alexanderdavies-99382 "Rawhide" is the best Western television series out of all of them - with only "Maverick" and "Wagon Train" rivalling "Rawhide" in terms of popularity. The general public were introduced to Clint Eastwood, after his career had largely consisted of a few bits parts in films. This series would launch him on his way to eventual stardom. In all honesty, Eastwood is the most remembered regular cast member, even though he is billed second after Eric Fleming. That all changed after Fleming left "Rawhide" just before the shows last season. During the making of the series, Clint Eastwood travelled to Italy to make two of his Spaghetti Western trilogy. When those films became box office sensations, his fan mail for "Rawhide" suddenly increased. Lasting over 200 episodes and several years, the overall story concerned a group of herders and drovers who are transporting a huge herd of cattle from one part of America to another. Along the way, they encounter adventures and dangers of all kinds. As a result, their task was frequently interrupted. In some episodes, only a few of the regular cast made an appearance. One example, was when Clint Eastwood is sent to a Mexican village to acquire fresh water for the herders but unwittingly is engulfed in a warm between two waring Mexican families (shades of "A Fistful of Dollars"). He was the only regular cast member and Eastwood carried the episode well. "Rawhide" isn't without a sense of humour by any means. This is supplied by the cook Wishbone and his rather dimwitted assistant Mushy. It is very funny in light hearted moments as Wishbone is usually chastising his assistant for some mistake or other. The series was usually filmed on location throughout and this is very important, otherwise the 50 minute running time would feel heavy- going and laborious. I can highly recommend this show.

janus-20 TCM have just started showing Rawhide every night recently here in the UK and i've never seen it before, even though i'm a big Clint Eastwood fan, so i thought i'd give it a watch.What can i say, i'm totally hooked on it now, i think i held some unfounded prejudices about shows from that era being a bit slowly plotted or not hardhitting or dramatic enough, well i was well off the mark there. The plots are really involving, the way Gil and Rowdy get drawn into these situations is really believable. The moral issues and even social ones that are addressed are always at the forefront of the plots and many are still relevant today. I can see why its been so popular over the years. I'd recommend this to anyone who likes westerns, beyond that i'd say anyone who appreciates moral dramas, thats twice i've used that word now and thats because the central characters have very admirable morals, particularly Gil Favor.I hate to sound corny, but i think its a good point, its re-assuring in a way to see that kind of attitude, in amongst the more "morally questionable" entertainment (that i do enjoy as well) of todays TV."Head 'em up, move 'em out" awesome.

zebulonguy Rawhide was a wonderful TV western series. Focusing on a band of trail drovers lead by the trail boss Gil Favor. Most episodes - especially from the first 3 seasons were really character studies of Favor and his men. Guest stars came and went but unlike Wagon Train they seldom dominated the episodes they appeared in. Rawhide was a true, gritty western and Gil Favor stood out as a memorable character never to be forgotten. Thanks to Eric Fleming's performance the show became a massive hit. Of course he was ably supported by a wonderful cast of good actors - Clint Eastwood, Sheb Wooley, Paul Brinegar, Steve Raines, James Murdoch, Rocky Shahan, Robert Cabal. All of these actors left their mark in a piece of television history. Rawhide captured the flavour of that time of the west that no other series has for me, as yet anyhow, managed to do so. Later seasons tended to split the leads and give them individual story lines. For me some of the time this didn't work - the cattle drive and the regulars provided the best stories. However there were still some classic stories and Rawhide remained top drawer affair. The black and white photography added to a bleak, realistic feel that other western series seldom managed to capture. Rustlers, Indians,Commancheroes, beautiful damsels in distress, serial killers, they all showed up to give our heroes problems. The end came for the series quietly when the final season was axed less than half way through. The reason - Eric Fleming had departed and Rawhide was now a head without a body - the gritty realism was gone, Gil Favor commanded respect and exuded authority - he was never infallible and this made him all the more interesting. We shall not see his like again. Watch an episode whenever you can, they seldom disappoint.

sci-fi-feline In watching this old Western on the Hallmark Channel, I've come to enjoy it. A favorite of my mother's when she was a girl, who, like many others, thought Gil Favor was the handsome one. I sat down and watched them on this cattle drive and have come to enjoy the show.And of course, Clint Eastwood, co-stars as Rowdy Yates. I was told that back in the day, critics said he wouldn't amount to anything. Guess he showed them.