DVD : Have Gun - Will Travel: The Complete Third Season [1957] (REGION 1) (NTSC)

Rating: - Best TV Western of All Time
I agree wholeheartedly with the previous reviewer - Have Gun Will Travel is a treasure.

Paladin is a character who embodies wisdom, courage and loyalty in equal measures - a role model for our time. His stories are never condescending or formulaic and were penned by writers who went on to create some of the most successful television series and films ever.

I only hope the distributors make the entire series of seasons available.

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Rating: - "A soldier of fortune..."
"...is the man called Paladin."

Many times one has fond memories of the older TV programs. When they are finally distributed and bought, it is a shocker to find that they are sophomoric or just long cigarette commercials. Well this time you will not be disappointed.

Each episode must find a conflict and solve it in an extraordinarily short time. Each with a moral and still maintain the entertainment value. One of the ways this is accomplished is the use of a wide spectrum of writers; many of the stories are adoptions of classics or became classics of other programs and/or movies.

Each episode is accompanied by a synopses of the story, which by the way is very well done and points out the purpose of the story. Also each episode has a small but interesting biography of the main actors.

One of the finer points of this series is that there usually is no clear cut hero or villain as the characters and themes of the stories are as complete as many ancient myths. We can see virtues and faults in everyone and many times there is no such thing as a clear-cut winner or loser.

Paladin (Richard Boone), a well chosen name as on a chess board there are many moves available, lives in San Francisco and most people assumes he has investments all over the west as he is taking frequent trips to protect them. We know different as "Have Gun Will Travel" he makes his fortune on his many skills. Every once in a while we get a gimps of his past as we know he went to West Point and can quote many ancient writings and wars. He has an uncanny way of knowing what the meanings of names are. Yet who ever he really is many people are better off for knowing him. And so are we.

A side benefit is recognizing the list of star (actors) and stars in the making.

This program does not lose but picks up momentum through the first three seasons.