"Daniel Boone" (1964) TV series 1964-1970

User Rating:

7.5/10   

Directors:

Nathan Juran
George Marshall

Writers:

Erich Faust (story) (episode "Heroes Welcome")
Martin Levy (adaptation) (episode "Scrinshaw Ivory Chart, The")

Seasons:

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6

Release Date:

24 September 1964 (USA)

Genre:

Adventure | History | Western

Plot:

Frontier hero Daniel Boone conducts surveys and expeditions around Boonesborough, running into both friendly and hostile Indians...

Plot Keywords:

Frontier | Daniel Boone | Folk Hero | Faithful Indian | Raccoon Cap

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Fess Parker	...	Daniel Boone (102 episodes, 1964-1970)
Patricia Blair	...	Rebecca Boone / ... (72 episodes, 1964-1970)
Darby Hinton	...	Israel Boone / ... (65 episodes, 1964-1970)
Ed Ames	...	Mingo / ... (56 episodes, 1964-1968)

Runtime:

60 min (165 episodes)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White | Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound Recording)

Certification:

Australia:PG (some episodes) | Australia:G

Filming Locations:

Big Bear Lake, California, USA

Company:

Arcola Pictures

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Behind the Camera: The Unauthorized Story of 'Charlie's Angels' (2004) (TV)

Soundtrack:

Daniel Boone

Covered Quite A Range of American History

If the real Daniel Boone ever saw this show from some heavenly perch, he would have been amazed to see just how much was attributed to him. Boone in fact did live a very long life (1734-1820) for his era. But he not only was on the scene for just about every event in American history from the French and Indian War to the Jefferson presidency, but he, his family, and friends, never aged.

I remember back in the day that had Boone involved in the French and Indian War right up to the Aaron Burr conspiracy of 1805. That's about fifty years difference. Boone apparently knew and met just about every important person in that time period. I thought he had enough to do just settling the state of Kentucky and keeping himself and his family alive in dangerous times and places.

But Boone was played with charm and modesty by Fess Parker who after essaying the role of Davy Crockett for Disney seemed like the only choice for this part. The real Daniel Boone by all accounts was a modest and retiring man who was startled by all the fuss made about him. He also lost two sons in fights with the Indians, tragedy dogged him in his long life.

Parker had a good cast of regulars to help him, most notably Ed Ames, lead singer of the Ames brothers who went out on a solo career of his own while the show was running. He made a never to be forgotten appearance on the Tonight Show demonstrating the art of tomahawk throwing and scalping somewhat below decks.

It was a pleasant enough show, but kids if you see the reruns on TV Guide Channel don't cheat on your history homework by watching this.