Lovesusti The Worst Film Ever

Acensbart Excellent but underrated film

CrawlerChunky In truth, there is barely enough story here to make a film.

AshUnow This is a small, humorous movie in some ways, but it has a huge heart. What a nice experience.

ejhutchaz As a lifelong fan of Western movies an TV shows,I have enjoyed re-watching this show METV, even with the commercials! Robert Culp created not only a unique Western hero like none before, or since, but also in the choice of weapon, a 1875 Smith & Wesson Schofield break-top revolver, which I was surprised none of the previous reviewers picked up on or mentioned.While the Schofield was quite a popular handgun in the old west, and may even have been used by General Custer, it seldom shows up in the thousands of Western films over the years.That said, this show is worth watching if only to see Robert Culp bring a interesting take on a Western character. Others have already commented on that, to which I only agree.The only negative comment I would make of something was prevalent to ALL the TV Westerns of that era: the use of the obvious FAKE sound stage street, a real bummer!!Robert Culp was one of a kind, he will always be missed.

John T. Ryan AMONG THE MOST popular subjects to center a Western on has long been stories of the highly storied Texas Rangers, incidentally, who were the first State Police department in the Country. We can and will name several series that find their roots in the organization.STARTING WITH THE most fundamental and ancestral to all is THE LONE RANGER; which started out with the cold blooded massacre of a troop of Rangers. The sole survivor becomes the one who dons the mask. TALES OF THE Texas RANGERS, like the previously mentioned series was a kiddie show its origin on the radio also. We even have WALKER, Texas RANGER in more recent times.SO, SOMEWHERE IN the middle, circa 1957-59, we were presented with, for our approval, TRACKDOWN. It starred a young Robert Culp as Ranger Hoby Gillman. He was sullen, humorless and all business. Mr. Culp played him that way to a tee, creating for us the impression that this was his own true personality.THE SERIES' OPENING sported the Flag of the Texas Rangers vigorously blowing across our smallish, B & W TV screens. It was accompanied with opening theme, which we have long since forgotten. We do seem to recall that there was an announcer doing opening voice over.EACH AND EVERY week, Ranger Gillman was out somewhere in solo force, looking for those who were wanted for previous High Misdemeanors and Felonies. In short, the Ranger was serving Arrest Warrants. HJe served many and did it far and wide.OF PARTICULAR INTEREST is one episode which co-featured a Bounty Hunter, who struck an alliance with Hoby. This Boiunty Hunter was Josh Randall, portrayed by Steve McQueen. This is the most significant episode in the series; for it served as the Pilot for McQueen's starring in WANTED: DEAD OR ALIVE.NOW SCHULTZ, DON'T them network execs move in mysterious ways?

Virgil_Hilts_1964 This, along with Wanted Dead or Alive, was one of the better written and scripted of the routine weekly western TV dramas that glutted late 1950s TV.Robert Culp was unique in his character of Hobie Gilman. Gilman looked for the moral justice behind each situation he found himself in. It was not just 30 minutes of chase 'em and shoot 'em.Interestingly, Steve McQueen got his first shot at a TV series by playing Josh Randall on an episode of Track Down. His spin off series Wanted Dead or Alive was also a unique series, and launched another great actor's career.By today's standards, yes, most of the 1950s westerns were formulaic. But if you have the time to catch a group of them for comparison, Track Down stands out. Culp is a great actor, as subsequently shown in every piece of work he did later on.

bux An obvious vehicle for Culp, "Trackdown" was on the cutting edge of the 'adult' western. Culp's character, Hoby Gilman comes off as a hip Texas Ranger-kind of a cross between Sunset Strips Kooky, and Dragnet's Joe Friday! By today's standards, routine, at the time it was must viewing.