"Deadwood" (2004) TV series 2004-2006

Creator:

David Milch

Seasons:

1 | 2 | 3

Release Date:

21 March 2004 (USA)

Genre:

Crime | Drama | History | Western

Tagline:

No Law Can Make It Respectable

Plot:

A show set in the late 1800's, revolving around the characters of Deadwood, South Dakota; a town of deep corruption and crime.

Plot Keywords:

South Dakota | Saloon | Vigilante | Greed | Outlaw

Awards:

Won Golden Globe. Another 14 wins & 47 nominations

Cast

Timothy Olyphant	...	Seth Bullock (36 episodes, 2004-2006)
Ian McShane	...	Al Swearengen (36 episodes, 2004-2006)
Molly Parker	...	Alma Garret (36 episodes, 2004-2006)
Brad Dourif	...	Doc Cochran (36 episodes, 2004-2006)
W. Earl Brown	...	Dan Dority (36 episodes, 2004-2006)
John Hawkes	...	Sol Star (36 episodes, 2004-2006)
Paula Malcomson	...	Trixie (36 episodes, 2004-2006)
Dayton Callie	...	Charlie Utter (36 episodes, 2004-2006)
Leon Rippy	...	Tom Nuttall (36 episodes, 2004-2006)
William Sanderson	...	E.B. Farnum (36 episodes, 2004-2006)
Robin Weigert	...	Calamity Jane (36 episodes, 2004-2006)
Sean Bridgers	...	Johnny Burns (36 episodes, 2004-2006)
Bree Seanna Wall	...	Sofia Metz (36 episodes, 2004-2006)
Jim Beaver	...	Whitney Ellsworth (35 episodes, 2004-2006)
Jeffrey Jones	...	A.W. Merrick (35 episodes, 2004-2006)
Kim Dickens	...	Joanie Stubbs (34 episodes, 2004-2006)
Powers Boothe	...	Cy Tolliver (34 episodes, 2004-2006)
Titus Welliver	...	Silas Adams (27 episodes, 2004-2006)
Peter Jason	...	Con Stapleton (26 episodes, 2004-2006)
Anna Gunn	...	Martha Bullock (24 episodes, 2005-2006)
Larry Cedar	...	Leon (24 episodes, 2004-2006)
Geri Jewell	...	Jewel (23 episodes, 2004-2006)
Ralph Richeson	...	Richardson (19 episodes, 2004-2006)
Keone Young	...	Mr. Wu (18 episodes, 2004-2006)
Ashleigh Kizer	...	Dolly (17 episodes, 2004-2006)
Garret Dillahunt	...	Francis Wolcott / ... (16 episodes, 2004-2005)

Runtime:

60 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Argentina:16 | UK:15 (some epiosodes) | UK:18 (some epiosodes) | Canada:14A (Ontario) | Germany:16 | USA:TV-MA | New Zealand:R16 (season 2) | New Zealand:R16 (season 3) | New Zealand:R16 (season 1) | Spain:13 | Australia:MA

Filming Locations:

Frazier Park, California, USA

Company:

Home Box Office (HBO)

Trivia:

Most of the characters (Al Swearengen, Sol Star, Reverend Smith, the Metz family, et. al., in addition to the more famous Wild Bill Hickock, Calamity Jane, and Jack McCall, ) have real-life counterparts.

Goofs:

Anachronisms: Episode 1: A portion of blacktop highway and guard railing is visible behind Hickock's wagon as it descends the hill into Deadwood.

Quotes:

Reverend H.W. Smith: Lord, grant that I may seek rather to comfort than to be comforted, to understand, than to be understood, to love, than to be loved... and the rest I forget.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Broken Trail: The Making of a Legendary Western (2006) (TV)

Polished yet in the rough

Though i never considered myself a western fan, i realize i've seen a good many, from the Anthony Mann masterpieces, to Leone's revolutionary films, to more recent flicks like Unforgiven. But none has moved me like Deadwood. While the series did have some ups and downs (like life itself), it is truly enchanting. The season finale alone is one of the most moving things i've seen on TV, and having rewatched it many times (the joy of tivo) i still find myself driven to tears. The dialog is fantastic, bordering on Shakespearean at times as others have pointed out. Its a shame that so many seem to be bothered by the language, perhaps i am just overly jaded. Remember though that profanity at that time was predominantly based on religion (or rather defiance of such). These days of course, hellfire and tarnation don't have quite the same effect. If the dialog were more "period", i imagine it would be like watching yosemite sam cast as swearengen (heaven forbid). In their translations of Kurasawa movies, Critereon has faced the same issues, and i agree with their and David Milch's choice. Stay true to the meaning and feeling, more than the literal. Especially with profanity, this is key. Profanity's entire purpose is to offend, and if it becomes through age or paradigm shift inoffensive, it loses all meaning and effectiveness. It helps bring us into the world of deadwood, and better understand and relate to the characters who live there. Which, IMHO, is a wondrous thing to experience.