MovieChat Forums > Laramie (1959) Discussion > Interesting to see the change in the pro...

Interesting to see the change in the production over a short time

posted 9 years ago by mlbroberts
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I have the DVDs and ran through them as a bit of a marathon over a few weeks. It was interesting to see how it changed from a 50s western to a 60s western as fast as it did. The music, the b&W v. color, the approach to the writing (the actual words in the dialogue especially), the directing and acting (the 50s "dramatic" movements and delivery of lines toning down to the more realistic 60s approach) - you can see modern television emerge pretty quickly in this series.

[–] barodabulldog 9 years ago

I prefer the first couple seasons that are B&W to the later color seasons. The later seasons have a Disney feel to them with the style changes and the addition of Daisy and Mike. It is still good. I think the earlier seasons are tougher and have more grit.

The guest stars in this show are fun to watch. I realize actors were under studio contract, so it was easier to cycle up and coming stars through shows. But, this show had three of the magnificent seven, 3 of the castaways from Gilligans Island, Chloris Leachman, Gena Rolands, Julie London, Ernest Borgnine, Claude Akins (who seems to have done everything back then), Dan Duryea, LQ Jones, RG Armstrong, James Best (Roscoe P Coltrajin!), Deforest Kelly, Leonard Nimoy,... It really is fun to see actors I grew up watching on TV and Movies 6-10 years earlier in their careers than I had seen them before.

I enjoyed watching Russell Johnson and Deforest Kelly play the bad guys. I think Robert Fuller's character is unique as well. He plays him tough and quick to anger with a certain innocence and disappointment in the self-serving injustice of the antagonists. He also gets hit a lot. So many concussions... Lol

A good show with some very dark characters and fun stories throughout its run. I'm glad to have found it.