Fans have been hollering for this one for quite a while. Right now, it’s a Walmart exclusive: The Westerner, the 1960 series created by Sam Peckinpah and starring Brian Keith, is out on DVD from Shout Factory. Only 13 episodes were produced (it was up against The Flintstones) — they’re all terrific, and they’re all here. Also included is the Zane Grey Theatre episode that served as the show’s pilot.
Episodes were directed by the likes of Peckinpah, Andre de Toth and Ted Post. Appearing in those 13 episodes were folks like Warren Oates, Katy Jurado, John Dehner, Slim Pickens, Robert Culp, Frank Ferguson, Virginia Gregg, R.G. Armstrong and Dub Taylor — many of them people Peckinpah would turn to time and time again. Lucien Ballard shot three of them. And Brian Keith’s dog, Brown, is played by Spike, who was also Old Yeller. Highly, highly recommended.
50 Westerns From The 50s. 
It was also pitted against the first season of Route 66 in the same time slot. This is good news–too bad they couldn’t have thrown in The Losers and Trouble at Tres Cruces.
it was run on the Westerns channel some years back,very good series going between dark stories and uproarious comedy.Now I want shout factory to bring out the 1966 series based on the Rounders from Max Evans novel
Jim, the Rounders is streaming on Warner Archive Instant. If it comes out, it is likely to be through Warner Archive.
This is good news if you live in the USA but Walmart or Shout Factory don’t ship overseas .Let’s hope that Amazon eventually sell it.
Marvelous.
I read about this series the other day in a previous post comment by Johnny Guitar and ordered it from WalMart. I’ll be picking it up on Tuesday and look forward to seeing it. I love these obscure TV westerns I missed the first time around e.g. The Loner, Tales of Wells Fargo, Laramie & The Guns of will Sonnet,etc.
By the way, Johnny if you are listening – you shouldn’t have to drive 40 miles to another WM – they have a program where you purchase it online they ship it for free to your local WM where you can pick it up
What is the picture quality of the episodes? On a scale of 1 – 10 ? I’ve seen a few of these on youtube and looks like good quality.
Thanks Lyson for the tip. I was so anxious to get this series I wanted to get out and get it the first day it came out. I first watched WESTERNER when TV Land (back in the days when TV LAND was a great old time TV show channel instead of the total waste of time it is today) showed it. They didn’t show all episodes but upon watching it I realized how original and unusual this series was. I love originality and this series was a one of a kind series. I also first saw THE LONER from TV LAND’s good old days and I had the same reaction, this was another highly unusual series with great first class writing and had Rod Serling behind it to boot. So both of these series have been at the top of my wanted list to get all the episodes of. Now I can check them both off the list thanks to these 2 Shout factory releases. Thank you Shout and Walmart!
You’re welcome Johnny! @ Tom Settles – I pick it up Tuesday and will check that night on PQ after work. It’s a great question – some of the old shows in B&W even have amazing PQ e.g. Gunsmoke, perry Mason & some so-so.
In mentioning old shows I missed the first time should also have added Zane Grey Theater & The Dakotas among many others.
I have seen the PQ of “THE WESTERNER” and it is very good.
@TomSettles – was able to watch the first episode last night – which was very good by the way – and thought the PQ was fine. 7 or 8 out of 10 which is a good mark I think. Am looking forward to watching the rest of the series.
OT and probably elitist, but WalMart also has an exclusive on Truffaut’s Fahrenheit 451…Guess that would bring in new customers.
I try to write two pages a day when I’m under contract even if it’s only typing, but The Westerner arrived by FedEx and self-discipline went out the window. This program must have been a soulful bounding leap in the western, and to television, in 1960. A wise, sophisticated, subtle, nuanced and utterly authentic half-hour. Authentic in its thinking. Peckinpah’s mind was a valuable thing. A truly special program. Listen to the commentaries; David O. has rejoined the posse. This set is essential to every westerns collections.