Richard Boone: A Knight Without Armor in a Savage Land

Rating:
Summary: "A 'Hec' of a book!"
Review: David Rothel has written an outstanding book that any and every Richard Boone fan will want to enjoy.

I truly do not know how a better book could be written about this fine actor. He was a classic character, both on and off the screen.

Not a whole lot has been known about the many facets of this hard-boiled, caring gentleman, Richard Boone. So many of today's stars are relatively one dimensional and generally perform the same way. A Richard Boone performance, regardless of the character, usually contained at least several dimensions and, as Mr. Rothel points out so well, Hollywood, out of ignorance, jealosy and greed, never allowed him to utilize even a fraction of his talent. Thank goodness for his fans, Richard Boone was able to portray and perform under such demanding and, at times, disappointing circumstances.

Richard Boone was truthful. That automatically puts him in a 'Savage Land'. Mr. Rothel's efforts at discovering the real truth, coupled with his extraordinary writing abilities, make this, in my opinion, one of the best 'total packages' I've ever read concerning a celebrity. I find this book to be totally captivating.

The many interviews and the lots of 'little extras' add up to a factual excursion into the land of make believe. This is what a picture of a celebrated actor is and should be all about! Facts, stats, photos, insights, credits, information...everything is here and ready.

I will close by saying...when it comes to this book; buy it, put the enclosed CD into your CD player, relax, and make sure you...'Have Time Will Enjoy'!

Rating:
Summary: Well researched, and a good read
Review: Here's the latest in a series of showbusiness biographies by David Rothel. This time around the subject is Richard Boone, a dynamic and powerful actor best known for his role as Paladin in the late 1950s CBS TV Western, HAVE GUN, WILL TRAVEL. Rothel has covered just about every aspect of Boone's long career; apart from a few bloopers in the broadcast log of HAVE GUN, the book is completely reliable as a reference.

The portrait of Boone offered is affectionate, but covers the "warts and all." Boone was addicted to alcohol throughout much of his professional career, and this and other self-destructive habits eventually seemed to consume him. His most interesting TV work, the short-lived RICHARD BOONE SHOW, went largely unseen by audiences. In films, Boone usually played quirky heavies... in fact there has probably been no more terrifyingly pathological villian on the screen before or since than Boone in NIGHT OF THE FOLLOWING DAY and THE TALL T.

Recommended... a fine appreciation of a unique and versatile actor.

Rating:
Summary: What a Hero
Review: I thank the author of this book for sharing his insights into a complex man and a versatile talented actor, Richard Boone. Book is chock full of recent conversations with his family, assoicates and friends.
Thank you.

Rating:
Summary: john m. williams
Review: I was surprised to receive a large, very well researched book about Boone. Its pictures were also beautiful. It's build with interviews with those who have known Boone. I had doubts about this method, but it worked fine. I think Boone had the charisma to be a great star, but maybe his looks did not allow it. Anyway, if you are interested in Boone, you find all essential facts about him in this book. I recommend it.

Rating:
Summary: Richard Boone: A Night without Armor in a Savage Land
Review: Richard Boone: A Knight without Armor in a Savage Land By David Rothel 277 Pages Empire Publishing A Book Review by Mike Ray

During the golden age of television (1949-64) there were many outstanding programs--"I Love Lucy" with Lucille Ball, "The Honeymooners" with Jackie Gleason, "Love that Bob" with Bob Cummings, and "The Ed Sullivan Show", just to name a few. One of the best programs of the day, and seldom seen on TV since, was the western "Have Gun Will Travel" with Richard Boone who played the main character, Paladin.

The show started on September 14, 1957 on CBS and ran for six years. This half-hour show aired Saturday nights at 9:30 PM just before another popular western, "Gunsmoke". The character, Paladin had a great impact on me. To say the least, I loved his style and sense of right and wrong. Thus, Have Gun was my favorite western and Richard Boone my favorite cowboy. The series was filmed at the Paramount Studios in Hollywood and on location in the rough and tumble areas of Bend, Oregon.

What made the program, was not just the great writing, and wonderful productions, but rather the acting Of Richard Boone was unlike anything I had ever seen before.

In his new book by David Rothel, "Richard Boone; a man without Armor in a Savage land," Rothel, brings us closer to one the most talented and most complex men Ever to grace the TV screen. The book will guide you threw Boone's early years, and explains his desire In becoming an actor.

This book is not just a chronicle of Have Gun will Travel, but also a wonderful review on Boone's other Programs, Medic, The Richard Boone Theatre, and Heck Ramsey. And thou Rothel does and outstanding job dealing with the Boone's 4 TV programs, it is his writing regarding the years that produced that great western, Have Gun will Travel that makes this book come alive.

Boone was born June 18, 1917 in Los Angeles, and was actually a seventh generation nephew of frontiersman Daniel Boone. He garnered critical acclaim for his acting on stage and on screen, both large and small.

Rothel gives great detail on life in front and in back of the camera. Especially in Have Gun Rothel shows little glimpses of just who Paladin was. He lived a dual life as a wealthy man of the world residing in a posh San Francisco Hotel and as a black clothed gunfighter - for hire. We were also introduced to Paladin's business card, which would find it's way into every episode.

Paladin came from a well to do family back east. He served as a Union Cavalry officer during the Civil War, then at some point thereafter left for Frisco to assume his double life of civilized sophisticate and rough and tumble gunfighter. At the prestigious Hotel Carlton, he lived a life of leisure and luxury. He liked the Arts, fine food, cigars, and acquired knowledge on scores of subjects, from law, to poetry, and history. He dressed in the most expensive clothes of the day, spoke several languages, played the piano, composed his own symphony and played chess with all the tenacity of a military tactician.

But things were different once Paladin changed into his work attire. Dressed completely in black, with a silver chess-knight on his holster, Paladin simply had no peer. He stood alone at the top of the gun slinging world and he knew it. He used a black, single action Colt .44 with an extra long, rifled barrel; the gun was hand-crafted to his specifications, and had a one-ounce trigger pull. He also wisely carried a concealed derringer, which he'd often use for good effect some time after being told to "drop your gun."

He was physically strong, and great with his fists (Richard Boone did all of his stunts despite being in his mid 40's), but it was with his gun that Paladin truly excelled.

Paladin would hire out his services to those who were in need. On many occasions, Paladin would do charity work, donating or waving his fee for a good cause. Paladin was a great champion for Justice, highly principled and ethical, ALWAYS concerned with what's right. He was truly one of televisions greatest heroes.

"Have Gun will Travel" is a great legacy of a by gone era, the old west, and the Golden Age of Television. And Richard Boone played an extremely important role during that Golden Age. David Rothel's 277 page book is a Must read. A treasure that will stand the test of time. It's beautifully illustrated with over 100 photos. Most of which the public has never seen. The book also comes with a musical CD of the Theme song, and other recordings. One which also includes the voice of Richard Boone himself. I give the book 5 out of 5 stars.

Rating:
Summary: john m. williams
Review: Skilled with a gun, or with his fists, knowledge of subjects as
various as the Menonites to playing the Japanese game of Go, an
expert of fine wines, well tailored colthing, and of course a ladies man about town. James Bond? No Paladin! Paladin was James
Bond before James Bond hit the big time. Here was a series way ahead of it's time. Tell me which western produced in that covered such subjects of the mental illness and the conflict of
being a part of two cultures? Richard Boone brought life to the
roll as Paladin. It is sad that the series lasted "only six years" but maybe it is for the best because those six seasons
was some of the television the world has seen.

Rating:
Summary: A BOONE TO ALL FANS.......
Review: This is an excellant work on the life of a complex and interesting individual who clearly grabbed Life and lived it his own way. Wonderful interviews and photographs provide true insight into the character of a man who WAS quite a "character". There are innumerable anecdotes and facts covering the length of Boone`s life and career that will fascinate the reader. I was left with a sad,sort of wistful feeling after reading of Richard Boone`s life....and death. This was a man I would have liked to have met,and would have found a common-ground with in many ways...but at least through this work I had the opportunity to realise that. There are flaws in this book,actually in some remarkably simple areas which could easily have been corrected with a modicum of research,(example: The episode listing for Boone`s signature series "Have Gun--Will Travel" is surprisingly flawed,claiming there were "156 episodes"(page 194)when there were in fact, 225 episodes of "Have Gun--"....but, as flaws go,this is fairly minor. After all, the focus here is not the minutia,but the man himself.

Rating:
Summary: Courage +Paladin = Richard Boone
Review: When I was born in 1953, my first memory of television consisted of Westerns Television shows as well as movies. I loved them at the time but after time, I grew blaise.

Just since last year, I have been faithfully watching "HGWT" each Saturday morning (like a child) and became fascinated and.... admittedly a little enamored of Richard Boone.

This month I have just read "Richard Boone: A Knight Without Armor in a Savage Land" by David Rothel. What a fascinating and complex man Richard Boone was, and I was delighted to have it affirmed how much I suspected that the character of "Paladin" was the real Richard Boone.

The book is filled with interesting photographs, interviews along with summaries of all the "HGWT" episodes. I was astonished to learn that Richard Boone was also starring in three others tv series. I had never heard of "Medic", and wish his anthology series could be televised. I always respect the work of repertory theate. And what a group of performers he had selected! Typically, TV execs aired this anthology series opposite "I Love Lucy"...unfair competition.

It was heartwarming to read of his wife's memories of her 30+ years with Boone. She has alot of guts and staying power!

This is the perfect book for any devoted fan of TV westerns!
I am thankful to the author for this labor of love.