Shotgun Slade, Vol. 1 (1960) On DVD

Scott Brady stars as Sam "Shotgun" Slade, a freelance detective roaming the Old West. Shotgun Slade was the creation of prolific pulp fiction writer Frank Gruber, who wrote hundreds of stories and scripts with a western theme. At the height of the cowboy genre's popularity on TV, Gruber also created "Tales of Wells Fargo" and "The Texan." Gerald Fried, an eclectic composer who wrote everything from early Kubrick film scores to familiar TV themes, contributes contemporary jazz music for "Shotgun Slade," a first for television westerns!

A Flower On Boot Hill: A dead woman's letter is the clue that leads Slade to capture murdering bank robbers.

Backtrack: Transporting a prisoner from San Francisco to Denver, Slade crosses paths with a gang unloading stolen gold.

Killer's Brand: Slade suspects that a wealthy cattle baron is behind the death of a horse breeder.

The Spanish Box: Duped into delivering an antique box which carries a "curse," Slade finds himself accused of murder.

This classic TV series combined two popular genres from the late 1950s and early 60s: the Western and the private-eye mystery. Scott Brady (THE ROCKFORD FILES) stars as Shotgun Slade, a Denver-based investigator who rides a horse and carries a special shotgun for emergencies. The anomalous aspects of the show were augmented by an experimental jazz score by Gerald Fried.