Customer Reviews

The Wackiest Wagon Train in the West

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

 

 

We have this "movie" in a 2004 packaging (from Westlake Entertainment Group), which has a different presentation cover than the one shown here. Nearly all of the write-ups, including the DVD jackets, claim this "movie" to be an editing of 3 episodes taken from the show "Dusty's Trail" (which ran only 1 season of 26 total episodes, from 11 September 1973 through 12 March 1974). However, a careful study of the changes and plot shifts show it to be from 4 EPISODES, not 3. These shows, were initially edited for their original TV network airings to run approximately 21-23 minutes, leaving time for commercials, in a full 30-minute time slot. When all of the commercials and credits are edited out, and only one set of opening and newer closing credits are added, 86-88 minutes running time for the "movie" work out to about 21 minutes per sequence, which is clearly evident in the 4 distinct changes in the story lines. The four episodes, as used, in order, within this "movie", are: "Tomahawk Territory" (Episode 8), "Horse Of Another Color" (Episode 3), "There Is Nothing Like A Dame" (Episode 2), and "The Not So Magnificant Seven" (Episode 1).

Now, having hopefully helped to clear up this long-running mistake, we have to say that while the show surely had its own funny moments, and was clearly similar to "Gilligan's Island", the "movie" could have been helped very much by the insertion of a "laugh track", which would have helped the humor and "nudged" the viewers into laughing along. As funny as the "movie" COULD have been, it needed a laugh track!

R. English
Kansas City, MO

If you are a Bob Denver fan this is a great find. It is silly and funny for the whole family.

i have this "movie"(3 episodes of dusty's trail a short lived gilligan's island western clone) as part of a double feature with rescue from gilligan's island and i show it to my boys and they love it. this is 3 episodes not found on the almost complete first season collection. you'll love it or hate it but you will not sit on the fence. if you give it a chance it's silly family fun.

i've reviewed the series in here already but i own this one as a double feature with rescue from gilligan's island. you'll love or hate them but you won't set on the fence it'll be one or the other. i gave this 3 stars because it only has 3 epsoides of dusty's trail which this is tahken from.

"GILLIGAN'S ISLAND GOES WEST" is the best way to describe this alleged "comedy", which is actually several DUSTY'S TRAIL (a deservedly obscure syndicated 70s sitcom) episodes stitched together to approximate a full length feature film. Instead of seven luckless castaways marooned on a tropical isle, it's the same number of folks in a wagon train lost out in the wilderness. Rather than Bob Denver as bumbling, clueless first mate Gilligan, the actor really stretches...this time portraying bumbling, clueless trail scout Dusty. Perhaps Alan Hale was too heavy to stay on a horse, so you get authentic western actor Forrest Tucker as the exasperated, but protective wagonmaster, a cross between the Skipper and his Sgt. O'Rourke character from F TROOP. That underrated frontier sitcom and GILLIGAN'S ISLAND are absolute masterstrokes of genious compared to this. Along for the ride are a stuffy rich couple, with ROOM 222 regular Ivor Francis putting on his best Thurston Howell III face, not to mention an intelligent guy, and a pair of bodacious babes, played by two of the PETTICOAT JUNCTION sisters. The plots are blatant GILLIGAN retreads, the production values laughable (the only thing that is), and the Indians are a far cry from the hilarious scene stealin' Heckowi tribe that infiltrated F TROOP. In spite of it all, the kitsch value and a truly desperate attempt to re-sell GILLIGAN, a show that nobody admits to watching but that's still in reruns after four decades, brings a little smile to my face. The fact that I own THE WACKIEST WAGON TRAIN IN THE WEST on DVD (a double feature with RESCUE FROM GILLIGAN'S ISLAND no less!) speaks volumes about my "so bad it's great" outlook on pop culture.

RATING: TWO BAD

Bob Denver rules in this cute family western.It's a must see!!