Tonight's TV: Cheyenne (1955-1963) - A Warner Archive Blu-ray Review

The Warner Archive Collection has a real winner with its Blu-ray boxed set release of the complete run of the Warner Bros. Western TV series CHEYENNE (1955-63).

CHEYENNE was previously released on DVD by the Warner Archive in seven single-season sets put out from 2006 through 2013.

This new Blu-ray set contains 107 episodes on a whopping 30 discs attractively packaged by season. The number of episodes per season vary from as few as 13 to as many as 20.

The show aired in hour-long slots, with the episodes running anywhere from 40 to 53 minutes without commercials; the shorter episodes date from the first season, when CHEYENNE was part of the rotating series shown on WARNERS BROS. PRESENTS. The other series shown under that banner were KINGS ROW (1955-56) and CASABLANCA (1955-56). After the first season the other two WARNER BROS. PRESENTS series came to an end and CHEYENNE received its own solo time slot.

The basic premise of CHEYENNE, a cowboy wandering from place to place in the post Civil War era, is somewhat like my all-time favorite TV show from the same studio, MAVERICK (1957-62). Being made at the same studio, the shows shared similar guest casts, but the lead characters were quite different.

Instead of MAVERICK's sarcastic gamblers, Cheyenne is a more noble sort. He's kind and mild-mannered, but if provoked he uses his imposing strength (Walker was 6' 6") and frontier knowledge to help those in need.

Pretty much everyone who guest-starred on MAVERICK appears here, along with some different faces; just a few of the guests seen on CHEYENNE are Kathleen Crowley, Diane Brewster, Leo Gordon, Peter Brown, Adele Mara, Peggie Castle, Mala Powers, Peter Breck, Joanna Barnes, Merry Anders, Pat Crowley, Lisa Gaye, Lee Van Cleef, Phil Carey, Audrey Totter, Faith Domergue, James Coburn, and many, many more.

The first CHEYENNE episode, "Mountain Fortress" (1955), evocatively filmed on location at Vasquez Rocks by Carl Guthrie, is pure pleasure. Robert J. Wilke, a classic Western villain, threatens Ann Robinson, who is caught between Indians and robbers on her way to join her soldier fiance -- James Garner! -- at a fort. It's a good show, directed by Richard L. Bare.

Wilke returns opposite Marie Windsor in the Season 3 episode "The Mutton Puncher" (1957), directed by Franklin Adreon and filmed by Harold E. Stine. I skipped ahead to this episode out of viewing order as it was particularly recommended by my late father not long before he passed, and it did not disappoint. Windsor plays a sheep rancher who falls for Wilke, an ornery cattleman.

Obviously it's impossible for me to watch all 107 episodes quickly enough for a timely review, but I skipped around and watched several more to verify both series and disc quality. (It had been a long time since I'd seen an episode of CHEYENNE!) This is one of the era's top Western TV series, and the episodes, as seen on these Blu-rays, look great. I'm very much looking forward to continuing to watch the entire set over the coming weeks.

The prints are of outstanding quality, complete and uncut, remastered from 4K scans of original 35mm camera negatives. Where possible little extras such as commercial "bumpers" and station logos were included.

The lone substantive extra is an interview with Clint Walker, THE LONELY GUNFIGHTER - THE LEGACY OF CHEYENNE, which carries over from the 2006 Season One DVD release of nearly two decades ago.

I've collected the entire MAVERICK series thanks to Warner Archive DVDs but after seeing the high caliber of this set, I'm hoping that we may see MAVERICK in a similar Blu-ray set one day.

For those interested in other Warner Bros. Western releases of the era, I've previously reviewed the Warner Archive Blu-ray collections featuring THE ALASKANS (1959-60) and COLT .45 (1957-60).

In addition to MAVERICK DVDs, I also reviewed the first two seasons of LAWMAN (1958-62) when it was released on DVD.

CHEYENNE is recommended.

Thanks to the Warner Archive and Allied Vaughn for providing a review copy of this Blu-ray. Warner Archive Blu-rays may be ordered from Movie Zyng, Amazon, and other online retailers.

Tweet