate theme that would always drive a point home. It was not the first adult western--Gunsmoke has that privilege--but it is probably the most remembered. From the Paladin business card, you knew that justice was not far behind.

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