Hec Ramsey 

The adventures of Hec Ramsey, a turn-of-the-20th-century detective who prefers to use his brains instead of his guns.

Stars:

Richard Boone, Rick Lenz, Harry Morgan

1 win.

Cast

Complete series cast summary:
Richard Boone	...	Hec Ramsey / ... 10 episodes, 1972-1974
Rick Lenz	...	Chief Oliver Stamp 10 episodes, 1972-1974
Harry Morgan	...	Doc Amos B. Coogan 8 episodes, 1972-1974
Dennis Rucker	...	Arne Tornquist / ... 8 episodes, 1972-1974

Storyline

Ex-gunfighter Hec Ramsey decided to settle down in New Prospect, Oklahoma, where he took a job as deputy to young Sheriff Stamp. Ramsey had become tired of settling disputes with his pistols, so he began studying the new art of criminology, learning about fingerprints and ballistics and contemporary methods of solving crimes. Amos Coogan was Hec's barber pal, and Norma the beautiful woman Hec was kinda "sweet" on.

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Plot Keywords:

character name as series title | two word series title | police | police detective | forensics | 

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Genres:

Mystery | Western

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

8 October 1972 (USA)

Filming Locations:

Denver Street, Backlot, Universal Studios - 100 Universal City Plaza, Universal City, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Mark VII Ltd., Universal Television

Technical Specs

Runtime:

90 min (10 episodes)

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

In the fall of 1972, NBC moved its successful Wednesday night Mystery Movie series consisting of "Columbo," "McCloud," and "McMillan and Wife" to Sunday nights and added a fourth show, "Hec Ramsey," while turning the original slot over to three new mysteries ("Banacek," "Madigan," and "Cool Million"). "Hec Ramsey" was a product of Jack Webb's then prolific production company. The series, which ran for two seasons (a total of ten 90 minute to 2 hour episodes) was superficially a Western, but it was set in the waning days of the Wild West when science was beginning to play a more significant role in crime solving than gunplay.

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Connections

Follows Hec Ramsey: The Century Turns (1972)

User Reviews

Ballistics and forensics in the old west

Hec Ramsey was one of those revolving fourth TV series that comprised the Sunday Mystery Movie on NBC in the 70s. The three permanent franchises that found audience favor were Columbo, McCloud, and McMillan&Wife. During the 70s NBC made several attempts at other series for a fourth.

Hec Ramsey actually lasted two seasons and starred Richard Boone as a former lawman who kept up with the times. If necessary he could still outdraw someone in a gunfight, but he carried with him a portable crime lab and was now versed in ballistics and forensics.

Boone now works for Richard Lenz a police chief in New Providence, Oklahoma who also believes in these things though the two grate on each other. That's how it went in the few episodes of Hec Ramsey.

Boone's character worked in his youth for the famous hanging Judge Parker and so did one Rooster J. Cogburn. If Rooster made it to the turn of the last century, I wonder how he would have adapted.

Hec Ramsey a western that played like a mystery.