Search - The Tall Man on DVD

Worth the purchase price just to see Clu Gulager again

Anthony Caton | Arkansas. USA | 11/10/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is another marvelous set of western shows (also available, "Restless Gun," "Cimarron City," "Laredo," and "Riverboat") issued by Timeless Media Group. "Tall Man" features the always watchable Clu Gulager as "Billy the Kid" and Barry Sullivan as "Sheriff Pat Garrett." While the producers of the series took liberties addressing the relationship between the long-time friends/adversaries, actors Gulager and Sullivan have terrific chemistry on the screen in this 15-episode set. The series would have probably run longer than two seasons, except for two or three reasons. First, is the almost bizarre background music composed and played by Juan Esquival -- really out of place (re: "Shotgun Slade") for a western. Second is the troubling lack of solid guest stars. In this set, very, very few recognizable actors can be found (in comparison -- Morgan Woodward, James Coburn, Jack Elam, and scores of others guest star in "Restless Gun") in supporting roles. I'm also scratching my head because only 1 episode from season one is included in this set. (Could this mean that NBC/Universal did not protect the 16mm stock of season 1?) Picture quality is a solid 8; the audio is quite good. It would have been great if TMG would have interviewed Gulager for the set (he is still very much alive and running an actors studio in Los Angeles).

Episodes

#51 Legend of Billy Emile Meyer
#45 The Woman Julie Sommars
#70 The Frame Harry Townes
#63 Last Resource Robert Wilke, Marianna Hill
#61 An Hour To Die
#60 Rio Doloroso
#43 Item for Action
#40 Where is Sylvia? Patricia Barry
#41 Female Artilary
#44 Judas Palm Edgar Buchanan, Marianna Hill
#57 Saint Louis Woman
#75 Phoebe George MacCready
#54 Apache Daughter Sherry Jackson, J. Pat O'Malley
#3 Bad Company
#58 The Hunt Hank ("Mr. Ziffle") Patterson
"

The Tall MAn

Lynne Avery | Poway, ca. United States | 11/08/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Excellent quality. I very much enjoyed seeing this old western again. Would love to see the rest of the 75 episodes available. I know many who are dedicated to this series. thanks,"

Best TV Western Ever; Clu Gulager Perfect as Billy the Kid

observer22 | 03/25/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Having collected most of the episodes of "Tall Man" and selections from others of TV's golden age westerns, I consider this series the best TV western ever (RIchard Boone as Palladin in "Have Gun Will Travel" is a very close second). Great on-screen chemistry between actors Barry Sullivan and Clu Gulager (perfectly cast as Billy the Kid).

"Tall Man" benefited from strong and varied scripts (unlike "The Rifleman" which far too often depended on the bad guy stranger coming into town) and crisp editing that keeps the action steady but never rushed.

Hopefully there will be other DVD releases for this series because this is not an especially strong selection of epiosdes. Fans of Barry Sullivan (Sheriff Pat Garrett) should search for a mid-1950s series he starred in called "The Man Called X" in which he played a U.S. Treasury Agent. Sullivan also had a memorable guest star role in an episode of the Lloyd Bridges mid-60s one season western "The Loner" and is in one episode of the mid-1970s David Janssen private eye series "Harry O."

If an almost 80-year-old Clint Walker can be included in a bonus interview on the "Cheyenne" DVD, so should the very much still alive Clu Gulager be a part of this DVD.

"Tall Man" had the ability to be humorous at times and if you enjoy that aspect please consider James Garner's late 1950s version of "Maverick.""

NICE TO SEE CLU GULAGER AGAIN

marmar328 | Wood Ridge, NJ USA | 03/12/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This series was one of my favorites growing up. Didn't want to miss a minute of Clu as Billy the Kid. I totally enjoyed watching these 15 episodes, but would love to see them all. I always loved the way he called Pat Garrett "Patrick". The quality and sound was very good. Hopefully some where along the line the rest of the episodes can be found, cleaned up and released.
The casts are small and scripts simple, but these are great to watch if you love old 60's westerns or are a Clu Gulager fan!!!!!"