I think this is a new genre that they're all sort of working their way through it and haven't got all the kinks worked out yet but it's a genre that works for me.

True to its essence, the characters remain on the same line and manage to entertain the viewer, each highlighting their own distinctive qualities or touches.

Blistering performances.

The movie really just wants to entertain people.

I remember being enthralled by this series as a kid and was disappointed when it ended. I endeavoured later to find out about the real Custer and am now enjoying the series again on DVD. Maunder plays Custer as an efficient and rather aloof officer which indeed he was. Custer was idolised during the Civil War but was reduced to fighting a tawdry war against the Indians during the 1870s. This series portrays that part of his life. It is highly fictionalised but elements of the truth keep bursting through from time to time...the relationship with Reno, the unlikely use of 'Gary Owen' as a marching tune, reluctance to follow orders and his love/hate banter between Terry and Custer. Production values are good and the guest stars excellent. Most episodes have a real air of excitement about them and the fact that Custer's sad fate is well known adds a poignancy to the proceedings. Wayne maunder's portrayal of Custer is excellent, far from being the glory seeking buffoon of many other 'epics', he plays Custer as he probably was,an efficient cavalry officer. Give this show a look, especially if you are a western fan, and you wont be disappointed. ps - The character of 'California Joe' was a real person.

I picked up a DVD copy of "The Legend of Custer", not realizing it was actually the premiere episode of the short lived 1967 TV Series titled simply "Custer". Wayne Maunder does the honors as the twenty eight year old arrogant and conceited "Boy General", shortly after his demotion in rank from Brevet General to a Lieutenant Colonel, which came as a result of dereliction of duty for leaving his post.The first episode of the series is titled "Sabres in the Sun", and when I say it takes a great deal of historical license in telling it's story, that would be a gross understatement. Central to this episode is a forced alliance between Custer and Lakota Nation War Chief Crazy Horse (Michael Dante), who Custer rescues following his capture by a rival Blackfoot tribe. The story see saws it's way between both men contesting their superiority over each other, before Crazy Horse makes his way free to war on the cavalry troops of Fort Hays. Since the Custer-Crazy Horse team up seems so preposterous, I find it difficult to accept other parts of the story as fact, such as the 7th Cavalry adoption of an Irish tune from Limerick as their theme song; it's the one you hear in many cavalry Westerns. Combine that with the handgun shooting prowess of Colonel Custer portrayed in the film; thanks to a recently viewed episode of "Wild West Tech", be advised that handguns of the era were accurate up to a range of about twenty feet! All of sixteen episodes of this series aired between September and December 1967 before the show met it's own Little Big Horn. In that time, a fair amount of reputable guest stars made their appearance in the show, including Robert Loggia, Ray Walston, Darren McGavin, Rory Calhoun, Agnes Moorehead, and James Whitmore. Series regulars included Robert F. Simon as General Alfred Terry and Slim Pickens as California Joe Milner. Judging by this episode, it's no surprise the series ended abruptly, though in a counter to Western tradition, the final episode had the Kiowas ride to the Cavalry's rescue after being blamed for raids on wagon trains. Had the series gone for comedy instead, it might have been better remembered - as in "F Troop"!

Fully disagree with the bad reviews. This show was ahead of its time and was canceled (for the at the time) violence shown. The casting was good and with the great guest stars was not second rate. The show lacked historical accuracy (but not authenticity). The show was canceled not because of ratings but the studio concerns over the so called violent combat shown. I have all 16 episodes and the pilot and this show was underrated as was the other "Monroes" western at the time. Highly recommend for Western fans and for those who can appreciate the production values of the time (60's). Check out the episode featuring "Kirby" from Combat. Intense acting and well scripted drama. Maunder actually plays a smart and responsible Custer and not the foolhardy Custer of real life.

"Custer" lasted 16 episodes, and that's 16 episodes too many. I can't find any reason why a network would have picked poorly-written junk like this up to broadcast. The western story lines the writers used were tired and worn in the 50's, and by the late 60's were just plain ludicrous. "Star Trek" had debuted the year before, and this left-over relic from the early days of TV had no chance. To write a series around a character that everyone in the audience knows will be massacred a year or two later is startling and morbid, to say the least. It gives the series an air of doom that I don't think the network intended.Wayne Maunder plays the title role, and while he was good 4 years later in "The Seven Minutes," he must still have been learning his craft because he's just plain bad as Custer. He resembles a young Errol Flynn more than Custer as he minces and leaps about, and does not have the air of command necessary for someone playing Custer. Tinkerbelle maybe, but not Custer. Slim Pickens co-stars as the requisite wild west trail boss/guide, named "California Joe" (good grief!), and was obviously cast to add verbal witticisms and old west humor to the show. It doesn't help one bit. This series had a stellar guest cast in those 16 episodes: James Whitmore, Agnes Moorehead, William Windom, James Daly, Robert Loggia, Kathleen Nolan, Ray Walston, Darren McGavin, Lloyd Bochner and many more. Even great talent like that couldn't save this series, which should have been battle-axed before it ever hit the air.