As a young boy I remember watching all the classic western TV shows so popular at the time, Maverick, Wagon Train, Cheyenne, and countless others. Some had catchy opening themes, often more memorable than the shows that followed. I always remember "Have Gun Will Travel" in particular because of the insistent opening chords that introduce Paladin and the catchy theme song that became popular as well. However, after recently seeing several episodes on DVD recently, I was struck by the appearance of music cues from Jerome Moross. They are completely unmistakable to anyone familiar with his magnificent score for "The Big Country." Even watching a second rate episode of the series, one can marvel at the simple pleasure of Moross's music. For example, in the season 4 episode "Bear Bait" the story and acting were not up to par with best episodes, but music cues were generally stunning. Something for anyone making a foray into this classic series to consider.
Review of Have Gun - Will Travel
