MovieChat Forums > Have Gun - Will Travel (1957) Discussion > Genesis Episode (*Spoilers*)

Genesis Episode (Spoilers)

posted 12 years ago by jamesbwill
9 replies | jump to latest

I just watched the Genesis episode on Encore Westerns.

I have always wondered how they shot the scenes of Paladin with his mustache and Smoke, who was clean-shaven. Both were played by Richard Boone.

This will always be the most interesting HGWT episode for me. It really reveals a lot about Paladin's true character.

I also think that they should have had Smoke meet his end by having Paladin prepared to fight him, but then he finds Smoke had died from his tuberulosis. Instead, they have their gunfight and Paladin kills Smoke. Paladin then assumes Smoke's appearance and personality, to some extent. This explains how Paladin came to be what he is.

The Genesis episode is one I always try to watch.

[–] lexyladyjax 12 years ago

I have all the books about Richard Boone and HGWT which are currently available, not that there are that many, and this bit's unexplained in them. What is explained is that Hal Needham was the body double for Paladin and that his face was put in post-production. From behind one can tell the difference in their ears, Needham's are smaller.

My theory is this: either the episode was shot at the end of the 5th season or they began shooting early enough on the 6th season so Richard Boone could regrow his Paladin mustache. That way he could have done the Smoke character bits early enough so shaving off the mustache didn't matter.

Boone appeared to have a heavy beard from the looks of it and he likely could have regrown his mustache in a couple of weeks. He was once quoted that his mustache was light enough that eyebrow pencil was sometimes used to darken it for the photography and lighting of HGWT.

Now I must see it again and check his lip. I'm glad you asked this one, thanks.

[–] PattyGJones 12 years ago

What an awful task -- having to study Dick's mouth! Wish we could do so up close and personal!

"I'm only in Show Biz by injection"

[–] lexyladyjax 12 years ago

Poor moi, indeed! I accidentally deleted GENESIS! I'm so angry with myself I could spit venom!

Grrrr!

[–] PattyGJones 12 years ago

Did you try your trashbox? It could still be in there somewhere. Computer geeks frequently find things in the hard drive that the users were sure had been deleted. My prayers are with you -- much too precious a jewel to lose.

"I'm only in Show Biz by injection"

[–] lexyladyjax 12 years ago

This isn't Tivo, unfortunately. It has no undelete function, damn the bad luck. I so wish that it did. Now I must wait until GENESIS comes round again.

Hisssss!

[–] PattyGJones 12 years ago

There's no trash bin on your system where everything you delete goes? That's the pits. I'd invest in a geek to try and find it, then burn it onto a DVD. I am, of course, talking out of my a**, since I know less than zero about any of this and should assume you've had every thought I have a long time ago. Oh, well, God in His mercy and all that.

"I'm only in Show Biz by injection"

[–] JoeN678 11 years ago

The Genesis episode is Season 6 episode 1, so Boone would have had time to regrow his moustache. If you have On Demand and subscribe to the Encore/Starz channels, you can watch any/all of the HGWT episodes for free at your discretion. I watched it a couple of weeks ago on demand, and again this week when it was broadcast on Encore Westerns at 3 PM EDT. Very interesting story, and two great performances by Richard Boone. An interesting note: James Mitchum (who looks exactly like his dad) appears at the start and finish of this episode, and is billed in the end credits as "Introducing James Mitchum". This episode is dated 1960. However, Jim Mitchum's screen debut (not counting an uncredited cameo in 1949's Colorado when he was 8) was in 1958, portraying his dad's brother in Thunder Road, and appeared in 3 other films prior to HGWT. The HGWT appearance was his television debut, hence the "introducing" credit despite his 4 film roles. From 1967 to 1978 James was married to the gorgeous actress Wende Wagner, known best on TV as Britt Reid's secretary in "The Green Hornet", and as Mia Farrow's friend at her baby shower in Rosemary's Baby.

[–] lexyladyjax 11 years ago

Wende Wagner was in RIO CONCHOS with Richard Boone in 1960. While filming a torture scene with Jim Brown and Stuart Whitman, Boone was tied to an Indian pony, which got spooked and ran away, dragging 300 yards and injuring him. That accident caused him lifelong back problems.

Richard Boone enjoyed working with young promising actors. He went out of his way to offer them work in his series.

Some things you just can't ride around...

[–] lexyladyjax 11 years ago

Season 6 of HGWT arrived at last, so now I can watch GENESIS any time I like. Oh, Joy! GENESIS, TAYLOR'S WOMAN, THE FIFTH BULLET, A PLACE FOR ABEL HICKS, there are gems in the 6th season! What a delight!

There are stinkers as well, but the flowers outweigh the fertiliser.

Some things you just can't ride around...