Wanted Dead or Alive (TV series)

Wanted Dead or Alive
Company type	Television series
Industry	Entertainment
Founded	September 6, 1958; 68 years ago
Founder	Four Star Television, CBS
Headquarters	United States
Area served	United States
Key people	Steve McQueen (lead actor), Vincent Fennelly (producer)
Products	Television series (Western genre)
Parent	Four Star Television, CBS

Wanted Dead or Alive is a Western television series from the United States featuring Steve McQueen in the role of bounty hunter Josh Randall. The show was broadcast on CBS across three seasons between 1958 and 1961. Presented in black-and-white, it originated as a spin-off from a March 1958 episode of Trackdown, another Western series headlined by Robert Culp. Both productions were overseen by Vincent Fennelly for Four Star Television, in partnership with CBS.

This series played a pivotal role in cementing McQueen’s reputation as a television icon with his trademark "cool" demeanor, subsequently paving the way for him to become the first TV actor to successfully transition to leading roles in major motion pictures.

Synopsis

Josh Randall, a Confederate veteran turned bounty hunter,, is distinguished by his empathetic nature. He frequently allocates his bounty earnings to assist the underprivileged and supports individuals wrongfully imprisoned.

Beyond apprehending criminals, Randall’s endeavors include mediating familial disputes, exonerating innocent detainees, aiding an amnesiac in regaining lost memories, and tracking down missing persons—ranging from spouses and children to fiancées and even a daughter abducted years earlier by Native Americans. The variety of these missions and his prioritization of justice over financial gain contributed significantly to the show's appeal.

Except for the initial episodes, Randall is accompanied by his spirited horse named Ringo.

Beginning with the 1960 episode "Jason," Wright King joined the cast as Jason Nichols, a youthful deputy sheriff who becomes a bounty hunter. Nichols’ character was removed by the third season. The episode titled "The Partners," where Nichols kills three men whom Randall believed could have been captured alive, is often regarded as the critical turning point in their partnership.

Main

Steve McQueen portrayed Josh Randall throughout all 94 episodes.

Guest stars

Development

Vincent Fennelly and Four Star Television intended to create a spinoff from Trackdown, which itself originated from Zane Grey Theater. Hillard Elkins, Steve McQueen's manager who also represented Robert Culp from Trackdown, proposed McQueen for the leading role. McQueen's persona aligned well with Fennelly’s concept for the character Randall. Although McQueen was initially hesitant about Westerns, he agreed after engaging with Fennelly and embracing the role's vision. The pilot episode was shot prior to McQueen’s appearance in The Blob in 1958.

Dick Powell, founder of Four Star, initially doubted McQueen’s suitability due to his stature and lack of equestrian skills but was persuaded after reviewing early footage. Powell also conceived the idea of equipping Josh Randall with a unique signature weapon.

McQueen acquired horseback riding skills specifically for this series. Known for being demanding on set, he dismissed three stuntmen on the first day, including Richard Farnsworth; Loren Janes ultimately became his stunt double for this show and subsequent films.

Though fictional, the series’ bounty hunter theme drew inspiration from historical elements of the American West.

Starting at $750 per episode, McQueen's salary eventually increased to $100,000 annually as the show gained popularity—a remarkable sum at the time. A shift in the third season’s timeslot that negatively affected ratings may have been CBS’s tactic to conclude the series amid escalating production expenses and conflicts with sponsor Viceroy cigarettes.

The program also provided a platform that helped launch the careers of several directors.

Writing

Among the writers were Samuel A. Peeples, Tom Gries, and Charles Beaumont.

Filming

The debut episode was filmed both on the 20th Century Fox backlot in West Los Angeles and on location in Arizona. The majority of the series’ production took place at Selznick Studios. Additional outdoor scenes were captured at the famed Iverson Movie Ranch in Chatsworth, California. Scenes were also shot on Republic Pictures’ backlot in Studio City, featuring the Western street and Duchess Ranch sets, which included a barn, main house, and bunkhouse.

Music

Rudy Schrager composed the primary theme, with Herschel Burke Gilbert overseeing music supervision.

Colorized version

In December 1987, Four Star International completed a full colorization of Wanted Dead or Alive, marking it as the first classic television series to undergo complete colorization. This edition was broadcast across more than 50 independent TV stations.

Firearms

Josh Randall’s trademark weapon was the "Mare’s Leg," a shortened Winchester Model 1892 chambered in .44-40 caliber housed in a distinctive quick-draw holster. Although his gun belt contained .45-70 cartridges for visual effect, these rounds were incompatible with the firearm itself. The Mare’s Leg was a functional weapon officially registered with the Los Angeles Police Department. To perfect his quick-draw skills, Steve McQueen trained alongside Sammy Davis Jr., who was renowned for his expertise with Western-style pistols.

Themes

Television Westerns initially aimed at younger viewers, but by the mid-1950s, both Western films and TV shows began targeting adult audiences. Wanted Dead or Alive played a significant role in shaping the "adult Western" genre through its compelling protagonist. Distinct from many contemporaneous Westerns, it prioritized action sequences rather than deep character exploration, with Steve McQueen’s method acting approach making a notable impact. His portrayal of Josh Randall was characterized by a reserved and taciturn demeanor, frequently driven more by monetary bounties than by moral justice.

While most TV Westerns adhered to traditional genre formulas, Josh Randall emerged as an antihero within the Revisionist Western framework. Although McQueen was initially reluctant to accept a role in a Western, he ultimately welcomed the opportunity to present a more authentic depiction of a bounty hunter.

Broadcast

Wanted Dead or Alive made its debut on CBS on September 6, 1958. It originally aired Saturday evenings from 8:30 to 9 p.m. until September 1960, after which it shifted to Wednesday nights in the same time slot until March 1961.

Home media

The first season was released on DVD (Region 1) by New Line Home Entertainment on June 7, 2005. In 2007, BCI Eclipse secured distribution rights and issued seasons two and three on July 17 and October 16, respectively. Later, in June 2009, Mill Creek Entertainment licensed the series from the copyright owner StudioCanal and reissued the initial two seasons. Subsequently, on August 25, 2009, Mill Creek released a comprehensive 11-disc DVD collection containing all 94 episodes.

Reception

Although the series initially garnered audience approval, critical response was mixed. A September 1958 review in Variety described McQueen’s portrayal of the bounty hunter as somewhat "stuffy," recognizing competent acting but calling for enhancements in scriptwriting and direction. By its third season, viewership diminished partly due to its schedule change from Saturdays to Wednesdays, where it competed against the well-established The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet.

1986 film

In 1986, New World Pictures produced a modestly budgeted film adaptation titled Wanted: Dead or Alive, which modernized the protagonist into a contemporary bounty hunter. Rutger Hauer starred as Nick Randall, the grandson of Josh Randall, engaged in pursuing terrorists within a $4.5 million production.

External links