"Gunsmoke" (1955) TV series 1955-1975

User Rating:

8.0/10   

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

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:

Marshal | Cult Western | Famous Opening Theme | Saloon Owner | One Word Title

Awards:

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

US TV Schedule:

Thur. July 16	2:00 PM	TVLAND	The Widowmaker	#19.5
Thur. July 16	3:00 PM	TVLAND	Kitty's Love Affair	#19.6

Cast

James Arness	...	Marshal Matt Dillon / ... (617 episodes, 1955-1975)
Milburn Stone	...	Dr. Galen 'Doc' Adams / ... (450 episodes, 1955-1975)
Amanda Blake	...	Kitty Russell / ... (413 episodes, 1955-1974)
Ken Curtis	...	Festus Haggen / ... (248 episodes, 1959-1975)

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

Filming Locations:

Bell Ranch, Santa Susana, California, USA

Company:

Arness Production Company

Trivia:

The series was the final film project of Glenn Strange.

Quotes:

Dr. Galen 'Doc' Adams: [Festus offers to buy Doc a beer with a silver dollar that he earned from shoeing horses in episode "Whelan's Men".] Why don't you take that money and invest it in something? Why don't you do that?
Festus Haggen: Invest it in what?
Dr. Galen 'Doc' Adams: There's wonderful land values outside of Dodge. Now why don't you go out there someplace, look around, and buy yourself a lot?
Festus Haggen: A lot of what?
Dr. Galen 'Doc' Adams: A lot! A lot of land!
Festus Haggen: Well fiddle, I can't afford to buy a lot of land. You probably could the way you've been a bilking and gouging...
Dr. Galen 'Doc' Adams: Oh, hush up! I'm trying to help you, for heaven sakes. It don't cost a whole lot to buy a little lot.
Festus Haggen: What do you mean it don't cost a whole lot to buy a little, or a whole lot to buy a lot, what do you mean?
Dr. Galen 'Doc' Adams: Well, I mean,... a little lot of land!
Festus Haggen: But there ain't no such a thing. A little's a little, and a lot's a lot, there ain't no little lot, or lot of little, don't you see? Now you want that beer or don't you?
[...]

Movie Connections:

Referenced in The Saga of 'The Beastmaster' (2005) (V)

Soundtrack:

The Old Trail

Great show of course...

This one lasted 20 years, was in the top 10 '50s, '60s, and '70s(as late as '72...) You name the western character actor-Dub Taylor, Gerald McRaney, Richard Kiley, Forrest Tucker, etc. chances are, they turned up in here. I always preferred Ken Curtis to Dennis Weaver myself, but Chester was okay too.

This has to be the #1 Western of all time, Arness, Blake, Stone and company made this a classic. By all means, if its carried somewhere, see it. It's one of the best.