THE GUNS OF WILL SONNETT

I had a favorite TV western in the 1960's.
It was called "The Guns Of Will Sonnett."
It ran for two years only from 1967-1969 and
starred veteran movie and TV star Walter Brennan and
newcomer Dack Rambo. It was one of Aaron Spelling's
first shows ever, which he did in association with 
Danny Thomas.

It was never out on VHS, ever. I never saw it anywhere on
syndicated TV. I had not even thought about
it since the 60's until I ran into a new cheaply put together
DVD set of the show.

I have now watched all 50 episodes, including the last
one https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=62kzX-5v_LE
which wrapped it all up with a finale (very unusual for a
60's show to do). Somebody has just posted some episodes
on You tube, probably just got the same set.

The story of a young man who was raised by his grandfather
since birth and decides to go find his father is definitely
one of the best westerns ever on TV which most people
don't know about. It pretty much disappeared after 1970.

The show gives you a strong feeling for the traditional
Movie/TV "Old West" set in post-Civil War 1870's.
Storylines are intriguing, a bit too rushed for a 30 minute
show, acting is superb and it is amazing to see the then
unknown talent that popped up in the show.
Jack Nicholson, Charles Grodin, Kevin Hagen,
Ellen Corby,

Strother Martin, Dennis Hopper and others including Jesse Pearson who starred in "Bye Bye Birdie."

The DVD set is copied from some edited version put together from
some TV syndication version used somewhere. As a
result, the color is faded and there are clearly a few minutes
missing from each episode. At least 3 times, the editing
makes no sense and you know something was cut out.

The director must have had a friend, because the same
bartender pops up in different towns in different states
many times. 




Opening Card on Season 1
when ABC was promoting
TV shows now in Color.



 It was really enjoyable seeing this lost gem after
so many years. No Brag, Just Fact.

We searched for a man named Jim Sonnett.
And the legends folks tell may be true.
Most call him gunman and killer.
He’s my son, who I hardly knew.

I raised Jim’s boy from the cradle,
'Till the day he said to me,
 "I have to go find my father."
And I reckon that’s how it should be.
So we ride, Jim’s boy and me.

"Once upon a time, or maybe twice, there was an earthly paradise called America"

"Once upon a time, or maybe twice, there was an earthly paradise called America"

This is what America once was like.
Smiling happy citizens could choose from many jobs, corporations looked out for Americans' best interests, police "protected and served," the U.S. Dollar was strong, politicians and U.S. government represented the people's voice and there was a feeling of liberty and freedom in the air.


This is America now.

 














Unhappy sad citizens all look scared, dazed and confused, cannot find jobs because the jobs were sent overseas or they are being replaced by guest H-1B workers, corporations look out for their own interests completely, there is a police state, the U.S. Dollar is worth three cents, politicians and U.S. government only represent the voice of special interests and there is a feeling of fascism and totalitarianism in the air.

50 YEARS AGO THIS WEEKEND - A HARD DAY DAY'S NIGHT

This weekend I did exactly the same thing I did 50 years ago--
I saw "A Hard Day's Night" on the big screen.

 Wilfred Brambell was a popular British TV star when he played Paul's grandfather. He was 52 at the time. Paul is now 72.

Patty Boyd, one of the schoolgirls in the first scene, married George Harrison. She later married Eric Clapton. He wrote a song about her called "Layla."

 

 We thought John was just fooling around. We didn't realize he was "snorting Coke."

Director Richard Lester brought a fast-paced craziness to the film on a very small budget.

Of course, in 1964 I was 11 and couldn't hear a word being said because 2,000 girls were screaming non-stop during the movie. Every time there was a closeup. Every time there was a funny reaction. During every song that was played.

I have seen the movie between 60-75 times. But only 5 times on the big screen.

The one scene with some character depth is when Ringo goes for a walk alone and talks with a 10-year-old boy playing hooky. Ringo says he was stoned out his mind when that scene was done.

When it premiered at the Granada theater, one of Chicago's elegant movie palaces in the summer of 1964, the movie had just been made three months earlier to capitalize on this Beatlemania thing, which the movie studio, United Artists, expected would be a one time fad and gone by the next year.

Only in America and nowhere else in the world, because movies are released as a complete "soundtrack," the instrumental Beatles song scores arranged and conducted by George Martin were part of the album in addition to the new Beatles songs. United Artists, primarily a movie company, had itself the number one album in America without making any effort. Capitol Records was prevented from releasing "A Hard Day's Night" on an album.