Watch Have Gun, Will Travel

Approved
1957
6 Seasons
8.4 (3,042)

Have Gun, Will Travel was a popular CBS Western series that aired from 1957 to 1963. It starred Richard Boone as Paladin, a highly skilled and intelligent cowboy and gunman who traveled the Old West and took on various dangerous assignments for wealthy clients in exchange for money. The show's name was derived from Paladin's business card, which had the phrase "Have Gun - Will Travel" on it. It perfectly summed up his profession, as he was always ready and willing to take on any assignment. Paladin was not your typical western hero. He was well-educated and worldly, with a knowledge of literature, philosophy, and various languages. He was a cultured and refined gentleman who dressed in black and carried a distinctive gun with an ivory grip. His back story was shrouded in mystery, and little was known about his past. He was a man of few words, but he had a strong moral code and was always on the side of justice, even if it meant going against his clients' wishes. The supporting cast of the show included Kam Tong as Hey Boy, an Asian shopkeeper who worked as Paladin's assistant and occasional ally. He often provided Paladin with valuable information and acted as a sounding board for his ideas and plans. Other recurring characters included Lisa Lu as Hey Girl, Hey Boy's sister who helped out at the store, and Ben Wright as Englishman, a fellow gunfighter who occasionally crossed paths with Paladin. There were also many guest stars who appeared on the show, including Charles Bronson, Lee Van Cleef, and James Coburn. Each episode of Have Gun, Will Travel was a self-contained story that followed Paladin as he traveled to different towns and took on a wide variety of assignments. Some episodes dealt with social issues such as racism, sexism, and classism, while others were more straightforward tales of revenge, greed, or love. The show was notable for its high production values, intricate plots, and strong performances. Richard Boone was excellent as Paladin, and his portrayal of the character was both menacing and charismatic. He was able to convey a sense of danger and unpredictability, while also showing a softer side when dealing with the vulnerable or the helpless. The show's themes and messages were ahead of its time, and it often tackled issues that were controversial or taboo in the 1950s. It explored complex moral issues and the consequences of violence, and it refused to shy away from the harsh realities of life in the Old West. Overall, Have Gun, Will Travel was an innovative and groundbreaking Western series that paved the way for other shows in the genre. Its blend of action, drama, and social commentary made it a hit with audiences and critics alike, and it remains a beloved classic of television history.

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32. Face of a Shadow

April 20, 1963

A bank hires Paladin to meet a rancher and pick up $10,000 but before the black clad one arrives the man is murdered and the money is stolen.

31. The Black Bull

April 13, 1963

Paladin is imprisoned by an insane former matador who forces him to be the bull in the ring.

30. Two Plus One

April 6, 1963

Paladin can't seem to get rid of a Native American damsel whose life he saved.

29. Lady of the Fifth Moon

March 30, 1963

A young Chinese woman, awaiting passage back to her homeland so she won't have to go through with an arranged marriage, hires Paladin to protect her from assassins.

28. The Eve of St. Elmo

March 23, 1963

A wealthy land baron hires Paladin to find the shooter who crippled him while the townspeople pray that no more violence occurs.

27. The Savages

March 16, 1963

Paladin guides an art collector and his daughter into the wilderness in search of a reclusive sculptor.

26. Sweet Lady of the Moon

March 9, 1963

Paladin is hired to protect a murderer who was declared criminally insane but has been pronounced cured.

25. The Walking Years

March 2, 1963

After being slipped a mickey in a waterfront dive, Paladin awakens chained in a darkened warehouse along with two other men who are in the same boat.

24. Caravan

February 23, 1963

An exiled high priestess from India hires Paladin to escort her through the desert for a rendezvous with some of her loyal followers.

23. Cage at McNaab

February 16, 1963

A prisoner awaiting execution escapes and leaves Paladin behind in his place.

22. Burning Tree

February 9, 1963

Paladin and his prisoner have their journey halted by a sheriff who wants to hand the prisoner over to Native Americans. It seems as though the red men need a burial scalp.

21. American Primitive

February 2, 1963

Paladin joins in the hunt for a fugitive who killed five innocent men while trying to avenge his son's murder.

20. Unforgiving Minute

January 26, 1963

In Mexico, a feverish Paladin must rely on a wussy farmer and his smokin' hot wife to help him escape from a gang of banditos.

19. The Debutante

January 19, 1963

A wealthy socialite hires Paladin to locate her granddaughter. He finds the lass living on a farm but she doesn't want to return with him to San Francisco.

18. Bob Wire

January 12, 1963

Paladin helps a barbed wire salesman transport his cargo knowing full well that its delivery could start a range war between cattlemen and sod busters.

17. Brotherhood

January 5, 1963

Paladin tries to reunite two Native American brothers. One is now a sheriff while the other still retains the ways of his old culture.

16. The Treasure

December 29, 1962

Paladin and a bank robber's wife search for her husband and his loot in a ghost town that's fast filling up with other treasure hunters.

15. Be Not Forgetful of Strangers

December 22, 1962

Paladin helps out a couple who are about to have their first child on Christmas Eve.

14. Trial at Tablerock

December 15, 1962

Paladin serves as a defense attorney for a feared gunman who's being tried on a trumped-up murder charge.

13. Penelope

December 8, 1962

A former Army officer, who left his wife to go gold prospecting in Mexico, hires Paladin to smooth things over with wifey before his return.

12. Man in an Hourglass

December 1, 1962

Paladin is hired by a physician pal to find the son of a woman the sawbones once loved before the young man makes a terrible mistake.

11. Marshal of Sweetwater

November 24, 1962

Paladin goes up against an old friend who's now a town marshal. It seems as though the old pal became a tyrant after cleaning up the town.

10. A Miracle for St. Francis

November 17, 1962

A Catholic mission hires Paladin to retrieve a statue that was stolen from their premises.

9. Shootout at Hogtooth

November 10, 1962

Town politicians hired three gunmen to clean up their town only to find out that the cure was worse than the disease. Now they've come to Paladin.

8. The Predators

November 3, 1962

Traveling across the desert, Paladin and an accused killer must battle the elements and a bloodthirsty gang.

7. Memories of Monica

October 27, 1962

Paladin stands with a sheriff against his wife's former lover, an outlaw who's sworn to take her back.

6. Bird of Time

October 20, 1962

Paladin must protect his prisoner from the wrath of a vengeance seeking rancher.

5. Beau Geste

October 13, 1962

A sheriff who's about to retire refuses Paladin's help against a group of gunmen.

4. A Place For Abel Hix

October 6, 1962

Paladin arrives in a town for a job only to find that his prospective client was just shot dead.

3. The Fifth Bullet

September 29, 1962

Paladin escorts a released prisoner home to his family but five hired killers have other ideas.

2. Taylor's Woman

September 22, 1962

Paladin has a most unusual task. A rancher hires him to stop, by any means necessary, his upcoming wedding to his bitchy housekeeper.

1. Genesis

September 15, 1962

Paladin relates, via flashbacks, how he became a gun for hire.

Description

The show's name was derived from Paladin's business card, which had the phrase "Have Gun - Will Travel" on it. It perfectly summed up his profession, as he was always ready and willing to take on any assignment.

Paladin was not your typical western hero. He was well-educated and worldly, with a knowledge of literature, philosophy, and various languages. He was a cultured and refined gentleman who dressed in black and carried a distinctive gun with an ivory grip.

His back story was shrouded in mystery, and little was known about his past. He was a man of few words, but he had a strong moral code and was always on the side of justice, even if it meant going against his clients' wishes.

The supporting cast of the show included Kam Tong as Hey Boy, an Asian shopkeeper who worked as Paladin's assistant and occasional ally. He often provided Paladin with valuable information and acted as a sounding board for his ideas and plans.

Other recurring characters included Lisa Lu as Hey Girl, Hey Boy's sister who helped out at the store, and Ben Wright as Englishman, a fellow gunfighter who occasionally crossed paths with Paladin. There were also many guest stars who appeared on the show, including Charles Bronson, Lee Van Cleef, and James Coburn.

Each episode of Have Gun, Will Travel was a self-contained story that followed Paladin as he traveled to different towns and took on a wide variety of assignments. Some episodes dealt with social issues such as racism, sexism, and classism, while others were more straightforward tales of revenge, greed, or love.

The show was notable for its high production values, intricate plots, and strong performances. Richard Boone was excellent as Paladin, and his portrayal of the character was both menacing and charismatic. He was able to convey a sense of danger and unpredictability, while also showing a softer side when dealing with the vulnerable or the helpless.

The show's themes and messages were ahead of its time, and it often tackled issues that were controversial or taboo in the 1950s. It explored complex moral issues and the consequences of violence, and it refused to shy away from the harsh realities of life in the Old West.

Overall, Have Gun, Will Travel was an innovative and groundbreaking Western series that paved the way for other shows in the genre. Its blend of action, drama, and social commentary made it a hit with audiences and critics alike, and it remains a beloved classic of television history.

Have Gun, Will Travel is a series that is currently running and has 6 seasons (225 episodes). The series first aired on September 14, 1957.

Where to Watch Have Gun, Will Travel

Have Gun, Will Travel is available for streaming on the CBS website, both individual episodes and full seasons. You can also watch Have Gun, Will Travel on demand at and Pluto TV.