Prime Time TV from the Early Days: The Cisco Kid and The

Rating:
Summary: Don't forget The Adventures of Robin Hood!!!
Review: This two-disc set includes 3 episodes from The Cisco Kid AND 3 episodes from The Adventures of Robin Hood, both enjoyable television adventure series from the 1950s. While the visual quality is fair to good (a little dark at times on The Robin Hood episodes), the rarity of both of these shows on DVD makes this disc a good, inexpensive addition for those who enjoy classic television from the 1950s, especially as it's unlikely that we'll see any "full season" releases that are becoming the norm for more recent television shows.

The Adventures of Robin Hood was broadcast on CBS in the United States from 1955 to 1958. It was produced by Sapphire Films in England by American ex-pat Hannah Weinstein, who also produced The Adventures of Sir Lancelot and other "Adventures of" series in the 1950s, based on historical figures. For an early television adventure series, the production was superb with good scripts (some written by blacklisted Hollywood writers), good acting, and innovative set design. And, for many Baby Boomers, Richard Greene was the ONLY Robin Hood. The episodes selected include both of the actresses who played the role of Lady Marian Fitzwalter: Bernadette O'Farrell and Patricia Driscoll. All in all, this was an entertaining series that still holds up well.

Also entertaining is The Cisco Kid, with Duncan Reynaldo as Cisco and Leo Carillo as Poncho. The show is very much in the vein of The Lone Ranger, but a bit lighter thanks to the comedic talents of Carillo.

The releasing company of this DVD, Nostalgia Ventures, has a small, but interesting catalog of television shows from the 1950s under the banner "Prime Time TV from the Early Days." Fans of the "Golden Age of Television" would do well to check them out.