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List Price: $49.99 | | Label: Paramount
Salesrank: 8353
Released: July 25, 2006 |
| Our Price: $36.32 |
| Used Price: $32.72 |
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MPAA Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Media: DVD |
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Editorial Review:
The tale of Gil Favor, the trail boss, as he drives cattle across the old west. Along the way they meet up with adventure and drama.
Rawhide - The Complete First Season Reviews:
Head 'em up, move 'em out 
2009-10-25 - Throughout my childhood my television watching was dominated by two types of show, westerns and secret agents. Have Gun Will Travel, Gunsmoke, Wagon Train, Cheyenne to name but a few were particular favourites but the one which has withstood the ravages of time the most has been Rawhide.
Others will cite the large and looming prescence of Clint Eastwood as a major reason for this durability but for the me the success of this particular show likes elsewhere.
While the typical western concentrated on the wild west aspects of gunslinging, bank robbery, Indians, etc the plots of Rawhide are of a much different origin. To be sure there are aspects of those experiences but the backdrop and textures of Rawhide are much richer and complex.
For example, the black and white views of right and wrong out west are much more of shades of gray with the show. There is a greater degree of complexity involved and differing perspectives. People make mistakes and come to realise that. Older, wiser heads prevail over more hotheaded, reactive ones.
Similarly, Rawhide deals with issues which often would not be deemed worthy in the typical western. there is a greater human touch involved. Often it is easier to understand a perception of fear which engenders violent action as a pre-emptive strike than to see all of the protagonists as men of deliberate action.
The notion of lawlessness is also superceeded by a sense of the growth and limits of the law in the face of challenges, both physical and political, from people who live outside of the traditional lawkeeping forces of military or much later sherrif's personnel.
Character development is another understated aspect of this show where we see the community of trail herders grow with each passing mile. The almost father-son relationship between Gil favour and Rowdy Yates which results in the latter growing from a young hothead to an older wiser and more mature second in command is intersting to observe through passing episodes.
What I am trying to say is that Rawhide takes a broader view of the west than almost every other show and it is that which has sustained it's popularity over the years.
A great series which I am happy to watch over again.
Amazing, timeless television, hands down!
2009-06-24 - Being that I'm only 37-years old, I am in the minority that did not bear witness to the show when it originally aired in '59 up to '66, but I'm glad some 50-years later I discovered this gem of celluloid history.
As Clint Eastwood if my favorite living actor I was naturally drawn to this because, frankly, I'd never seen any of the episodes. It's bad enough modern television can't hold a candle to the old days, but to play the same insipid shows in never-ending loops as stations are wont to do is criminal. I believe the Halmark channel or ME-TV shows the occasional Rawhide but this set is a wonderful addition to the home library. I have never had more than a passing interesting westerns, be in television or big-feature films, but Rawhide is a moment in time gloriously contained on a terrific DVD set. All pains have been taken to retain the original feel while modernizing ever-slightly in the mastering process. I'm also introduced to the great Eric Fleming, Sheb Wooley, Paul Brinegar, as well as a myriad of other cast members that are fun and a part of my psyche now and forever.
I was never a "Bonanza guy" or anything close, but Rawhide just has the feel of real trials and tribulations not saturated in mediocrity or "same-old-same-old" rhetoric. Mr. Fliming as Gilbert Favor, the trail boss, was nothing short of superb and Eastwood as ramrod Rowdy Yates is just drenched with great characterization, talent and honing of skills for future endeavors (anyone not spotting the "Harry Calahan" grimace ten years beforehand in some episodes is missing something amazing). The overall surrounding/supporting cast is so natural and tight that it truly integrates you as one of the drovers; You care about the characters and the plots as if they were your own, the true mark of great television.
I cannot recommend this set any higher than my peers before me have, but thanks for allowing me to spout off, so to speak. I'm so sorry I missed the original run but I forever have it in my personal library and implore all of you to check out what the old west was like for the men who fed our families.
THE COUSIN OF WAGON TRAIN, ONLY WITH DOGGIES
2009-02-11 - The series ran for eight seasons on the CBS network on Friday nights, from January 9, 1959 to January 4, 1966, with a total of 217 episodes, all filmed and broadcast in black and white. It was produced and sometimes directed by Charles Marquis Warren who also produced early episodes of Gunsmoke. Warren based Rawhide on the movie Cattle Empire that he directed in 1958 and for which Endre Bohem was a screenwriter and Paul Brinegar, Steve Raines and Rocky Shahan were actors; all also worked in Rawhide. Its premiere episode reached the top 20 in the Nielsen Ratings. It rose steadily in popularity until, towards the end of the series run, it was one of America's top ten shows[citation needed]. Rawhide was the fifth-longest-running American TV western, beaten only by nine years of The Virginian and Wagon Train, fourteen years of Bonanza, and twenty years of Gunsmoke.
The show had a gruelling schedule, being mostly weekly with a 3-4 month break between seasons. After the first season of 22 episodes, seasons 2-7 were 30 episodes. Often the only way the lead actors could get a break was if they were said to be off on business or whatever. On rare occasions, the show would feature a small number of the actors and some misfortune, maybe in a town, which would give the others time off.
In an early show, the date is given as 1869. It is given that there are 20-25 riders looking after 3,000 head of cattle. Gil Favor revealed this is about the maximum manageable size for a herd of cows. This cattle drive begins in San Antonio, Texas, and makes its way along the Sedalia Trail (Sedalia, the final destination, is in Missouri about 50 miles east from Kansas City). The herd is estimated to be worth about $50-60,000 if sold at market and represents a pool of animals from 200 owners. The Trail Boss carries a considerable sum of cash for all necessities and all possible emergencies. Pay was a dollar a day and often the drovers would go through six months pay in days at the end of the trail, often gambling and drinking all of it away. There were also women to help them spend the money. Riding "drag" was often a punishment since it was behind the herd, so you'd pick up all their dust. Drives had a "Remuda" which was a pool of extra horses since if something happened to a man's horse, he would be no good without an instant replacement.
The episode would be introduced, usually by some words from Gil Favor but sometimes by others. The typical Rawhide story involved drovers, portrayed by Eric Fleming (Trail Boss Gil Favor) and Clint Eastwood (ramrod Rowdy Yates), coming upon people on the trail and getting drawn into solving whatever problem they presented or were confronting. Sometimes one of the members of the cattle drive or some of the others would venture into a nearby town and encounter some trouble or other from which they needed to be rescued. Rowdy Yates was a young hothead in the earliest episodes and Favour had to keep a tight rein on him. Favor was often a hard man and there were a few times when people including Yates mutinied under him after working too hard or after a good tongue lashing. He had to fight some times and mostly but not always, won. Some of the stories were obviously easier in production terms but the peak form of the show was convincing and naturalistic, and sometimes brutal. Its situations could range from parched plains to anthrax, ghostly riders to wolves, cattle raiding, bandits, murderers, and so forth. A problem on such drives was the constant need for water, and the scout spent much of his time looking for it, sometimes finding water holes, even rivers had dried up. In some ways it was similar to the TV series Wagon Train that debuted in 1957.
The series was not afraid to face tough issues. Robert Culp played an ex-soldier on the drive who had become dangerously addicted to morphine. Jesus (Hey Soos) being Mexican faced racism a number of times. There was still anger left over from the Civil War which had ended only four years earlier. The Poco Tiempo episode reveals that Rowdy's father's name was Dan, that Rowdy came from S.W. Texas and that he went off to war at 16. Trail Boss Favor had been a Confederate Captain in the war. There were still Indians about, though often not that wild, some still wanted cattle as payment for going through their land. There were some rough-tough people in the shows and Gil Favor was tortured by having his face held near a fire in one episode. In another, people had "the plague" and guns were used to enforce quarantine. Though towns liked the drover's money, they did not like them coming into town in numbers and getting drunk. There was also cattle rustlers in many different forms.
In episode 67 Incident Near the Promised Land, the cattle drive finally reached Sedalia (for the first time in the series). Unusually, episode 68 continues on from that, where the cattle have been sold and the men celebrate in town and decide on their futures with even Favor thinking of leaving the business. Instead of the usual ending where Gil Favor tells his men to: "Head 'em up! Move 'em out!" and the cattle move off, this episode had the end titles over a view of a Sedalia Street. Episode 69 sees Gil Favor visiting his two daughters, Gillian and Maggie who live with their Aunt Elena in Philadelphia. Episode 70 and a number of the men are back together and heading back to San Antonio about 650 miles away, with a herd of horses (used in the titles instead of cattle). Episode 71 sees a new cattle drive ready to go but the owner of 1600 of the cattle wants to be in charge so Favor reluctantly signs on as a ramrod, but after some problems, Favor is boss against the end of the show. These five episodes made up one storyline instead of the usual single episode stories which could have been set anywhere in the West.
The show featured stage and location. Location was probably not far from the studios and made the best use of maybe 100 cattle. Scenes in camp and situations between men were often stage and though fairly well done with scenery and a painted backdrop, the ground was just too flat to be real.
"Rawhide ... Complete First Season ... Paramount Pictures (2006)"
2009-01-03 - CBS Television and Paramount Pictures presents "RAWHIDE: THE FIRST SEASON" (9 January 1959 - 25 September 1959) (1180 mins/In Glorious Black & White) (digitally remastered in Dolby) -- Rawhide was a television western series that aired on the U.S. network CBS from 1959 to 1966. The show starred Eric Fleming and launched the career of Clint Eastwood --- The series ran for eight seasons on the CBS network on Friday nights, from January 9, 1959 to January 4, 1966, with a total of 217 episodes, all filmed and broadcast in black and white --- It was produced and sometimes directed by Charles Marquis Warren who also produced early episodes of Gunsmoke --- Warren based Rawhide on the movie Cattle Empire that he directed in 1958 and for which Endre Bohem was a screenwriter and Paul Brinegar, Steve Raines and Rocky Shahan were actors; all also worked in Rawhide --- Its premiere episode reached the top 20 in the Nielsen Ratings. It rose steadily in popularity until, towards the end of the series run, it was one of America's top ten shows --- Rawhide was the fourth longest-running American TV western, beaten only by nine years of The Virginian and Wagon Train, fourteen years of Bonanza, and twenty years of Gunsmoke.
The episode would be introduced, usually by some words from Gil Favor but sometimes by others --- The typical Rawhide story involved drovers, portrayed by Eric Fleming (Trail Boss Gil Favor) and Clint Eastwood (ramrod Rowdy Yates), coming upon people on the trail and getting drawn into solving whatever problem they presented or were confronting --- Some of the stories were obviously easier in production terms but the peak form of the show was convincing and naturalistic, and sometimes brutal. Its situations could range from parched plains to anthrax, ghostly riders to wolves, cattle raiding, bandits, murderers, and so forth --- A problem on such drives was the constant need for water, and the scout spent much of his time looking for it, sometimes finding water holes, even rivers had dried up - In some ways it was similar to the TV series Wagon Train that debuted in 1957.
Of all the western characters on TV, these were the only real cowboys, because they drove cows. There were also sheep boys who drove sheep, pig boys who looked after pigs, etc. The name cowboys became a generic name in western films and TV series --- The theme song's lyrics were written by Ned Washington in 1958. It was composed by Dimitri Tiomkin and sung by pop singer Frankie Laine. The theme song became very popular --- It was covered several times and parts of the song also appear in more recent movies like The Blues Brothers and Shrek.-- (From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia)
List of Season, Episode, Title and Original Air Date:
Season 1, Episode 1: Incident of the Tumbleweed (guest stars Terry Moore & Tom Conway) Original Air Date--9 January 1959
Season 1, Episode 2: Incident at Alabaster Plain (guest stars Martin Balsam & Troy Donahue) Original Air Date--16 January 1959
Season 1, Episode 3: Incident with an Executioner (guest stars James Drury) Original Air Date--23 January 1959
Season 1, Episode 4: Incident of the Widowed Dove (guest stars Sally Forrest & Jay C. Flippen) Original Air Date--30 January 1959
Season 1, Episode 5: Incident on the Edge of Madness (guest stars Lon Chaney Jr. & Marie Windsor) Original Air Date--6 February 1959
Season 1, Episode 6: Incident of the Power and the Plow (guest stars Brian Donlevy) Original Air Date--13 February 1959
Season 1, Episode 7: Incident at Barker Springs (guest stars June Lockhart & DeForest Kelley) Original Air Date--20 February 1959
Season 1, Episode 8: Incident West of Lano (guest stars Martha Hyer)
Original Air Date--27 February 1959
Season 1, Episode 9: Incident of the Town in Terror (guest stars Margaret O'Brien) Original Air Date--6 March 1959
Season 1, Episode 10: Incident of the Golden Calf (guest stars Macdonald Carey) Original Air Date--13 March 1959
Season 1, Episode 11: Incident of the Coyote Weed
Original Air Date--20 March 1959
Season 1, Episode 12: Incident of the Chubasco (guest stars George Brent, John Ericson & Noah Beery Jr) Original Air Date--3 April 1959
Season 1, Episode 13: Incident of the Curious Street (guest stars Mercedes McCambridge) Original Air Date--10 April 1959
Season 1, Episode 14: Incident of the Dog Days (guest stars R.G. Armstrong) Original Air Date--17 April 1959
Season 1, Episode 15: Incident of the Calico Gun (guest stars Jack Lord)
Original Air Date--24 April 1959
Season 1, Episode 16: Incident of the Misplaced Indians (guest stars Kim Hunter & Lyle Talbot) Original Air Date--1 May 1959
Season 1, Episode 17: Incident of Fear in the Streets (guest stars Gary Merrill & Bob Steele) Original Air Date--8 May 1959
Season 1, Episode 18: Incident Below the Brazos (guest stars Leslie Nielsen & Martin Landau) Original Air Date--15 May 1959
Season 1, Episode 19: Incident of the Dry Drive (guest stars Victor Jory)
Original Air Date--22 May 1959
Season 1, Episode 20: Incident of the Judas Trap (guest stars Nina Foch, Gerald Mohr & Phyllis Coates) Original Air Date--5 June 1959
Season 1, Episode 21: Incident in No Man's Land (guest stars Brian Keith, Reed Hadley & Mary Beth Hughes) Original Air Date--12 June 1959
Season 1, Episode 22: Incident of a Burst of Evil (guest stars Elisha Cook Jr, Linda Cristal & H.M. Wynant) Original Air Date--26 June 1959
Season 2, Episode 2: Incident of the Roman Candles (guest stars Beverly Garland & Will Wright) Original Air Date--25 September 1959
BIOS:
1. Eric Fleming (aka: Edward Heddy)
Date of Birth:: 4 July 1925 - Santa Paula, California
Date of Death: 28 September 1966 - Tingo Maria area, Peru (drowned)
2. Clint Eastwood
Date of Birth: 31 May 1930 - San Francisco, California
Date of Death: Still Living
Great job by Paramount Pictures and their staff for releasing this long awaited edition with collectible Seasons with unforgettable episodes --- looking forward to more of the same from the rousing CBS Television vintage era --- order your copy now from Amazon their Western Classics -- all my heroes have been cowboys!
Total Time: 1180 mins on DVD ~ Paramount Pictures ~ (07/25/2006)
Rawhide - The Complete First Season 
2008-05-01 - Rawhide was an excellent Western that ran on CBS 1958-1965. This wouldn't have been my first choice for a TV Western though, that would've been Maverick if Warner Bros. will ever release it. Rawhide is a CBS/Paramount product so it's not their fault. Rawhide was the launching pad for Clint Eastwood's career. He had been around for several years acting in movies ranging from bit roles to substantial roles but never actually being in a major featured role. Some of his credits from the fifties include the movies Tarantula & Francis the Talking Mule. Clint Eastwood learned many things while on Rawhide: acting & directing being the main two. It was unfortunate though, Hollywood wouldn't give Eastwood an opportunity to be a leading man, he had to go to Italy & star in three spaghetti Westerns for Sergio Leone before he would get his chance in America.
The TV series actually stars Eric Fleming as Gil Favor, trail boss. Fleming wasn't a household name either, he had also been around Hollywood for a while, not really getting somewhere either. He had starred in some grade C movies but stardom eluded him. It's unlikely that anyone remembers Fleming other than viewers of Rawhide or movie buffs. It's for that reason that Eastwood is more featured on the covers, he is, after all, the most recognizable face from the series.
The DVD set features all 22 episodes of the first (actually a half) season of Rawhide. The picture quality is excellent but bonus material is scant. The bonus material consists of production notes for each episode & a short Clint Eastwood biography, one per disc. Rawhide also featured Paul Brinegar as Wishbone & Sheb Wooley as Pete Nolan,both were good friends of Eastwood who would later use them in a few of his movies. Robert Cabal is in one episode as Hey Soos (which just goes to show that Hollywood was ignorant and/or extremely scared they would offend somebody, it's spelled J-e-s-u-s.). The one thing I found to be odd occured in the final episode. Sheb Wooley had the starring role for that particular episode, "Incident of the Roman Candles". Producers nowadays wouldn't ever have a featured cast member starring in the final episode of the season.
"Head 'em up! Move 'em out!" Rollin', rollin', rollin'....
