The Young Riders - The Complete First Season
by Guy Magar, Joseph L. Scanlan, Virgil W. Vogel, George Mendeluk, James Keach
List Price:
Our Price: $21.44
You Save: $8.54 (28%)
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Buy Used: from $15.96 (click here)
Category: DVD
See more DVD details
Buy this DVD movie at online store in your country
Canada
Canada
DVD details
Actor: Brett Cullen, Josh Brolin, Max Tash, Stephen Baldwin, Stephen L. PoseyDirector: George Mendeluk, Guy Magar, James Keach, Joseph L. Scanlan, Virgil W. Vogel
Brand: Sony
DVD: Region Code 1
Audio: English (Unknown), Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo; English (Original Language), Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo
Format: Color, Dolby, DVD, Full Screen, NTSC, Widescreen
Picture Format: 1.33:1
Running Time: 1135 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2006-03-21
Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: MGM (Video & DVD)
DVD Reviews of The Young Riders - The Complete First Season
DVD Review: Historically Inacurate, Politically Indelicate, Well Produced, And Extremely Enjoyable: A Truly Fun Show
Summary: 4 Stars
When "The Young Riders" aired, I was only able to view a few episodes, but enjoyed what I saw. Hence, when I found the show listed on Amazon I purchased it, and have just finished watching Season 1. For the most part, I completely enjoyed the episodes, despite the fact that I had to keep reminding myself: "This is a fictional show, so ignore the historical non-sense and just get into a good, old fashioned western." And let me tell you, as someone who has read about and studied the "old west" for over 40 years, it is not always easy to ignore the "historical farces." But I did, and it is well worth it. Moreover, I hope that in doing so, people might find something in my review, unlike some current reviews, to help them decide to watch the show. And, like most other reviewers, I sure hope the studios release the other seasons.
For a show with such a large cast and such a limited venue, "The Young Riders" does an outstanding job--each actor getting their moment in the "light" to flesh out their character. In fact, it is the characters/actors that make this show SO fun to watch! Not being a huge follower of actors, I have no idea if any of the stars have managed to go on to "bigger" things, or have had a very successful career, but what they contributed to the "The Young Riders" is truly noteworthy--especially given the scripts sometimes "too unrealistic" content. In particular, I think that Anthony Zerbe, as Aloysius "Teaspoon" Hunter (a former Texas Ranger and one of the only survivors of the Battle of the Alamo), gives the best performances I have ever seen by him. While Ty Miller (as The Kid), Stephen Baldwin (as William F. Cody), Josh Brolin (as James Butler Hickok), and Travis Fine (as Ike McSwain) all give great performance (despite the fact they are all clearly too big--a rider could not weigh over 125 pounds), it is the other performances that I truly enjoyed.
Melissa Leo as Emma Shannon, the caretaker of the station and the riders, is adorable, alway on the money, and her portrayal expands exceptionally well through the season as her character grows. Brett Cullen is both comical and dramatic as Sam Cain, the current marshal of Sweetwater, and a former gunslinger who is in love with Emma. In many ways Cullen and his character are the central figures of the show. Yvonne Suhor, who plays the intriguing character Louise "Lou" McCloud (who presents herself as a man so that she can join the riders, but is found out by The Kid in the first episode, and by the other riders when they help her rescue her brother and sister from their abusive outlaw father), I find to be extremely refreshing, adding an unexpected dimension to the show. However, in my opinion, the best performer on the show is Gregg Rainwater (a Native American actor of Osage, Cherokee, and Irish descent) who plays Buck Cross (Running Buck), a half Kiowa who is close friends with Ike. More importantly, Rainwater's character, Buck, helps to break down stereotypes that the townsfolk have of Indians and, I fell, is the person that is always there and the glue that holds the "gang" together. Gregg Rainwater is the greatest redemption towards the "political indelicacy" of "The Young Riders."
Less simple for me to accept about the "The Young Riders" is what I am trying to minimize, by saying the show is "politically indelicate." I say this because there are a number of scenes and episodes involving Native Americans that are troubling: costumes, characterization, themes, tribes involved, or socio-cultural ways of Native American life. Conversely, there are also scenes that are quite positive in the presentation of Native Americans. Similarly, I found myself very unenthusiastic about the way "The Young Riders" addressed the politics of the causes of the American Civil War. The portrayal of persons sympathetic to the Southern cause are almost unilaterally the "bad guys," and supportive or activists of slavery. Yet at the same time, the show does show the US soldiers declaring martial law, trampling on private citizens, ignoring the US Constitution, and, in general, questionable individuals. I just wish the show had left the whole subject alone--especially since "The Young Riders" takes place (apparently) in Wyoming, where the American Civil War had little, if any, import during this time period. While there are other political issues I saw in the show, all were generally dealt with in the same fashion; that is, the show "attempted" to counter weight political views that were portrayed.
Overall, I would love to give "The Young Riders" five stars--and would based simply on pure entertainment--but I feel it necessary to acknowledge the "political" contradictions of the show. The four star rating is also based in part on aspects I have yet to mention: the ludicrousness of the number of people "killed," how easy some are "killed" and how easy some "recover," how seldom anyone actually reloads, and--perhaps most pertinent to the overall theme of the show--how little the pony express riders actually "ride."
Update--1 July 2008: If this review was not helpful to you, I would appreciate learning the reason(s) so I can improve my reviews. My goal is to provide help to potential buyers, not get into any arguments. So, if you only disagree with my opinion, could you please say so in the comments and not indicate that the review was not helpful. Thanks.
Description of The Young Riders - The Complete First Season
Saddle up for fun and adventure with "The Young Riders"! Set in the early days of the Pony Express, the series tells the fictionalized story of a group of young riders for the express in Sweetwater, Kansas, who just happen to include a couple of dudes who would one day go down in real-life history as two of the west?s most notorious names: "Buffalo Bill" Cody (Stephen Baldwin) and "Wild Bill" Hickock (Josh Brolin). In charge of the bunch is ex-Texas ranger and all-around eccentric teaspoon hunter (Anthony Zerbe). See how they all put the wild in the wild, wild west in this complete first season of "The Young Riders."Bestsellers in DVD
![The Story of Jeremiah [VHS] Image](/images/noimg.gif)
The Story of Jeremiah [VHS]Vision Video; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Wresting With God [VHS]by Vision Video
Vision Video; Published: 1990-10-01; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Price in other shops:
Study Bible Video with Workbook [VHS]Spring Arbor Distributors; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Best price: $7.95
Price in other shops:
Tempo:Childrens TV Favourites Video [VHS]HarperCollins Audio; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Best price: $9.17
Price in other shops:
Tempo.Herbs:Parseley'Sb/ Party Video [VHS]HarperCollins Audio; VHS Tape; VHS Video
![Strike the Original Match [VHS] Image](/images/Strike-the-Original-Match-VHS-0001374079-X.jpg)
Strike the Original Match [VHS]New Liberty Films; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Price in other shops:
![Medjugorje The Miracles and the Message [VHS] Image](/images/Medjugorje-The-Miracles-and-the-Message-VHS-0001373293-X.jpg)
Medjugorje The Miracles and the Message [VHS]JPN Film Production; Release date: 1995-12-15; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Best price: $29.99
Mayo Clinic Echocardiography Review Course for Boards and Recertification DVD 2008by Mayo
DVD
Price in other shops:
Pediatric Diagnostic Imaging DVD: Single Userby Oakstone
DVD
Price in other shops:
Cost Accounting [VHS]by Charles T. Horngren, George Foster, Srikant M. Datar, Howard Teall
Pearson Canada, Toronto; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Similar DVDs, VHS Video, Audio CDs
Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman: The Complete SeriesA and E Home Video; Release date: 2009-10-20; DVD
Best price: $71.99
Price in other shops:
PurgatoryNEW Line Home Video; Release date: 2005-05-17; DVD
Best price: $7.61
Price in other shops:
Tour of Duty - The Complete First SeasonTour; Release date: 2004-06-08; DVD
Best price: $16.99
Price in other shops:
Sam Elliott Western Collection (Rough Riders / You Know My Name / The Desperate Trail)Warner Brothers; Release date: 2009-02-10; DVD
Best price: $12.00
Price in other shops:
BordertownEcho; Release date: 2005-11-11; DVD
Best price: $11.31
Price in other shops:
Big Valley - Season 1STANWYCK,BARBARA; Release date: 2006-05-16; DVD
Best price: $6.47
Price in other shops:
Hawkeye: The Complete SeriesRelease date: 2011-03-22; DVD
Best price: $5.79
Price in other shops:
The Magnificent Seven - The Complete Second SeasonRelease date: 2007-05-22; DVD
Best price: $9.95
Price in other shops:
The Magnificent Seven - The Complete First SeasonSony; Release date: 2005-12-06; DVD
Best price: $9.98
Price in other shops:
The Magnificent Seven: The Complete SeriesSony; Release date: 2008-05-13; DVD
Best price: $29.33
Price in other shops: