Bordertown (1989 TV series)


Bordertown is a western drama television series that aired from 1989 to 1991. It depicts the town formerly known as Pemmican that was later renamed Bordertown when the western border between the United States and Canada was surveyed in 1880, dividing the town.
The theme song is an adaptation of the first movement of Jean Sibelius's Third Symphony.

Premise

Pemmican is a town in the western plains of North America near the 49th parallel. In 1880 the border was surveyed in the Pemmican area, revealing that the town straddled the border between Montana and Saskatchewan. The border also divides the local law enforcement office. In order to have proper and legal law enforcement, both North-West Mounted Police Corporal Clive Bennett and U.S. Marshal Jack Craddock are stationed in the town. Clive was formerly stationed in Toronto. Jack is a former Texas Ranger, and a veteran of the Confederate States of America army. Each of these law officers is courting Marie Dumont.
Marie and her physician husband were originally from Paris. Now widowed, Marie has taken over as town doctor and as proprietor of the local general store. Marie has adopted Lucy, a girl whose parents died.
Joanna Radway is a widow, owner of a local ranch and head of the local Women for Temperance Committee.
Zack Denny, an American Southerner, is the proprietor of the local saloon and roadhouse. His wife, Diane, was once a Black slave.
Sally Duffield is proprietor of the local boarding house and an employee at Marie's general store.
Wendell MacWherter is the local banker and owner of the livery stable. He is also courting Sally Duffield.
Otto Danzinger is the worker of the Livery and blacksmith. Bruno Danzinger is the brother of Otto Danzinger who helps in the livery.
Willie Haddon is a local kid in town that spends much time with Marshal Craddock and has a liking for Lucy.
Some episodes even featured real-life historical figures. The episode titled "Four Eyes", which originally aired on March 2, 1990, featured a young Theodore Roosevelt. "Killer With a Smile", which originally aired on March 30, 1990, featured a visit to Bordertown by President of the United States James Garfield.

Production information

The show was filmed on location at Maple Ridge/Pitt Meadows, British Columbia, Canada. The French title is Les Deux font la loi.
Bordertown was syndicated in the 1990s, airing on Western International Communications stations during the overnight hours in Canada.

Episodes

Series overview

Season 1 (1989)

Season 2 (1990)

Season 3 (1990–91)

DVD releases

released 4-volume collections of Bordertown on DVD in Region 1 between 2003-2005. These releases have been discontinued and are now out of print.
On February 1, 2011, Echo Bridge Home Entertainment released 2 volume collections on DVD in Region 1. These releases contain the same 28 episodes as the previous Platinum Disc releases.
On July 26, 2011, Alliance Home Entertainment released The Best of Bordertown on DVD in Canada only. The set is exactly the same as the 4-disc set released in the US in 2005 and February 2011, even right down to the Platinum Disc Corporation logo appearing as soon as the disc boots up.
On December 12, 2012, Echo Bridge Home Entertainment released Bordertown- The Complete Series on DVD in Region 1.