GUNSMOKE "Matt Gets It" 1955
GUNSMOKE was the longest running western TV series ever. The series last for 20 years and a total of 635 episodes. (Plus several TV movies) The lead, James Arness, plays Dodge City Marshall, Matt Dillion. Over the years cast regulars included, Milburn Stone, Amanda Blake, Dennis Weaver, Ken Curtis, Burt Reynolds and many others. The list of guest stars is endless.
In this episode, the first of the series, the episode is introduced by none other than, John Wayne.
Dodge City Marshall, James Arness is paid a visit at his office by a Sheriff from Texas. The man, Robert Anderson, is in Dodge looking for a fast gun wanted for shooting an unarmed man. The gunman, Paul Richards, is believed to be in Dodge City. Anderson does not want any help arresting Richards. Anderson is just telling Arness what is going on.
Anderson finds Richards in the saloon and calls him out. Richards steps out into the street with Anderson. Arness and his Deputy, Dennis Weaver are both watching from nearby. Iron flashes and Anderson is the last to clear leather.
Now Arness approaches Richards to put the grab on him. Guns are yarded again, with Arness going down with two rounds in him. Richards calmly holsters and returns to the bar.
The just barely alive, Arness, is hauled off to the town doctor, Milburn Stone. It is touch and go for a bit, but Arness pulls through. He slowly recovers while thinking over how the gunfight had gone. He is sure he noticed something odd about Richards during the fight.
Arness, is soon back on his feet gathering his strength for a re-match. When ready, Arness buckles up his gun belt and looks up Richards at his room at the hotel. He calls Richards out and watches Richards closely. For every step Richards takes toward him, Arness takes one back, keeping a good distance between them. Arness is sure that Richards has a fast hand, but that he needs to be close because of poor eyesight.
Guns are pulled again with Richards, again, the quickest. But this time he misses and Marshall Arness drops him. It is Boot Hill time for Richards.
This is a pretty good first episode, with some nice work from both the cast and crew. The episode was directed by Charles Marquis Warren, who also supplied the screenplay.
The look of the episode is quite sharp with one time Oscar nominated, Ernest Miller, in the cinematographer's chair.
GUNSMOKE was the longest running western TV series ever. The series last for 20 years and a total of 635 episodes. (Plus several TV movies) The lead, James Arness, plays Dodge City Marshall, Matt Dillion. Over the years cast regulars included, Milburn Stone, Amanda Blake, Dennis Weaver, Ken Curtis, Burt Reynolds and many others. The list of guest stars is endless.
In this episode, the first of the series, the episode is introduced by none other than, John Wayne.
Dodge City Marshall, James Arness is paid a visit at his office by a Sheriff from Texas. The man, Robert Anderson, is in Dodge looking for a fast gun wanted for shooting an unarmed man. The gunman, Paul Richards, is believed to be in Dodge City. Anderson does not want any help arresting Richards. Anderson is just telling Arness what is going on.
Anderson finds Richards in the saloon and calls him out. Richards steps out into the street with Anderson. Arness and his Deputy, Dennis Weaver are both watching from nearby. Iron flashes and Anderson is the last to clear leather.
Now Arness approaches Richards to put the grab on him. Guns are yarded again, with Arness going down with two rounds in him. Richards calmly holsters and returns to the bar.
The just barely alive, Arness, is hauled off to the town doctor, Milburn Stone. It is touch and go for a bit, but Arness pulls through. He slowly recovers while thinking over how the gunfight had gone. He is sure he noticed something odd about Richards during the fight.
Arness, is soon back on his feet gathering his strength for a re-match. When ready, Arness buckles up his gun belt and looks up Richards at his room at the hotel. He calls Richards out and watches Richards closely. For every step Richards takes toward him, Arness takes one back, keeping a good distance between them. Arness is sure that Richards has a fast hand, but that he needs to be close because of poor eyesight.
Guns are pulled again with Richards, again, the quickest. But this time he misses and Marshall Arness drops him. It is Boot Hill time for Richards.
This is a pretty good first episode, with some nice work from both the cast and crew. The episode was directed by Charles Marquis Warren, who also supplied the screenplay.
The look of the episode is quite sharp with one time Oscar nominated, Ernest Miller, in the cinematographer's chair.