"Gunsmoke" (1955)TV series 1955-1975

Directors:

Gary Nelson
Sam Peckinpah

Writers:

Calvin Clements Jr. (writer) (1965)
James Favor (story)

Seasons:

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | unknown

Release Date:

10 September 1955 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Western

Plot:

Marshall Matt Dillon keeps the peace in the rough and tumble Dodge City.

Plot Keywords:

Bartender | Based On Radio Show | Deputy Marshal | Saloon Owner | Saloon

Awards:

Nominated for 4 Golden Globes. Another 11 wins & 14 nominations

US TV Schedule:

Sun. July 20	6:00 AM	TVLAND	Women for Sale	#19.2
Mon. July 21	1:00 PM	TVLAND	Matt's Love Story	#19.3

Cast

James Arness	...	Marshal Matt Dillon / ... (615 episodes, 1955-1975)
Milburn Stone	...	Dr. Galen 'Doc' Adams (389 episodes, 1955-1975)
Amanda Blake	...	Kitty Russell (352 episodes, 1955-1974)

Also Known As:

Gun Law (UK)
Marshal Dillon (USA) (rerun title)

Runtime:

USA:30 min (1955-1961) (233 episodes) (including commercials) | USA:60 min (1961-1975) (402 episodes) (including commercials)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White (1955-1966) | Color (1966-1975)

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Certification:

Australia:PG | USA:TV-PG | USA:TV-G (some episodes) | Argentina:Atp

Filming Locations:

Bell Ranch, Santa Susana, California, USA

Company:

Arness Productions

Trivia:

The series was set in the 1870s. Kansas entered the Union in 1861. The Marshals Service provided local law enforcement in territories, not in states. The duties Matt Dillon performed would have been handled by a town Marshal or county sheriff (in this case, Ford County). Each state (or federal court district) had one US Marshal, who was in charge of all the Deputy US Marshals in that particular jurisdiction; Matt Dillon would have been a Deputy US Marshal.

Quotes:

U.S. Marshal Matt Dillon: [to any man seemingly planning to go gunning for somebody.] If you're gonna to use that gun, you better start on me.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "The Monkees: Monkees in Texas (#2.13)" (1967)

Soundtrack:

The Old Trail

"The Deadly Innocent" in Cowboy Hall of Fame

This episode, "The Deadly Innocent", filmed in 1973-75, guest starring Russell Wiggins as Billy, was inducted into the Cowboy Hall of Fame for the sensitive portrayal of mental retardation. It portrayed Marshall Dillon and Festus as helping a mentally handicapped man find a productive place in society in the Old West.