Season Three follows the West formula to a tee, but is notable for a couple of interesting elements: the show at this point was a bona fide success, and could rest on its laurels, so to speak, but Season Three opens with several episodes that are not as studio-bound as the first two seasons. In fact the first two episodes of the season show significant location photography probably not confined to even the studio backlot; "The Night of the Firebrand" contains long tracking shots of some great horseriding by Conrad and the requisite band of bad guys through what one assumes are the canyons outside of Los Angeles, and several other episodes throughout the season show a similar "opening up" of the studio-bound formula. Also notable is less reliance on the "machine of the week," which permeated the first two seasons. While there are certainly gorgeous and eye-popping set designs and various accoutrements that are completely out of place for the 1870s (Dr. Loveless' plush purple elevator, for example), there are noticeably fewer huge contraptions in this season.

Several of the episodes concern various conflicts in and around Mexico, one of them featuring a guest turn by silent star Ramon Navarro in one of his last appearances. Fans of the series know that it didn't shirk in hiring gorgeous female guest stars (most of whom turned out to be only momentarily swayed from evil by Conrad's sex appeal), and this season is no exception, with some fun turns by such beauties as Lana Wood, Madlyn Rhue and Susan Oliver.

One of the things that may strike some listeners, albeit subliminally, is what must have been the pervasive influence of Lalo Schifrin's smash Mission: Impossible score, which had taken the nation by storm the previous season. Therefore, you'll notice a lot of bongo drums, triangles, and other Schifrin-esque devices in the underscoring for this season which, like some of the set pieces, seem a trifle out of place for the western setting.

The Wild, Wild West sadly lasted only four seasons on CBS, and this third season release is a great reason to celebrate for its many fans worldwide.

The DVD

Video:
The image quality on this release is eye-popping (though I watched on an upconverting HD-DVD player). James West has his trademark ski-pants and short jacket suit in a variety of brilliant colors this season aside from the customary blue, including a gorgeous teal. The 1.33:1 image is crisp and clear with no damage or artifacts.

Sound:
The original mono soundtrack has been Dolby-ized and sounds great. Both the dialogue and the distinctive underscoring have excellent fidelity, and the frequent sound effects have a lot of punch.

Extras:
Unfortunately no extras on this set. The first season had some informative, if brief, comments by Conrad on each episode, and it would have been fun to have had that tradition continued for all the seasons.

Final Thoughts:
For young boys growing up in the late 60s, The Wild, Wild West was the ultimate fantasy show--what kid wouldn't want to be a secret agent with all those gadgets, and in the frontier of the late 1800s to boot? That fantasy has now been passed on to subsequent generations through the show's ubiquitous reruns, making its worldwide fanbase huge. This DVD release of the third season will not disappoint any fans of the series, and may well win some new adherents to the series' many charms.

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"G-d made stars galore" & "Hey, what kind of a crappy fortune is this?" ZMK, modern prophet