Alicia I love this movie so much

Huievest Instead, you get a movie that's enjoyable enough, but leaves you feeling like it could have been much, much more.

Voxitype Good films always raise compelling questions, whether the format is fiction or documentary fact.

Cheryl A clunky actioner with a handful of cool moments.

Dalbert Pringle For me - "Have Gun - Will Travel" ("HGWT", for short) was a disappointing TV Western (set in the year 1875) which ran from 1957-1963.Overall - I found its main character, a complacent "gentleman" gunfighter named Wire Paladin (played by Richard Boone) to be one of the dullest, driest, most uncharismatic macho-men of the "Old West" that you could ever imagine.Boone's stone-faced character was so annoyingly conceited and way too sure of himself that he totally grated on my nerves, big-time. And, it sure didn't take long for me to completely despise that pencil-thin moustache of his that was forever kept immaculately trimmed.You know - I'm generally a pretty enthusiastic viewer of TV Westerns from this particular era in boob-tube history - But HGWT's stories were so badly conceived that I swear they were making them all up as they went along.

Mark Edenburn As a young boy I remember watching all the classic western TV shows so popular at the time, Maverick, Wagon Train, Cheyenne, and countless others. Some had catchy opening themes, often more memorable than the shows that followed. I always remember "Have Gun Will Travel" in particular because of the insistent opening chords that introduce Paladin and the catchy theme song that became popular as well. However, after recently seeing several episodes on DVD recently, I was struck by the appearance of music cues from Jerome Moross. They are completely unmistakable to anyone familiar with his magnificent score for "The Big Country." Even watching a second rate episode of the series, one can marvel at the simple pleasure of Moross's music. For example, in the season 4 episode "Bear Bait" the story and acting were not up to par with best episodes, but music cues were generally stunning. Something for anyone making a foray into this classic series to consider.

John T. Ryan COMING ON THE CBS Network following GUNSMOKE in the Saturday evening's lineup, HAVE GUN, WILL TRAVEL does present us with something just a little different in a TV Horse Opera. The central theme is that of what is basically a "Gun for Hire"; a theme usually not considered neither acceptable nor positive.THE WHOLE IDEA is effectively turned on its figurative head by the character of Paladin, or Mr. Paladin as "Hey Boy" called him. Instead of grubby, grizzled saddle tramps with no moral compass, he is characterized as a gentleman, former Army Officer, who lives in relative luxury in a posh (for the 1870s) San Francisco hotel.IT IS AT this older version of the Waldorf and being decked out in white, suit or formal wear that Paladin would participate in the obligatory episode opener. When reading a letter about his next proposed job, he would inevitably turn over a copy of his business card, adorned with the now famous Horsehead Knight Chessman symbol. This was accompanied with the musical cue of "duh-duh-duh-duh!" ONCE THIS WAS accomplished, the audience knew that "the Game was afoot!" THE NEXT SCENE, being the first after a commercial break, usually had Paladin arriving in whatever town on horseback. Now clad in his all black outfit, both the viewing audience and the townspeople of "Wherever, USA" immediately knew that he meant business. In order that there would be no doubt of his identity, his hat had a Horsehead Knight Chessman emblem for all to see.ONE ELEMENT OF this series was it was a sort of hybrid. It was a continuing character Western, yet it had its roots in the old Anthology Series concept. Others had also done this, like Steve McQueen in WANTED DEAD OR ALIVE; but non to the extent that this Paladin show did.ONE OTHER PECULIARITY that it appears to have had a monopoly on was that there was also a HAVE GUN WILL TRAVEL Radio Show. That alone is nothing unusual. But here is where it diverges from the norm; as the TV Show came first and the Radio show came later on the CBS Radio Network. It featured John Dehner as Paladin.

tim-1979 In 1974, a Portuguese(!) cowboy from Rhode Island(!) named Victor De Costa won a federal court judgment in his second suit against CBS for trademark infringement, successfully litigating his assertion that he had created the Paladin character and the ideas used in the show -- which were somehow stolen by HGWT's producers. (Rather dubious since HGWT's original concept was that of a modern day globe-trotting detective.) He claimed he began billing himself as Paladin after an Italian man stood up at a horse show and called him a "paladino." He claimed he'd adopted the phrase "Have Gun, Will Travel" after someone shouted it at him while he was on a bucking bronco. At his appearances he always dressed in black, he handed out hundreds of HGWT business cards, and he even carried a concealed derringer. The physical resemblance between Mr. De Costa and Richard Boone was nothing less than striking.Although monetary damages were not immediately awarded, De Costa stood to gain a tidy sum, as court testimony indicated that HGWT had made more than $14 million for CBS (a titanic amount in the 1950's-60's), plus millions more in product licensing. A year later, a court of appeals overturned the lower court, ruling that the plaintiff had failed to prove that the public had been deceived -- i.e., there had been no likelihood of confusion in the minds of the public -- a necessary requirement for a suit over trademark infringement. However, De Costa kept pursuing his legal options, and in 1991 -- more than 30 years after his first lawsuit was originally filed -- he was awarded over 3 million dollars after quietly trademarking the Paladin character and business card in the late 70's. Unfortunately, Mr. De Costa passed away at the age of 83 before he could receive a single penny.(hgwt.com)