Have Gun - Will Travel

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CBS (ended 1963)

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Have Gun - Will Travel

Show Summary

Paladin was not your normal gunfighter. He was an educated and a traveled man. A West Point graduate, he served as a Union officer during the Civil War. After the war, he went west and became a high-priced 'gun for hire.' He was based at the Hotel Carlton in San Francisco and enjoyed the finer things in life. He dressed in fancy clothes, enjoyed fine wine, gourmet food, opera, expensive cigars and he could play the piano. He read newspapers from all over the West looking for situations in which he could help, for a fee. Sometimes Hey Boy, the Oriental porter who worked at the Carlton, would bring Paladin a letter or 'wire' asking for his help. Usually, within the first few minutes, he was dressed for 'business' and on the trail. When working, he dressed completely in black including a black hat with a band of silver conchos and a custom holster with a silver chess knight on it. He carried a custom made pistol which was perfectly balanced and had a rifled barrel. He preferred to settle problems without violence whenever possible, but if forced to fight, he excelled. A master marksman and a quick draw, he was a match for most any man. And for those 'difficult times' he kept a derringer hidden under his belt, which saved his life on many occasions. His rifle, which was rarely used, also had a silver chess knight on the stock. This leads us to believe it was as carefully made as the pistol he carried. Before resorting to violence, Paladin would put his rich education and experience to work to try to find an alternate solution. In spite of his profession, he had a deep respect for the law and would often turn on his employers if he found they were the guilty party.moreless

Episode Guide

S 6 :  Ep 32 Aired 4/20/63
S 6 :  Ep 31 Aired 4/13/63
S 6 :  Ep 30 Aired 4/6/63
S 6 :  Ep 29 Aired 3/30/63
S 6 :  Ep 28 Aired 3/23/63
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Cast & Crew

Richard Boone

Richard Boone

Paladin
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Have Gun - Will Travel Listings

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Fan Reviews (10)

SUBMIT REVIEW

  • HEADS UP, FANS

    9.5
    By joeydak1111, Jan 22, 2013
    PREMIUM CHANNEL 'ENCORE' (WHICH IS USUALLY PROVIDED AS PART OF BASIC CABLE) NOW HAS MANY EPISODES OF 'HAVE GUN - WILL TRAVEL'. WHEN I WAS A CHILD, I THOUGHT PALADIN WAS THE COOLEST WESTERN CHARACTER. I JOINED THE 'HAVE GUN - WILL TRAVEL' VIDEO CLUB AS SOON AS I STARTED WORKING. THE QUALITY OF THE EPISODES (WHICH WERE USUALYY VERY GOOD) DIDN'T MATTER AS MUCH AS RICHARD BOONE'S PORTRAYAL OF THE CLASSIEST GUNFIGHTER EVER!moreless

  • Knight on a business card?

    10
    By RockWolf, Sep 03, 2012
    The whole show made for great tv and the Palidin actor made it real. I still have the guns from the set My parents purchased for me. Watched show again on VHS and it still holds up.

    Great writing and direction. One of the Best shows ever.

  • This has become my all-time favorite program.

    10
    By dkhenderson1, Jun 05, 2012
    It seems strange when you consider that my only reason for checking out Season One at the library was that I saw that one of the episodes had Jack Lord in it, and I was curious to see what he was like pre-Steve McGarrett. And a half-hour, black and white show...eh. It only took a few minutes of viewing before I was thinking "The heck with Jack Lord!" (although he did a fine job on the episode) In rapid succession, I had purchased the first three seasons, a book on the show and a bio on Richard Boone, and was grabbing up all the DVDs I could find that Richard Boone had starred in. It's hard to explain this instant love affair. Most of the episodes are excellent--the acting, the directing, the backgrounds. I love the constant variety, and the fact that Boone handled dark drama and broad comedy with equal ease. I love Paladin. The character is strong but gentle, with unquestionable integrity. Kind, generous, well-read, broad-minded. Yet he's not a saint--as he freely admitted on one occasion. He's a human man, with human vices (which he heartily enjoys) and occasionally makes mistakes--which keeps him from being boring.

    I do still like Jack Lord. But I understand that the role of Steve McGarrett was turned down by Richard Boone, and I sometimes wonder what the show would have been like with him. Very good, I'm sure. But it probably would not have lasted twelve seasons. I think Boone would have opted out after a few seasons (as he did on HGWT) to search for new interests.

    This show has a lot to attract all kinds of tastes. I wish it had lasted longer, and, (as Boone recommended) that it had been done in color--it would probably get a lot more attention.

    And I'm still impatiently waiting for the last season!moreless

  • "Have Gun Will Travel" is a classic western that was ahead of its time.

    10
    By elagabalus, Jul 28, 2007
    This was the first truly adult western to be produced. It had one of the best actors ever in Richard Boone--a much underrated actor that was perfectly matched to the character of Paladin. The role was originally offered to Randolph Scott but he declined, prefering to do feature films. Richard Boone wanted to do the series in color, saying it was the future but the producers did not agree. A shame since the black and white photography has religated it to few reruns in today's market. The series lasted for six seasons, Boone wanting to leave after the fifth but talked into returning for a sixth. The series could have gone on after the sixth, CBS asking for a seventh but Boone wanted to do his own anthology series, "The Richard Boone Show" which only lasted one season. In later life, Boone did not want to talk about the Paladin character, possibally somewhat bitter that it typecast him. Surprising since after HGWT, he had various roles as a villian. Have Gun Will Travel is still the greatest television western ever produced.moreless

  • A greatest western....

    7.6
    By neon2farmer, Nov 29, 2006
    i think that have gun, will travel id the best old western out ther, and it's only a half hour long. i think the idea that Eminem is going to star in the remake film is terable. it's alredy ruined. Richard Boone did a good job of portraying Palidin, and even won an emmy, two i think.Palidin is not your tipical hired gun, he has lots of money and is fancey in every thing he does. he also doesn't work cheap. this series was a fairly good show altogether and i hope that the memory lives on for years to come. later.moreless
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Latest News

  • January 3, 2006, DVD Releases 6
    THE NEW YEAR GETS OFF TO A WATCHABLE START WITH A CLASSIC SITCOM, SOME SCIENCE-FICTION ACTION, AND A COUPLE OF EXCELLENT WESTERNS. RESOLVE YOURSELF TO SPEND 2006 IN FRONT OF THE TUBE!

    January 3, 2006, DVD Releases

    By Colin Mahan, Dec 22, 2005

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    Categories

    Action & Adventure, Drama

    Themes

    bloody and violent, characters with double lives, failed crime, for the nostalgic, gunfights

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