Rawhide: Season 4, Vol. 1

Changes in directors, producers, film-stock, camera-lenses and story writers turned a great series into a declining and mediocre one. This season saw a move out of the studio as often as possible, perhaps to take advantage of panchromatic film (sensitive to the full-color spectrum) as opposed to the previous ortho-chromatic film (sensitive only to red light). The first few episodes clearly show that the production crew was having difficulty with the contrast and lighting for the new film, especially outdoors. In addition, whether caused by digital transfer, or a change in the "normal" camera focal-length, most of the shots are too tight, and the wide-open feeling of the free range has now compressed into tight shots of almost everything. Oddly, when shots return to the studio a wider-angel lens is often used, serving to remind one of what is wrong with the new series.However, one can adapt to these types of changes and about midway through the CD's the strange contrast effects begin to diminish. What cannot be assimilated is the increasingly evident lack of creativity in the story plots. More and more, the "Hollywood" effect begins to creep in; a subtle infusion of strange plots like "The Twenty Five Santa-Clauses, " with its incredulous beginning of Santa Claus popping up in the middle of nowhere with a plot equally unbelievable. Similar stories, like British Royalty seeking the thrill of the American West in a cattle-drive, or MISS BARBARA STANWICK'S rendition of a nearly-insane women's liberation psychopath, begin to show the values-changing content being inserted into a show that had a simple theme, uncluttered by modernism. There are a few good episodes, but they only rise to OK compared to the previous three seasons. I don't believe I will purchase any additional series, unless I can discern a return to the previous quality in reviews of them here on Amazon.

Definitely not great. The picture quality is pretty bad. Some episodes thankfully not as much as others, but overall a little hard to look at.

Today (Mar 21) it was announced that after a wait of 30 months (Dec 2008), Rawhide ... Season 4 Vol 1 will be finally released and Season 4 Vol 2 will likely be out at the end of 2011. (tvshowsonDVD.com says "We hear that the rest of the thirty-episode season should make it out onto DVD near the end of this year, although CBS/Paramount hasn't formally announced it yet. Still, it's good to know that it's already on their radar!")Wow, this is good news, but wish they would speed up the releases so we can have all 8 seasons. Better late than never I guess.June 10 update. Paramount has done a splendid job on this....keep the releases coming!

I just pre-ordered a copy of Rawhide Season 4 Volume 1. Too bad I have to wait until June. Just last week I almost shelled out money for the complete series from a video dealer, even knowing that the quality would be poor, but I changed my mind at the last minute. I hope Paramount doesn't make me wait 3 years for Season 5, which I consider to be Rawhide's best season (heck, beggars can't be choosy). Hey Soos

It’s one of the best cowboy shows made.

Having screened all 217 episodes for my book ("Rawhide: A History of Television's Longest Cattle Drive" available on Amazon), I can assure fans that the series was still going strong by Season 4. All characters were being given more to do, and there were numerous landmark episodes: Rio Salado, The Long Shakedown, The Inside Man, Reunion...and more! Just wish CBS would release entire seasons in one package. RAWHIDE A HISTORY OF TELEVISION'S LONGEST CATTLE DRIVE

I only gave it 4 stars because the first 3 seasons has a play all option, instead of having to play each episode at a time. This one doesn't have the play all option. Has anyone else noticed this?

This a great series of Rawhide I would recommend this video if you like the Rawhide show.

As others have found after the Region 2 releases of series 1-3, four is a bitter disappointment visually. Stories are still very good, but there is a shock coming in part 2!

I have the first three seasons of Rawhide. The quality is very good. I ordered both volume 1 and 2 of season 4 and the quality is really poor. It's not a case of shaky old film. There are horizontal lines on it, almost as if it has pixilated. Supermart have been very good. They swiftly sent a replacement but it was just as bad. I have now requested a refund. I see Amazon are releasing the complete season 4 next year. Let's hope the reproduction problem has been solved and the quality is as good as the first three seasons.

My favourite western series of all time - and the reproduction is so much better than when viewed originally on the old 425 line screen.

Lovely stuff they don,t make em like this any more

arrived sooner than expected which was great as just finished watching 3rd series