Customer Reviews

The Restless Gun

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I'm surprised and quite pleased that this often forgotten 1957-59 western has found it's way to a DVD release by Timeless Media Group. Rugged John Payne stars as Vint Bonner in the "Restless Gun." Bonner travels the southwest trying to live down his reputation as one of the fastest guns in the post-Civil War era. Bonner tries to avoid trouble, but it most often finds him. The set starts out with the 30-minute pilot episode first aired on "Schlitz Playhouse of Stars." Payne is surrounded by one terrific set of supporting players in the pilot -- William Hopper ("Perry Mason"), Michael Landon ("Bonanza"), and Andrew Duggan ("Lancer"). Many TV western icons guest star in the remaining 23-episode set, including Morgan Woodward ("Wyatt Earp"), Dan Blocker ("Bonanza"), Claude Akins, Jack Elam ("The Dakotas"), Ben Johnson, Robert Fuller ("Laramie"), James Coburn, Royal Dano, Edgar Buchanan, and Denver Pyle. The prints drawn from the Universal/NBC archives are not pristine (some streaks, very dark evening shots, specks) but quite watchable. As someone who has collected 16mm prints of numerous westerns over the years, I would grade the overall picture in the set an 8, on a 1-10 scale; the audio is first-rate. Snap this set up along with other TMG/NBC releases of "The Tall Man" (Clu Gulager, Barry Sullivan), "Laredo" (Neville Brand), "Riverboat" (Burt Reynolds) and "Cimarron City" (George Montgomery).

Disc 1

Episode (pilot) Restless Gun
Episode 10 Man and Boy Emile Meyer, Dan Blocker
Episode 11 Cheyenne Express Royal Dano
Episode 12 Thicker Than Water Claude Akins
Episode 14 The Child Dan Blocker, Tony Caruso
Episode 21 Hornitas Town Jack Elam, John Larch
Episode 24 Woman From Sacramento
Episode 26 Hand Is Quicker John Ericson, Gregg Palmer

Disc 2

Episode 40 Jebediah Bonner James Best, Read Morgan
Episode 45 Bonner's Squaw
Episode 66 The Pawn James Coburn, Denver Pyle
Episode 47 Remember The Dead Frank Ferguson
Episode 48 No Way To Kill Ben Johnson, Scott Morrow
Episode 50 Multiply One Day
Episode 51 Paligroso Robert Fuller, Dabbs Greer
Episode 53 Way Back Morgan Woodward, James Coburn

Disc 3

Episode 54 Painted Beauty Ruta Lee
Episode 69 Code For Killer Lane Bradford
Episode 56 Lady And The Gun Mala Powers
Episode 57 Blood of Courage J. Carrol Naish, Lee Farr
Episode 61 Melany Claude Akins, Gregg Palmer
Episode 65 Bluefield Incident Morgan Woodward, Alan Hale Jr.
Episode 35 Gold Star Edgar Buchanan, I. Stanford Jolley

The Restless Gun only aired for two seasons (1957-1959), and was caught up in the glut of Western television programming that occurred in the 1950s. But it is wonderful news that Timeless Media has released episodes of this series on DVD because this is another example of a great show that has not received its due.

The series starred and was co-produced by John Payne, who was transitioning his career from motion pictures to television after a long film career capped by his performance as the defense attorney in the classic Christmas film, "Miracle On 34th Street." Payne played Vint Bonner, a former gunfighter who has retired from the trade and wanders the West. Bonner is more reticent than most heroes to use his gun, and has sensitivity and compassion that is expected from Western heroes, but more fully realized here than in most Westerns.

The series had all the hallmarks of great television - great lead character, great performances, great writing, and great casting. David Dortort, who would go on to produce Bonanza, worked with Payne to include the best supporting actors in The Restless Gun. Perennial Western actors like Jack Elam, Denver Pyle, James Coburn, Claude Akins, Royal Dano, plus some of the actors that would appear on Bonanza, including Dan Blocker, Michael Landon, and Ray Teal.

Payne's Vint Bonner is a thoughtful, decent fellow who is easy to root for, and The Restless Gun merits this DVD release, and a full series release sometime in the near future.

I was much too young to remember this program because it aired from 1957 to 1959. However, just because I don't remember it certainly doesn't mean that I don't enjoy this type of television - and much better than some of the junk aired today!. The 3 disc DVD set features 24 out of the 78 aired episodes. It stars handsome John Payne as the amiable Vint Bonner, former Civil War soldier and hired gunslinger who wanders from town to town in the old west. It is fast paced with good writing, making this program one of the more enjoyable series of it's time. Some of the film quality isn't up to today's standards but considering the film stock is 50 years old, it's kind of to be expected. I can't imagine that anyone in 1957 would have thought that people of 2007 would be watching this so naturally, the film stock isn't as well preserved as, say, a major motion picture. Thanks for making this available and please consider releasing the other 54 episodes.

I was thrilled that Timeless Media video released more 8 episodes of the Restless Gun HOWEVER, who ever chose the episodes thought it was a good idea to include 2 that were already released in the 2007 twenty four episode box set - how stupid is that? One would think that, out of the original 78 episodes of this series (with 54 OTHER unreleased episodes to choose from), that there would be 8 DIFFERENT episodes in this set --- but NOOOOOOO. The 2 that are the reruns are: The Outlander and The Way Back. The NEW episodes are: Ride with the Devil, Lady by Law, The New Sheriff, The Whip, Dragon for a Day and Tomboy.
Still worth the price and it's in a nice tin box.

I almost passed on this item thinking it was a re-release of some of the episodes put out by Timeless on their box set in November 2007.

For those unaware, Timeless have a licence to issue some older NBC material which the parent company would not consider releasing.The deal does not cover prints which Timeless have to source for themselves, usually 16mm.Do not,therefore,expect the crystal clear quality & restoration evident on similar releases from the larger studios.

As mentioned a box set of 24 episodes appeared in late 2007.It seems six more prints have now been obtained & they all appear here,together with two episodes from the previous set.

'The Restless Gun' stars John Payne as Vint Bonner,a slightly weary & wandering ex-gunfighter.His reputation often precedes him & he has to reluctantly call on his old gunfighter skills from time to time.Payne is excellent in the lead & fans of the genre should be entertained.

Unusually this set comes in a tin with an embossed picture on the lid.Inside are two standard Amray cases with the eight episodes.

Picture quality is perfectly watchable and on a par with the previous release.If you have that set you will know what to expect, if not this makes an interesting introduction to the series.

The 77 half-hour episodes (all in B&W) of the television western "The Restless Gun" ran from 1957-1959 on NBC. John Payne (best known as the Santa believing attorney in "Miracle on 34th Street") played the title character whose series name was Vint Bonner. There was also a half hour pilot where Payne's character had a different name (Britt Ponset). 23 of these episodes (including the pilot) are on the new DVD release.

"The Restless Gun" was a big deal back in those days. It had its own Dell 4-color comic book and was part of Topps 1958 set of T.V. Western trading cards. This was the first series for "Bonanza" producer David Dotort. Payne was the show's executive producer.

What distinguished Vint Bonner from the legion of televised loners (Johnny Yuma, Cheyenne, Sugarfoot, Bronco Lane, etc.) who were roaming the range back then was that he was clearly a professional gunfighter (like Paladin) and not just somebody trying to find themselves. He didn't have Paladin's style or fondness for the good life, rather he seemed pretty world weary and disillusioned.

Bonner carried around a special kit that would extend the effective range of his colt. This involved a detailed assembly sequence in which a barrel extension and a rifle stock were attached to the handgun. The idea of a modified novelty gun soon inspired imitators, "Wanted Dead or Alive" and "The Rifleman" in the western genre. But it was the U.N.C.L.E. gun a few years later that was the most like what was featured on "The Restless Gun". The original has been largely forgotten except among toy collectors as a replica was released along with the show's other merchandising programs.

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

Timeless Media Group presents "THE RESTLESS GUN" (1957-1958) (600 mins/B&W) (Fully Restored/Dolby Digitally Remastered) -- The Six Shooter was a 1953-54 radio series created by Frank Burt in which legendary actor James Stewart played the role of the cowboy traveler Britt Ponset --- James Stewart's Britt Ponset was a man with a reputation for having a fast gun but nonetheless a thinking man who didn't reach for his gun first and ask questions later.

The Six Shooter was to become The Restless Gun on television in 1957-58 --- Action film star, John Payne took over from James Stewart, taking the name Britt Ponset with him into three appearances on TV's Schlitz Playhouse of Stars before moving onto a regular TV series, entitled The Restless Gun and with a name changed to Vint Bonner --- Just like Stewart, Payne "narrated" proceedings in a series of stories which were often adapted from episodes aired on radio.

John Payne also produced the TV series (along with David Dortort, who would go on to produce Bonanza) which ran for two seasons and 77 episodes - these were very polished, well budgeted 30 minute B&W western adventures which also featured an interesting array of guest stars: Ben Johnson, James Coburn, J. Carrol Naish, Edgar Buchanan, Jack Elam, William Hopper, Andrew Duggan plus eventual regulars on Bonanza: Dan Blocker & Michael Landon.

Payne was a thoroughgoing professional in every kind of film be it musical or dramatic --- That was much in evidence in The Restless Gun --- It ran on NBC opposite another western show with an actor looking to make the transition to television --- That would be Rory Calhoun in The Texan.

BIOS:
1. John Payne
Date of Birth: 23 May 1912 - Roanoke, Virginia
Date of Death: 6 December 1989 - Malibu, California

Mr. Jim's Ratings:
Quality of Picture & Sound: 5 Stars
Performance: 5 Stars
Story & Screenplay: 5 Stars
Overall: 5 Stars [Original Music, Cinematography & Film Editing]

If you enjoyed my review and love Timeless Media Group releases, check out my review on The Texan The Texan -- and Hopalong Cassidy Tv Series Hopalong Cassidy: The Complete Series (1952-1954) 52 Episodes-- The Gene Autry Show The Gene Autry Show: The Complete First Season (1950-1951) 26 Episodes *Authorized by the Gene Autry Estate*

Total Time: 600 min on VHS/DVD ~ Timeless Media Group ~ (10/30/2007)

I am half way through the series and I am amazed at the quality of acting and the stories presented for viewing. My only complaint is that on occasions the quality of the picture is reduced slightly obviously from the transfer to DVD and the age of the series. But still a great watch and I highly recommend it for viewing by all ages.

Howdy pawdner!
I just watched the dvd with only 8 episodes and loved everyone! This show was brillantly written and should of been in the top of the class! With all the other reviews that have been posted since 2007, one thing is for sure... WE LOVE THIS PROGRAM! Now do it justice and release all 77 episodes and remastered!I hope that NBC Universal would take this into consideration.

I've been hard on Timeless Media for Laramie and M Squad. But in the whole, I'm glad they are out there releasing these old westerns. If you own one set, this is the best of the bunch with Wells Fargo a close second. This has great prints and better than the usual western stories. Probably one of the first westerns to bridge the gap from children's (Lone Ranger) to Adult (Have Gun, Will Travel). But you have to be on guard for every set coming out. Is it going to be great or trash? How about this Timeless? Premier Series (Great prints) and Classic Series (fair to poor sourced prints).