‘A Man Called Shenandoah’: The Complete Series Blu-Ray Review – Western Gem Gets A Rich Second Life

Wagon Train star Robert Horton returned to television as a gunfighter in search of his identity across the wilds of the Old West in this fan-favorite series from the 1965-66 season. A stranger is shot and left to die from exposure to the elements. Half dead, he is brought to a small town by a pair of cowboys who hope there may be a reward for his capture. A worldly woman, Kate (Beverly Garland), nurses the man back to health. When he recovers consciousness, the man has no idea who he is or where he came from. Newly christened Shenandoah by Kate, he is forced into a gunfight, killing the one man who might have told him who he is. Forced to bid goodbye to Kate, he sets out on the long, lonely trail to discover his own identity. Notable guests Shenandoah encounters while searching for clues to his past include DeForest Kelley, Edward Asner, Bruce Dern, Cloris Leachman, Warren Oates, George Kennedy, Leonard Nimoy, Martin Landau and Frank Gorshin.

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Video Quality

Warner Archive presents the complete run of A Man Called Shenandoah with an exceptional 1080p transfer sourced from a new 4K restoration of the Original Camera Negatives. This set provides all 34 episodes spread across five discs, allowing the appropriate amount of room for this half-hour show. The label has taken more of a shine to vintage television over the last year, and every release is a treat with top-tier preservation. 

The series serves up some lovely black-and-white photography which impresses with the perfect amount of natural film grain intact. The landscapes provide a canvas of texture and clarity throughout the series. Black levels are notably deep with ideal stability throughout, and the contrast holds firm with nothing appearing overly bright or blown out. The show is free of damage with no signs of wear and tear or dirt specks. Compression artifacts, banding, and other anomalies are sidestepped for a first-rate viewing experience. There are no major hiccups when it comes to this picture. Warner Archive continues the good work for which they are known. 

Audio Quality

The Blu-Ray set comes with a restored DTS-HD 2.0 Master Audio presentation that lines up with the high bar established by the video quality. Given the age of this material, there are some weaknesses in the source, but everything emerges with the necessary clarity. Exchanges always come through without being clipped by parallel elements. Dialogue and background noises are rendered with grand accuracy along with the rousing score. Every adventure comes through with ideal fidelity. The more exciting moments are handled admirably as they bring extra vitality to the track. The restoration has eliminated nearly all instances of distortion to the track such as popping, hissing, and dropouts. Warner Archive has delivered a fantastic audio presentation. Optional English (SDH) subtitles are included for the episodes. 

Special Features

There are no special features provided for this set. 

Final Thoughts

A Man Called Shenandoah is a unique and engaging entry in the Western genre. While there is an overarching mystery you want to solve, there is a greater emphasis on the new adventures that arise each week. The performance from Robert Horton is strong enough to keep you returning, but no one will be displeased to see the added bonus of incredible guest stars. This series is not already an undisputed entry in the Western canon, but we hope this new release can get it there as people discover its charms. Warner Archive has released a Blu-Ray set that features a gorgeous A/V presentation but no supplemental features. If you typically love this type of series, this is worth taking a chance on. Recommended 

A Man Called Shenandoah: The Complete Series can be purchased directly through MovieZyng or through various other online retailers. 

Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the Blu-Ray.

Disclaimer: Warner Archive has supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.