Steve Canyon Special Edition DVD

The Milton Caniff Estate

R1 DVD

Web: http://stevecanyondvd.blogspot.com

Reviewer: Bob Estreich

Steve Canyon originated in a comic strip by Milton Caniff, and the first episodes of the strip date back to 1946. Caniff was a patriotic American and Steve Canyon reflects this. Canyon is a United States Air Force pilot who gets called in for special missions. It is impossible not to compare him with Britain's "Biggles" , the flying hero to so many boys up until the 1950s. Canyon has the same unflappable nature, the same understated patriotism, the same flying ability in whatever aircraft he has at the time.

It was only natural that the comic strip character should translate to a live television series. In 1958-59 thirty four half hour episodes were screened. Caniff’s reasonably sensible but action-filled plots have aged well. The series began with Canyon’s adventures in the Korean War, but the bulk of them were set in the following Cold War days. The patriotism is not overdone, and the quality of the enemy pilots and aircraft is not played down.

The aircraft are often the stars of the show. The series had the cooperation of the United States Air Force (coincidentally it was made a separate service in the same year that the comic series started, and the episodes are dedicated to the men of the USAF) as many of the cockpit shots are inside military aircraft of the time , or show tactics and research and development. The USAF was proud of what it had become, and didn’t mind showing off its new aircraft to taxpayers. Canyon seems to have flown everything in the USAF inventory at some time or another, from the old WW2 DC3 through the latest jet fighters like the F102, to the huge B52 bomber.

The old black and white footage has been mostly recovered from the Caniff collection and has been digitally restored and the sound cleaned up. The quality is superb, and really enhances the aircraft shots. A surprising feature was the commercials that have been left in the shows, mostly for cigarettes and ABC shows that have now passed into history. Although the commercials must have been annoying at the time, now they lend the shows a “period” look that enhances the overall effect.

The series gives a look at the military developments of the time, as well as providing a useful view of early television and a brief history lesson. It could so easily have degenerated into propaganda, but skilful plots and good production make it what it was meant to be – good entertainment starring fast aircraft.

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