Customer Reviews

Lone Ranger Collection

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

The 221 episodes of "The Lone Ranger" were originally broadcast on ABC from 1949 to 1957; and then for many years they played in local syndication. For most of the original broadcast years the series was ABC's most watched piece of programming.

This new DVD set from Pop Flix contains the first 16 episodes (15 Sept-29 Dec 1949) and for some unknown reason episode 22 from the fifth season, for a total of 17 episodes (the same 17 available on last year's Mill Creek Entertainment release so these are probably in the public domain). These sets pretty much render "The Legend of the Lone Ranger" movie superfluous as all three episodes that were combined in 1952 to form the movie are included in these releases.

These early episodes hark back to radio as there is considerably more voiceover narration used as an introduction and to introduce key plot moments.

The series itself was pure kiddie western with clear-cut good and evil distinctions and no romance. The title character (played by Clayton Moore) started out Texas Ranger John Reid. The first three episodes provide the background for his transformation to Lone Ranger status, his partnering with the Indian Tonto (Jay Silverheels), and the taming of his horse "Silver".

There is an unambiguous code of positive morality infusing each episode. The Lone Ranger is totally good but he adopts the guise of evil. While a masked man in the west was normally feared by the good citizens and an Indian was distrusted, the Lone Ranger is feared by those who would do evil. One persistent theme is that when the Lone Ranger and Tonto first encounter an average citizen they are greeted with suspicion, and by the end of the episode the citizen has been convinced of their value. The trademark ending was a secondary character asking the question: "who was that masked man?".

To really enjoy the series you must accept it for the simplistic morality tale it was intended to be. If you don't take it seriously and keep wishing for some self-reflexive campy parody elements you will only get frustrated.

Then again, what do I know? I'm only a child.

While the overall quality of this DVD set is very high, I am curious as to why the end credits with the wonderful "William Tell Overture" of Rossini are omitted in all but the last program of each side. This means that the information on directors, producers, guest actors, etc. is missing on 15 of the 17 programs. Truly "uncut" programs would take us all the way to the end as the original producers intended.

Gift for a friend. So many Lone Ranger movies to pick from, but I knew it had to be the original Lone Ranger, Clayton Moore..a heart throb with the fantastic voice. My friend is a happy camper. Also how could I forget...great price.

We enjoy clean movies, and particularly those that portray the correct role models for our children. Specifically, where Men are Men, Good is Good, and Bad is Bad and is brought to justice. My children don't care that it is black and white film, and they enjoy the stories.

I bought this for my mother who is a child of that era and was feeling nostalgic and is currently bed ridden and unable to pursue her regular activities. She has thoroughly enjoyed reliving her childhood Saturday mornings with the Lone Ranger and Tonto Her 4 year old grandson also enjoys the adventures and she enjoys being able to share a piece of her childhood,teach life lessons and not worry that the content may be inappropriate.The quality of the disc is excellentLone Ranger Collection

This is a nice collection of the classic TV show. It includes the "origin" show. The reproduction is good. These will likely only be of interest to people old enough to remember the original show. By modern standards they are incredibly hokey and provide an ultra romanticized version of the Wild West, including stereotypes of Native Americans that are unimaginable today. The show was noteworthy for its lack of killing. They were, however, quite the thing for kids to watch in the early days of TV. There is some humor value in watching them, but also a rather warm fondness for their simple plots and predictable outcomes.

I have enjoyed the videos that I probable saw when I was growing up. The video quality is not very good while they are watchable they could be better.

great to have lone on dvd at all but this dvd is obviously compressed to some degree because everything moves unnaturally fast. lone speaks too fast. it's not you're not getting the real show. it's compressed at a rate of 130% or something. the episodes open with the full song, the middle ones open with like an abbreviated opening (which is ok because we watch more than one) and don't close with the ending song until the end of the disc so that the episodes average out to 23.5 minutes each so i am thinking for a show from back then it has to be sped up so they could fit more eps on a disc. don't know what disc is better yet, really. the one from cracker barrel i think i remember might be better. the hopalong cassidy volumes don't seem to be so bad. anybody know of a better not compressed lone ranger disc than this one? will post to a discussion on here when i get a chance.

The show were great. I got them in good time.

I am well please with my purchase.

I enjoyed showing my daughter the Lone Ranger, so she could experience what I watched at her age. It brought back many fond memories.