Richard Boone is superior as aging Hec Ramsey. Rick Lenz is fascinating in a character that provides a modern-leaning counterpoint to Ramsey's set ways. The always-resilient Sharon Acker is on hand to provide character. And, the ubiquitous Harry Morgan contributes his special brand of cynicism to a well-crafted, if somewhat leisurely paced, western mystery.
6 Reviews
Based upon a real person.
JBThackery8 October 2004
"Hec Ramsey" provided an interesting character. There were two essential ingredients. Start with Richard Boone's appealing gruffness. Add the essence of an interesting and unusual story. It worked! Pity that Boone and Universal could not iron out their differences. It was a worthwhile show.
There was another element which gave the show appeal. It was said far and wide in 1972 that Hec Ramsey was based upon a genuine character. Reportedly this gentleman was a detective from Georgia named Hec Thomas, who went west and left a legend of frontier criminology. Unfortunately, references on Hec Thomas are evasive.
There was another element which gave the show appeal. It was said far and wide in 1972 that Hec Ramsey was based upon a genuine character. Reportedly this gentleman was a detective from Georgia named Hec Thomas, who went west and left a legend of frontier criminology. Unfortunately, references on Hec Thomas are evasive.
After seeing this, I sure wish the series was on DVD.
planktonrules29 October 2020
This is the premier episode of "Hec Ramsey"...a relatively short-lived mystery/western series from television. It stars Richard Boone as the title character...a lawman from the west who is not just tough but changes with the times. So, not only is he fast with the gun, but he's a proponent of the very latest forensics...such as finger prints,, plaster casts as well as ballistics. This makes him more than some trigger-happy guy....which is exactly what his new boss in Oklahoma thinks of him. Naturally, over time, Hec proves he is thoughtful, intellectual and more than just a fast gun.
The episode has two main plot points. First, early in the episode, the stage with Hec and others aboard is robbed...and Hec is intent on finding the gang responsible and handing them over for prosecution. Second, there is an apparent murder-suicide...but Hec uses these modern scientific methods to prove that no suicide was involved at all...just two murders. Who did it and why? Well, Hec, he'll figure it all out!
Richard Boone is very good in this part....grizzly and tough but also just a fine actor. The script is also very good. My only quibble, and it's a small one, but Hec's new boss wasn't especially well written...he seemed more like a plot device at times...a man to argue with Hec and provide tension...which wasn't exactly believable as it happened too quickly. Also, the narration was fine...but unnecessary. Still, a very good pilot, as it left me wanting more.
The episode has two main plot points. First, early in the episode, the stage with Hec and others aboard is robbed...and Hec is intent on finding the gang responsible and handing them over for prosecution. Second, there is an apparent murder-suicide...but Hec uses these modern scientific methods to prove that no suicide was involved at all...just two murders. Who did it and why? Well, Hec, he'll figure it all out!
Richard Boone is very good in this part....grizzly and tough but also just a fine actor. The script is also very good. My only quibble, and it's a small one, but Hec's new boss wasn't especially well written...he seemed more like a plot device at times...a man to argue with Hec and provide tension...which wasn't exactly believable as it happened too quickly. Also, the narration was fine...but unnecessary. Still, a very good pilot, as it left me wanting more.
Great TV show, Would be massively popular Today
Tony Rome28 March 2009
After pallidan Richard Boone started a new kind of western show. Boone plays Hec Ramsey, a lawman with a past, however he has changed. Ramsey is into new techniques for solving crimes. We could possibly call him an early CSI. Ramsey and his new boss don't get along at the beginning, but the boss begins to gain a respect for Ramsey. Harry Morgan was also on the show. He played the barber and the doctor. The action always moved quite well, and the stories were always interesting. The show was canceled only after 10 episodes. Universal has not released a DVD of this show. Supposedly there were problems between Boone and Universal. The Museum of television and Radio history in NY has the pilot episode available for viewing. Hopefully it comes out soon. 5 stars out of 5.
Sherlock Holmes on the Range
GaryPeterson6724 July 2011
Warning: Spoilers
I just enjoyed the pilot episode of HEC RAMSEY, a series I've been longing to see for years. As a fan of Richard Boone's earlier series HAVE GUN, WILL TRAVEL, the prospect of seeing him in another Western series was appealing.
The series, judging by this pilot, does not disappoint and is a worthy successor to HGWT. Set in 1901 as the Old West was waning, Boone plays a former Texas marshal who treks north to start a new life as a deputy in New Prospect, Oklahoma. His new boss, Police Chief Oliver Stamp, doesn't like him, repulsed by Ramsey's reputation as a relic of trigger-happy frontier justice. Stamp is a dandy, rigid, young and college-educated. Stamp is a by the book police chief, which hasn't proved effective, which is why the city fathers brought in Ramsey. The tension between Ramsey and Stamp is palpable and even understandable--old vs. new, old vs. young. But anyone who has watched television from these good ol' days knows, a grudging respect is sure to be forged after each man proves himself.
And they are immediately provided ample opportunities. Two plots run through this 90-minute pilot. The first is Ramsey's eagerness to track down a quartet of bandits who held up his stagecoach. The second is solving an apparent murder-suicide of a married couple. There are many twists and turns as Ramsey employs psychology and especially the then most current techniques in crimebusting, from fingerprinting to ballistics to taking plaster casts of horseshoes.
That component of criminology is what distinguishes this show from GUNSMOKE and BONANZA. It's very much a detective drama in a Western setting, not a stereotypical barroom brawl and gunfight show. In fact, I'll argue that the primary source of HEC RAMSEY is Sherlock Holmes, right down to having the doctor provide the narration!
On the subject of comparisons, it's difficult not to draw comparisons between HEC RAMSEY and HAVE GUN, WILL TRAVEL. Ramsey is a confident, intelligent, well-spoken man much like Paladin (though, alas, nary a literary quotation falls from his lips). Like Paladin, he has an eye for the ladies; in this series a widowed pharmacist who came West with her young son to escape the sexism of St. Louis. There are differences, too. Ramsey's hardbitten past riding the range has left him rough around the edges, unkempt and overdue for a haircut.
In addition to Boone, Western veteran R.G. Armstrong is on hand, though underutilized. A bushy-bearded Harry Morgan plays Doc Coogan and provides the voice-over narration. Rick Lenz as Police Chief Stamp is a stand out. Sharon Acker, a familiar face in so many shows of this era, makes the most of her few scenes as Hec's love interest.
Only ten episodes of this series were produced (reportedly kiboshed because of Boone's bad attitude), though each episode runs ninety minutes, certainly enough to warrant a DVD release. NBC's one-season ELLERY QUEEN series made it onto DVD, so there is hope! If all the episodes are as enjoyable as this pilot, a DVD release would be a boon to Boone fans, as well as to fans of well-written 1970's detective dramas.
The series, judging by this pilot, does not disappoint and is a worthy successor to HGWT. Set in 1901 as the Old West was waning, Boone plays a former Texas marshal who treks north to start a new life as a deputy in New Prospect, Oklahoma. His new boss, Police Chief Oliver Stamp, doesn't like him, repulsed by Ramsey's reputation as a relic of trigger-happy frontier justice. Stamp is a dandy, rigid, young and college-educated. Stamp is a by the book police chief, which hasn't proved effective, which is why the city fathers brought in Ramsey. The tension between Ramsey and Stamp is palpable and even understandable--old vs. new, old vs. young. But anyone who has watched television from these good ol' days knows, a grudging respect is sure to be forged after each man proves himself.
And they are immediately provided ample opportunities. Two plots run through this 90-minute pilot. The first is Ramsey's eagerness to track down a quartet of bandits who held up his stagecoach. The second is solving an apparent murder-suicide of a married couple. There are many twists and turns as Ramsey employs psychology and especially the then most current techniques in crimebusting, from fingerprinting to ballistics to taking plaster casts of horseshoes.
That component of criminology is what distinguishes this show from GUNSMOKE and BONANZA. It's very much a detective drama in a Western setting, not a stereotypical barroom brawl and gunfight show. In fact, I'll argue that the primary source of HEC RAMSEY is Sherlock Holmes, right down to having the doctor provide the narration!
On the subject of comparisons, it's difficult not to draw comparisons between HEC RAMSEY and HAVE GUN, WILL TRAVEL. Ramsey is a confident, intelligent, well-spoken man much like Paladin (though, alas, nary a literary quotation falls from his lips). Like Paladin, he has an eye for the ladies; in this series a widowed pharmacist who came West with her young son to escape the sexism of St. Louis. There are differences, too. Ramsey's hardbitten past riding the range has left him rough around the edges, unkempt and overdue for a haircut.
In addition to Boone, Western veteran R.G. Armstrong is on hand, though underutilized. A bushy-bearded Harry Morgan plays Doc Coogan and provides the voice-over narration. Rick Lenz as Police Chief Stamp is a stand out. Sharon Acker, a familiar face in so many shows of this era, makes the most of her few scenes as Hec's love interest.
Only ten episodes of this series were produced (reportedly kiboshed because of Boone's bad attitude), though each episode runs ninety minutes, certainly enough to warrant a DVD release. NBC's one-season ELLERY QUEEN series made it onto DVD, so there is hope! If all the episodes are as enjoyable as this pilot, a DVD release would be a boon to Boone fans, as well as to fans of well-written 1970's detective dramas.
An interesting resemblance
krasnegar13 August 2009
I was just thinking about the Richard Widmark film "Death of a Gunfighter", and realised how much this film reminds me of it.
They're both about an old-time lawman who hasn't changed with the times, and about the good citizens wanting to get rid of him.
Of course, they end differently.
There was a paperback novelisation - by Joe Millard, i believe - which added some dialog here and there; my favourite added bit was when someone was talking about how tough could an old man be, and one of his buddies said he'd heard some rumours - remember hearing about that guy who had business cards with a chess piece on them?
They're both about an old-time lawman who hasn't changed with the times, and about the good citizens wanting to get rid of him.
Of course, they end differently.
There was a paperback novelisation - by Joe Millard, i believe - which added some dialog here and there; my favourite added bit was when someone was talking about how tough could an old man be, and one of his buddies said he'd heard some rumours - remember hearing about that guy who had business cards with a chess piece on them?
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