Rawhide: The Third Season, Volume 2 – DVD Review

DVD Reviews, Reviews



While the media focuses on Oscar chances for Clint Eastwoods grizzled old man in Gran Torino, Rawhide: The Third Season, Volume 2 takes us to the TV start of the cinema stars career. A half century ago there was youth to his rugged face. Clint had a bit grizzle growth during these early days on the plain. His Rowdy Yates character wasnt happy camper riding the range behind the cows. As part of a drover crew run by Gil Favor (Eric Fleming), Rowdy is the rough and tumble young ramrod. He wont back down till given the order. Rawhide is the education of an icon.

After episodes that showed the drovers on their endless cattle drives, we get two glimpses of what happens on either end of the line. “Incident on the Road Back” opens in the railyards of Sedalia, Missori. The morning after dropping off the cows, the boys awake to discover theyd burned through their pay. All they have left are hangovers and the vague impression of what happened to their horses. Even Wishbone (Paul Brinegar) has pawned the ponies off the chuckwagon. When Gil gets off the train to greet his crew, hes disappointed at what went down. How can he run an operation without horses? In a shocking twist, he turns into a horse thief. The crew are blown away that their trail boss could do such a thing. But it turns out to be a joke. He bought the horses to be taken back to Texas. However on the return journey, a stray horse tags along. Gil finds himself up on charges of being a horse thief. How can he prove his innocence in the eyes of a blind sheriff?

“The incident of the New Start” takes us down to San Antonio where Gil is reuniting his crew for another drive. Things get tricky when Mr. Parker (John Dehner), the head of the cattlemen association declares hell be the trail boss on this ride. Hell keep Gil on as a ramrod. At first Gil turns down this gig, but Pete Nolan (Sheb Wooley) needs help with a gambling debt. He joins up for the lesser job. Rowdy isnt too keen on working with Parker. The old guy spends too much time proving hes the boss and not understanding how to work the cattle drive. Things get ultra ugly when Gil discovers Parkers wife has been having an affair with another cattle rancher. Early in the episode she was exposed as frisky when she rubbed butter on Clints chest. With Indians and bogs ahead, can Gil keep the crew together without taking complete power from Parker? John Dehner always looked like the meanest boss in the world. He was a cross between a vice president and a pit viper. When hes facing off with Clint, its an even match.

“Incident of His Brothers Keeper” wheels in Jack Lord (Hawaii Five-O). Wishbone gets his back screwed up when the chuck wagon has a little accident. He and Pete ride into a small town to take advantage of a spa that features mud baths and mineral springs. They cross paths with Jack Lord. Hes a cattleman who is stuck in a wheelchair after a nasty accident. Jack wants Pete to take his wife dancing. Things slowly emerge that Jacks wife has been having an affair with her brother-in-law. Jack however gets the idea that Pete wants to swipe his wife. Things get wild in this tale of Western romantic betrayal. Its a shame that this is a Rowdy-less episode. Lord and Clint could have had a rematch after they tangled in season ones “Incident of the Calico Gun.”

“Incident Before Black Pass” unleashes Indians on them. Rowdy and Pete are captured by them including an angry Indian played by Leonard Nimoy (Star Treks Mr. Spock). Gil has to kick Nimoys wampum to free his men. “Incident of the Wager on Payday” has a kid duped into thinking that his pals are robbing his dads bank. Things go extremely bad when they swipe Rowdys horse and frame him for a major mess. Can he be cleared before he is the guest of honor at a necktie party?

Clint Eastwoods early days on Rawhide show a man crafting his persona. He didnt just happen into his tough, no nonsense cowboy attitude. Each time he hopped in the saddle and drove the doggies to Missouri, he perfected the look and posture. The angry old man in Gran Torino is an extremely mature version of Rowdy.

The Episodes
“Incident on the Road Back,” “Incident of the New Start,” “Incident of the Running Iron,” ” Incident Near Gloomy River,” “Incident of the Boomerang,” “Incident of his Brother’s Keeper,” “Incident in the Middle of Nowhere,” “Incident of the Phantom Bugler,” “Incident of the Lost Idol,” “Incident of the Running Man,” “Incident of the Painted Lady,” “Incident Before Black Pass,” “Incident of the Blackstorms,” “Incident of the Night on the Town” and “Incident of the Wager on Payday.”

The video is 1.33:1 full frame. The black and white transfers show off the landscape on the cattle drives. The audio is Dolby Digital mono. The levels are fine for capturing Clints inhale before he tells you whats going to happen.



None.

Rawhide: The Third Season, Volume 2 delivers another batch of USDA prime certified western tales. Gils crew keep bringing us compelling stories from the range. Getting a peek at action from both ends of the trail is a plus for this collection. Rawhide: The Third Season, Volume 2 provides insight into what it took to put a steak on the table.

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CBS DVD presents Rawhide: The Third Season, Volume Two. Starring Clint Eastwood, Paul Brinegar, Sheb Wooley and Eric Fleming. Boxset Contents: 15 episodes on 4 DVDs. Released on DVD: December 9, 2008. Available at Amazon.

Joe Corey is the writer and director of "Danger! Health Films" currently streaming on Night Flight and Amazon Prime. He's the author of "The Seven Secrets of Great Walmart People Greeters." This is the last how to get a job book you'll ever need. He was Associate Producer of the documentary "Moving Midway." He's worked as local crew on several reality shows including Candid Camera, American's Most Wanted, Extreme Makeover Home Edition and ESPN's Gaters. He's been featured on The Today Show and CBS's 48 Hours. Dom DeLuise once said, "Joe, you look like an axe murderer." He was in charge of research and programming at the Moving Image Archive.