15 reviews
- classicsoncall
- Aug 12, 2011
- Permalink
AMONG THE MOST popular subjects to center a Western on has long been stories of the highly storied Texas Rangers, incidentally, who were the first State Police department in the Country. We can and will name several series that find their roots in the organization.
STARTING WITH THE most fundamental and ancestral to all is THE LONE RANGER; which started out with the cold blooded massacre of a troop of Rangers. The sole survivor becomes the one who dons the mask. TALES OF THE Texas RANGERS, like the previously mentioned series was a kiddie show its origin on the radio also. We even have WALKER, Texas RANGER in more recent times.
SO, SOMEWHERE IN the middle, circa 1957-59, we were presented with, for our approval, TRACKDOWN. It starred a young Robert Culp as Ranger Hoby Gillman. He was sullen, humorless and all business. Mr. Culp played him that way to a tee, creating for us the impression that this was his own true personality.
THE SERIES' OPENING sported the Flag of the Texas Rangers vigorously blowing across our smallish, B & W TV screens. It was accompanied with opening theme, which we have long since forgotten. We do seem to recall that there was an announcer doing opening voice over.
EACH AND EVERY week, Ranger Gillman was out somewhere in solo force, looking for those who were wanted for previous High Misdemeanors and Felonies. In short, the Ranger was serving Arrest Warrants. HJe served many and did it far and wide.
OF PARTICULAR INTEREST is one episode which co-featured a Bounty Hunter, who struck an alliance with Hoby. This Boiunty Hunter was Josh Randall, portrayed by Steve McQueen. This is the most significant episode in the series; for it served as the Pilot for McQueen's starring in WANTED: DEAD OR ALIVE.
NOW SCHULTZ, DON'T them network execs move in mysterious ways?
STARTING WITH THE most fundamental and ancestral to all is THE LONE RANGER; which started out with the cold blooded massacre of a troop of Rangers. The sole survivor becomes the one who dons the mask. TALES OF THE Texas RANGERS, like the previously mentioned series was a kiddie show its origin on the radio also. We even have WALKER, Texas RANGER in more recent times.
SO, SOMEWHERE IN the middle, circa 1957-59, we were presented with, for our approval, TRACKDOWN. It starred a young Robert Culp as Ranger Hoby Gillman. He was sullen, humorless and all business. Mr. Culp played him that way to a tee, creating for us the impression that this was his own true personality.
THE SERIES' OPENING sported the Flag of the Texas Rangers vigorously blowing across our smallish, B & W TV screens. It was accompanied with opening theme, which we have long since forgotten. We do seem to recall that there was an announcer doing opening voice over.
EACH AND EVERY week, Ranger Gillman was out somewhere in solo force, looking for those who were wanted for previous High Misdemeanors and Felonies. In short, the Ranger was serving Arrest Warrants. HJe served many and did it far and wide.
OF PARTICULAR INTEREST is one episode which co-featured a Bounty Hunter, who struck an alliance with Hoby. This Boiunty Hunter was Josh Randall, portrayed by Steve McQueen. This is the most significant episode in the series; for it served as the Pilot for McQueen's starring in WANTED: DEAD OR ALIVE.
NOW SCHULTZ, DON'T them network execs move in mysterious ways?
This show's character was a major departure for standard western characterizations of the late 1950's. And the individual solely responsible for that swing in characterization was the series star, Robert Culp.
Culp played the show's lead character, Texas Ranger Hobey Gillman, as a hip, cool dude; somewhat reminiscent of the then running top rated detective series, Peter Gunn.
Culp gave the character a cool walk 'hip-diddy' walk, and spoke his lines as though he'd taken his responses off the top of his head and, basically, without any thought whatsoever before doing so. He was even cool when someone had the drop on him, or when he outdrew the bad guy. He was just plain 'cool'.
Robert Culp sharpened this image during his tenure in his first television starring role and vehicle. He then deftly transferred it, intact, to the character Kelly Robinson in the 1965 TV espionage hit, "I Spy."
In that top rated series in which he starred with acting newcomer Bill Cosby, to this day, many fans of the show felt that it was Culp's acting demeanor that gave the show it's real appeal.
Unfortunately, Cosby's being the first Black in a television series in a lead role, stole the show from him. Cosby became the viewer draw.
Culp was initially hired to be the 'lead' star in the series, but in the last three years of its run, Cosby was the everyone talked about even though, clearly, he was not the veteran or polished actor Cosby was.
In the final two years, Cosby was even paid more for his participation than Culp was, which did not come out until some ten or more years after the series ended.
Regardless, the series was a good one for its time, even though now quite dated to a younger generation who know little of and care less about the 'Cold War' period of history.
Culp played the show's lead character, Texas Ranger Hobey Gillman, as a hip, cool dude; somewhat reminiscent of the then running top rated detective series, Peter Gunn.
Culp gave the character a cool walk 'hip-diddy' walk, and spoke his lines as though he'd taken his responses off the top of his head and, basically, without any thought whatsoever before doing so. He was even cool when someone had the drop on him, or when he outdrew the bad guy. He was just plain 'cool'.
Robert Culp sharpened this image during his tenure in his first television starring role and vehicle. He then deftly transferred it, intact, to the character Kelly Robinson in the 1965 TV espionage hit, "I Spy."
In that top rated series in which he starred with acting newcomer Bill Cosby, to this day, many fans of the show felt that it was Culp's acting demeanor that gave the show it's real appeal.
Unfortunately, Cosby's being the first Black in a television series in a lead role, stole the show from him. Cosby became the viewer draw.
Culp was initially hired to be the 'lead' star in the series, but in the last three years of its run, Cosby was the everyone talked about even though, clearly, he was not the veteran or polished actor Cosby was.
In the final two years, Cosby was even paid more for his participation than Culp was, which did not come out until some ten or more years after the series ended.
Regardless, the series was a good one for its time, even though now quite dated to a younger generation who know little of and care less about the 'Cold War' period of history.
This, along with Wanted Dead or Alive, was one of the better written and scripted of the routine weekly western TV dramas that glutted late 1950s TV.
Robert Culp was unique in his character of Hobie Gilman. Gilman looked for the moral justice behind each situation he found himself in. It was not just 30 minutes of chase 'em and shoot 'em.
Interestingly, Steve McQueen got his first shot at a TV series by playing Josh Randall on an episode of Track Down. His spin off series Wanted Dead or Alive was also a unique series, and launched another great actor's career.
By today's standards, yes, most of the 1950s westerns were formulaic. But if you have the time to catch a group of them for comparison, Track Down stands out. Culp is a great actor, as subsequently shown in every piece of work he did later on.
Robert Culp was unique in his character of Hobie Gilman. Gilman looked for the moral justice behind each situation he found himself in. It was not just 30 minutes of chase 'em and shoot 'em.
Interestingly, Steve McQueen got his first shot at a TV series by playing Josh Randall on an episode of Track Down. His spin off series Wanted Dead or Alive was also a unique series, and launched another great actor's career.
By today's standards, yes, most of the 1950s westerns were formulaic. But if you have the time to catch a group of them for comparison, Track Down stands out. Culp is a great actor, as subsequently shown in every piece of work he did later on.
- Virgil_Hilts_1964
- Mar 12, 2004
- Permalink
An obvious vehicle for Culp, "Trackdown" was on the cutting edge of the 'adult' western. Culp's character, Hoby Gilman comes off as a hip Texas Ranger-kind of a cross between Sunset Strips Kooky, and Dragnet's Joe Friday! By today's standards, routine, at the time it was must viewing.
- Easygoer10
- Dec 8, 2019
- Permalink
Durring the years when so much of US programming was taken up by Western shows there were many good 'oaters' and this was one of my faves. I was thrilled, then when one year when it was running my Dad took me to the Texas State Prison Rodeo in Huntsville, Texas and the featured entertainment that weekend was Robert Culp appearing as his 'Trackdown' personna. There is not much available on DVD of this show all these years later but I did find one disc with 10 episodes. Video tranfer is so-so but not unwatchable, from ATI Inc Audio Tape Inc).
- wsutton_49
- Jan 6, 2022
- Permalink
Trackdown was a western that ran two seasonsn television and was a product of
Dick Powell's Four Star Productions. It starred Robert Culp who got his first big
break as an actor.
Culp played Texas Ranger Hoby Gilman and he was on roving assignment throughout the state of Texas. Culp dealt with assorted bad gius bringing them to justice.
Watching these haf hour episodes I liked the fact that even with the li,ited time it took to develop characters the plots were tigjht and the stories told. Culp was a man dedicated to enforcing law and justice.
A pity this did not run longer, but Robert Culpas destined for bigger and better things.
Culp played Texas Ranger Hoby Gilman and he was on roving assignment throughout the state of Texas. Culp dealt with assorted bad gius bringing them to justice.
Watching these haf hour episodes I liked the fact that even with the li,ited time it took to develop characters the plots were tigjht and the stories told. Culp was a man dedicated to enforcing law and justice.
A pity this did not run longer, but Robert Culpas destined for bigger and better things.
- bkoganbing
- Aug 14, 2020
- Permalink
Eso me suena un gracias a Dios jajaja!! Lo se necesito amigos.
- wapam-59024
- Feb 1, 2019
- Permalink
This show while not as well known as bonanza, gunsmoke, rawhide, or the rifleman may be the best of the classic TV westerns. In fact, as much as I like Richard Boone as a show I believe Trackdown is superior to have gun will travel. In thirty minutes you generally have a complex story, well acted, with some moral ambiguity to it. Of course Robert Culp makes the show work in a way few others could, but all in all one of the few fifties shows that still holds up sixty years later.
- jonathanrspalding
- May 10, 2020
- Permalink
Hoby Gilman, the Texas Ranger played by Robert Culp, was dry and somewhat unfriendly, just like Robert Culp was in most of his roles. I always liked Robert Culp when I was a kid. Years later, as an adult, I found his characters in most roles were dry and a bit abrasive.
Texas Ranger Hoby Gilman usually expects the worst from people, and often he gets it. Sometimes people turn out to be good, which not only surprises Gilman, but sometimes they make him look like a jerk.
It is interesting that the writers would occasionally show up Gilman by making him look bad, but that was the Adult Western Genre that was popular in the 1950s. Have Gun Will Travel, and Gunsmoke also had the frequent Adult Western theme of realistic stories with unhappy endings.
The stories sometimes felt pretty long even though it was only a half-hour show. Because of Gilman's personality, it seemed like a lot of the stories were fated to live up to his expectations regarding the other characters. Gilman's attitude about people makes it harder to enjoy the stories now, when I watch them as an adult.
Texas Ranger Hoby Gilman usually expects the worst from people, and often he gets it. Sometimes people turn out to be good, which not only surprises Gilman, but sometimes they make him look like a jerk.
It is interesting that the writers would occasionally show up Gilman by making him look bad, but that was the Adult Western Genre that was popular in the 1950s. Have Gun Will Travel, and Gunsmoke also had the frequent Adult Western theme of realistic stories with unhappy endings.
The stories sometimes felt pretty long even though it was only a half-hour show. Because of Gilman's personality, it seemed like a lot of the stories were fated to live up to his expectations regarding the other characters. Gilman's attitude about people makes it harder to enjoy the stories now, when I watch them as an adult.
Trackdown, Wanted Dead or Alive, Gunsmoke, and Have Gun, Will Travel were my favorite television westerns during the 1950s. I have the DVDs of the last three but can no record of Trackdown being available?
Hoby Gillman is as an important part of my memory as Josh Randall, Matt Dillon, and Paladin. I remember being glued in front of the television set on Saturday night with my family all around, turning the rabbit ears in JUST the right direction to get the least amount of "snow". A bowl full of popcorn and a bottle of Dr.Pepper by my side, I rode the range with all of my idols. Through the miracle of cable and a DVD player I can experience this feeling once again and it's wonderful! Trackdown was on for three seasons, as I recall. Does anyone know if it's available?
Hoby Gillman is as an important part of my memory as Josh Randall, Matt Dillon, and Paladin. I remember being glued in front of the television set on Saturday night with my family all around, turning the rabbit ears in JUST the right direction to get the least amount of "snow". A bowl full of popcorn and a bottle of Dr.Pepper by my side, I rode the range with all of my idols. Through the miracle of cable and a DVD player I can experience this feeling once again and it's wonderful! Trackdown was on for three seasons, as I recall. Does anyone know if it's available?
There are two things that stand out to me about this show. First, it was shot almost exclusively on soundstages; no outdoor or even backlot scenes And while I like Robert Culp, his character was not. Hoby Gilman was not particularly pleasant or friendly. In fact, he had a rather sour disposition.
- SouthernMaster
- May 10, 2019
- Permalink
Robert Culp is the most unique actor I've ever seen. He's one of the most believable characters--no matter what he portrays, from Trackdown to I Spy... Rarely does one see an actor with such natural finesse and brillance.
- arcticsnows
- Nov 24, 2001
- Permalink