Product Description

Own the hit television series that launched the career of big-screen legend Steve McQueen. Josh Randall (McQueen) was not a typical rough-hewn bounty hunter of the Old West; he was a consummate gentleman who always gave half - or even all - of his reward money to charity. He was a man of few words, and he carried a Winchester sawed-off shotgun, which he wore on his belt and fondly called his "Mare?s leg."

DVD Features:Biographies:Documentaries:6-part documentary "Life in The Fast Lane"--an in-depth look at the legendary Steve McQueenFeaturette:3 featurettes on the TV seriesOther:3 colorized episodesPhoto gallery:

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #50442 in DVD
• Released on: 2005-06-07
• Rating: NR (Not Rated)
• Aspect ratio: 1.33:1
• Formats: Box set, Closed-captioned, Color, DVD, Original recording remastered, Subtitled, NTSC
• Original language: English
• Subtitled in: English, Spanish
• Number of discs: 4
• Running time: 1008 minutes

Amazon.com
The uniquely cool talent that propelled Steve McQueen to movie stardom is fully evident in the debut season of Wanted: Dead or Alive. Having just boosted his big-screen potential with a starring role in The Blob, 28-year-old McQueen was reluctant to accept the role of bounty hunter Josh Randall in this trend-setting series; he balked at the demanding schedule and thought himself too contemporary for a Western series, but the producers (including Four Star Productions cofounders Dick Powell and Ida Lupino) were convinced that McQueen was perfect for the role, and the still-struggling actor couldn't refuse a $750-per-week salary. Once committed, McQueen developed Randall into an antihero with conflicting qualities of danger and compassion: With his infamous "Mare's Leg" (an 1892 Winchester rifle with sawed-off stock and barrel) and calm demeanor, Randall maintained his tough-guy image as a mercenary outcast. Capable of attack without warning, he could also be generous to the needy, never seeking credit for his kindness. In these 36 consistently enjoyable episodes (out of a three-season total of 94), McQueen builds the prototype of his later success; he's a man of few words and volatile action, and his expressions (including a mischievous smile) convey quick-draw instinct and an amiable yet potentially deadly ability to fend off all enemies.

Randall was introduced in a March 1958 episode of the Western series Trackdown, and Wanted: Dead or Alive was an instant hit when it premiered on CBS on September 6, 1958. With surprising quirks of character (his "favorite tune" is Chopin's C-flat Nocturne), Randall was a new kind of hero, and Wanted further benefited from quality writing, direction, and familiar guest stars (including first-season appearances by Michael Landon, James Coburn, Skip Homeier, Everett Sloane, and many other stalwarts of late-'50s TV). The season 1 DVDs include a wealth of bonus features, including show history, a McQueen biography, three "series analysis" featurettes," photo galleries, and the A&E Biography segment "Steve McQueen: Life in the Fast Lane" split into six parts. Image and sound quality varies from excellent to average, and three episodes that were badly "colorized" in the 1980s are also included. They're hideous proof that colorization was a bad idea, but they indicate the extra effort that was made to provide features that Wanted fans will surely appreciate. --Jeff Shannon

Customer Reviews

Josh Randall and his "Mare's Laig" Ride Again! ! !
One of the most memorable and famous characters of the '50's Western genre was Steve McQueen's "Josh Randall", who spoke softly (with the Southern drawl he cultivated in his early days roaming around the South, particularly Myrtle Beach, S.C.) and carried a Big Gun, the sawed-off Winchester lever-action rifle then known as the "Mare's Laig". I remember the excitement each week eagerly waiting for each episode of this great Western.
One of my fondest childhood memories was the weekend I spent with my Dad, helping him to hand make my own custom-made leather belt rig from scratch for my toy "Mare's Laig" in time for use as part of a Halloween costume when the plastic original proved to be a poor replica.
With all the second-rate wastage flooding the DVD market lately, it's really great to see New Line Ent. bring back such a great actor in a great Western!

"36 Original Episodes of the King of Cool ~ Steve McQueen"
CBS and New Line Home Entertainment present "WANTED DEAD OR ALIVE", featuring Steve McQueen as the gentleman bounty hunter Josh Randall...a man of few words who carried on his belt an 1892 Winchester lever action pistol, which he fondly called "Mare's Leg"...originally introduced in an episode of the TV Western "Trackdown"...this was the beginning of a beautiful role that lasted for three seasons for Mr. Steve McQueen that catapulted him to stardom.


First time on DVD with all 36 Original Episodes of Season One...loaded with extras.
Disc One (Side A)...with title and directors:
THE MARTIN POSTER (Thomas Carr) (guest star: Michael Landon & Nick Adams)
FATAL MEMORY (Thomas Carr)
THE BOUNTY ( Thomas Carr)
DEAD END (Thomas Carr)
(Special Features...Genesis of Wanted:Dead or Alive...Steve McQueen Bio Part One...Color Episode of "The Martin Poster")

Disc One (Side B)...with title and directors:
PASSING OF SHAWNEE BILL (Thomas Carr)
THE GIVEAWAY GUN (Donald McDougall)
RANSOM FOR A NUN (Donald McDougall)
MIRACLE AT THE POT HOLE (Thomas Carr)
(Special Features..."The Bounty Hunter" featurette...Photo Gallery)

Disc Two (Side A)...with title and directors:
THE FOURTH HEADSTONE (Donald McDougall)
TIL DEATH DO U PART (Donald McDougall)
THE FAVOR (Thomas Carr)
RICHOCHET (Donald McDougall)
(Special Features..."Life in the Fast Lane" Documentary Parts 1 & 2)

Disc Two (Side B)...with title and directors:
SHERIFF OF RED ROCK (Thomas Carr)
DIE BY THE GUN (Donald McDougall)
RAWHIDE BREED (Donald Mcdougall)
EIGHT CENT REWARD (Thomas Carr)
(Special Features...Steve McQueen Filmography...Steve McQueen Bio Part 2...Color Episode of "The Favor")

Disc Three (Side A)...with title and directors:
DROP TO DRINK (Donald McDougall)
ROPE LAW (Thomas Carr)
SIX-UP TO BANNACH (Thomas Carr)
THE SPUR (Donald Mcdougall)
(Special Features..."Angel or Devil" featurette...Photo Gallery)

Disc Three (Side B)...with title and directors:
REUNION FOR REVENGE (R.G. Springsteen) (guest star: James Coburn)
COMPETITION (R.G. Springsteen)
CALL YOUR SHOT (Donald McDougall)
SECRET BALLOT (Donald McDougall)
(Special Features..."Life in the Fast Lane" Documentary Parts 3 & 4)

Disc Four (Side A)...with title and directors:
THE CORNER (R.G. Springsteen)
THE EAGER MAN (Donald McDougall)
THE LEGEND (Thomas Carr) (guest star: Michael Landon)
RAILROADED (Thomas Carr)
DOUBLE FEE (Donald McDougall)
THE KOVACK AFFAIR (Thomas Carr) (guest star: James Coburn)
(Special Features...Steve McQueen Bio Part 3...Color Episode of "Six-Up to Bannach")

Disc Four (Side B)...with title and directors:
BOUNTY FOR A BRIDE (Donald McDougall)
CROSSROADS (Donald McDougall)
ANGELS OF VENGEANCE (R.G. Springsteen)
THE LITTLE CLIENT (Thomas Carr)
THE CONQUERORS (Thomas Carr)
AMOS CARTER (Thomas Carr)
(Special Features..."Dead End" featurette..."Life in the Fast Lane" Documentary Parts 5 & 6...Photo Gallery)

Hats off (Cowboy Hats, that is) to Studio Canal, New Line Home Entertainment and CBS for taking us back to those thrilling '50s TV Westerns...tagged with the name "King of Cool" this legendary actor and TV series will never be forgotten...the clarity and format is top notch featuring great character actors of B-Westerns in every episode with McQueen...watching these episodes brings back so many wonderful memories of the times when television cared about cast and storyline...gotta love it!

Total Time: 4-DVD-Set ~ New Line Home Entertainment N8161 ~ (6/07/2005)

Fantastic Show-Poopy Packaging!
My wife and I have just finished watching (and reading) everything on these discs. We thought that the episodes looked great, and that the extras were just fine. Really, these studios are not obligated to include any extras, and this is just brimming with them. But, wouldn't you think that such a large amount of effort is a waste when the packaging falls apart to reveal how it was bound together to begin with? (Each disc is housed on their own plastic "pages," or panels, which are bound at the spine; just like a book.) It's not enough that it fell apart, but it's bound with what appears to be packaging tape! Can you believe that? HOW OBTUSE!!! You know that these discs are more than likely going be allowed to slip quietly out of print, which means that long after the incredibly cheap packaging has failed (and judging from the copy I own, it'll probably be sometime next week), we're going to be scrambling for ways to protect double-sided discs; which are difficult enough to care for when kept in their proper cases. I don't believe that we're owed any extras, but I DO believe that there should be enough pride on the studio's part, as well as a sense of obligation to the consumer to at least make a container which will properly house and protect the product being offered!
The show? Great!
The DVD quality? Great!
The packaging? DISGRACEFUL!!!