Will we ever see The Rifleman complete series?

Re: Will we ever see The Rifleman complete series?

120 of 168 episodes were released, leaving 48 eps. missing from the 3rd-5th seasons. The release of "The Rifleman" to dvd at least was not abandoned due to sales issues but because time ran out on MPI's contract. There is some further information (and reason for hope) about the issue posted here:

http://riflemanconnors.com/newsletter.htm

Re: Will we ever see The Rifleman complete series?

Yes, a 50th anniversary addtion would be nice indeed.

Welcome to the forum, by the way. Nice to see more vintage television fans joining in.

We watched three or four episodes from this wonderful series last night. I own several episodes on VHS; I'd love to hear that this set is going to be distributed in its entirety on DVD one day.

I sure hope so. I'm taking an official break from purchasing any new sets while I sit back and enjoy the abundance of unwatched classic TV shows I already have.

The Rifleman is one of the few series where I wouldn't be able to stop myself from getting it the minute it was released.

I'm right there with you on that. I think a nice boxed set with all five seasons (single-sided DVDs) would be great. But I'd purchase them in individual seasons as well.

I think The Rifleman is probably my favorite western of all-time. I know it includes my favorite music ever written for a western (Herschel Burke Gilbert). Some of those themes are dark, ominous, and so appropriate for what is being seen on the screen. And the orchestration is very creative, and captures my attention whenever I hear many of the familiar lines and harmonies throughout the series.

Remember these clips?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WXu30u2FHFk&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uFmTaNHiCsg

If the complete set contains remastered transfers (not the existing MPI box set transfers) then I'm in for the complete set.  I just watched a couple of eps from the MPI Box Set #3.  I'm about done with that one.  I have all the MPI sets so buying a complete set would be a tough call if the DVD's aren't remastered video and audio.  I've had trouble hearing the audio with the MPI sets. 

Bringing this back up... anymore news... the Complete Series set was delayed and we never heard anymore.. any news on this release?

Dave,

I haven't heard anything at all about this one.  I know there's a lot of us watching for news.  I hope the project wasn't abandoned.

With the passing of Arnold Laven things could be looking dim. The whole process will probably have to start over. But maybe if no one else wants to deal with it, like Mr. Laven had been, they will just license it out to someone else that will push it through more quickly knowing there is a following.

I had been hoping for a re-showing on Encore so I could just capture them, but with their new line-up announced that doesn't look to be a possibility for several years.

On that note, I checked on the Rifleman forum and saw a post from Encore, albeit from October, about the new line-up that looked interesting. I will post it below:

=============================================
The channel is gearing up for a big New Year’s Weekend Marathon (January 1 – 3, 2010) that will launch the Encore Westerns channel’s newest classic television series: Gunsmoke, The Virginian and Have Gun Will Travel.  The trio of new series will each get their own 24-hour marathon across the holiday weekend.
 

Beginning at 12:00am E/P (midnight) on Friday, January 1: The Virginian.  Following twenty-four hours later at 12:00am E/P Saturday, January 2: Have Gun Will Travel.  And wrapping up on Sunday, beginning at 12:00am E/P: Gunsmoke.  (Encore Westerns has Gunsmoke Seasons 7 – 11 under license.)
 

Beginning Monday, January 4, 2010 - a new Classic TV Series block, western series episodes airing Monday – Friday. All three new series plus others are featured (exact series lineup and start times TBD).
 

Coming soon to Encore Westerns: more great television series! Dead Man’s Gun (begins March 2010) and Lawman (begins July 2010).
=============================================

So it might be worth getting the DVR ready to go to check these out more closely. I would be interested in seeing what the Virginian is like before the upcoming march release. It looks like Gunsmoke might start with season 7. Not sure about HGWT.

I'm waiting for one of my all-time miniseries from the 70's "How the West Was Won" with James Arness, and many other stars.  There was a rumor a while back about Encore's plans to show that miniseries but I haven't seen it on the schedule.

Reading these posts, and the previous posts concerning the "Rifleman" has sparked my memory of this great Western TV Series!

I use to watch reruns of this series in the 60's every weeknight at 7:00 p.m. on my Local Television Station. I remember the episodes being very clear, and the audio sounded great too, unlike the 'MPI box set transfers."

And Yes, I agree that the music in the background of this series was so very dramatic, and was done spectacularly well!!!

A 50th Anniversary Box Set of 160 Episodes sure would have been far out!!!!!
I was already to purchase this from Amazon.com, but then when I read on through the posts, I realized it was probably not going to happen quite yet, especially with the passing of Arnold Laven. What a Darn Shame! But, at least I still have hope it might happen in the near future. Let Us All Just Keep Our Fingers Crossed for THIS ONE!!!!!!!!!
Edited by Greg2356 - 2/19/10 at 10:15am

This is another great series that the studio failed to release in full.  The MPI box seets did not release approximately 35 episodes form the series. Despite many requests and letters, the studio has once again failed the paying public.

Hello

 

Have you ever found out if all seasons or showes 168 are available?

 

Steven Madaus