The series' first episode-- and who could have guessed that the show would last another 20 years, becoming the longest lasting dramatic series in TV history! There's little indication of such astonishing success in this first installment. It's a good one with an exceptional moment, but otherwise pretty routine. Gunfighter Grat (Paul Richards) arrives in Dodge behind a sheriff from Amarillo looking to take him back. After that, there's a surprising clash with Matt that caused me a double-take to make sure I'd seen it correctly. There's a nice little character question posed by the script-- is it duty or pride that drives Matt to a final showdown. In fact, the problem of runaway pride amounts to something of a sub-text in this initial entry.
John Wayne does a friendly 60 second introduction to the show and lead actor Arness. No doubt, his most note-worthy comment is that Gunsmoke will try to be both adult and realistic. Given that TV's prior programming of Westerns had been along the lines of Hopalong Cassidy and Gene Autry, Wayne's comment proved highly significant. In fact, Gunsmoke's immediate success ushered in a raft of "adult" Westerns that dominated programming for about another ten years. My guess is that this inaugural entry was selected because of the novelty of a lawman's losing a fast-draw contest; thus demonstrating the show's determination to be, as Wayne put it, both adult and realistic. I also suspect that for those folks who tuned in on that long-ago night, the strategy worked, and worked well for many years to come.
John Wayne does a friendly 60 second introduction to the show and lead actor Arness. No doubt, his most note-worthy comment is that Gunsmoke will try to be both adult and realistic. Given that TV's prior programming of Westerns had been along the lines of Hopalong Cassidy and Gene Autry, Wayne's comment proved highly significant. In fact, Gunsmoke's immediate success ushered in a raft of "adult" Westerns that dominated programming for about another ten years. My guess is that this inaugural entry was selected because of the novelty of a lawman's losing a fast-draw contest; thus demonstrating the show's determination to be, as Wayne put it, both adult and realistic. I also suspect that for those folks who tuned in on that long-ago night, the strategy worked, and worked well for many years to come.