Matt Gets It (10 Sep. 1955)

Matt is critically wounded while attempting to arrest super-fast gunman Dan Grat. Grat runs rampant in Dodge while Matt recovers, but is unpleasantly surprised when the recovered marshal challenges him again.

Director:

Charles Marquis Warren

Writers:

John Meston (story), Charles Marquis Warren (teleplay)

Stars:

James Arness, Dennis Weaver, Milburn Stone

Cast

Episode cast overview:
James Arness	...	Marshal Matt Dillon
Dennis Weaver	...	Deputy Chester Goode
Milburn Stone	...	Doc Galen Adams
Amanda Blake	...	Kitty Russel
Paul Richards	...	Dan Grat
Robert Anderson	...	Jim Hill
Malcolm Atterbury	...	Bird
Howard Culver	...	Hotel Clerk
John Wayne	...	Himself - Host

Storyline

Matt is critically wounded while attempting to arrest super-fast gunman Dan Grat. Grat runs rampant in Dodge while Matt recovers, but is unpleasantly surprised when the recovered marshal challenges him again.

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Plot Keywords:

pistol duel | quick draw | shootout | pilot episode | hotel | 

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Genres:

Drama | Western

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

10 September 1955 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

30 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

John Wayne appeared in the beginning to introduce the series. He was also originally offered the role of Matt Dillon but turned it down. And he recommended James Arness for the role.

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Quotes

Himself - Host: [Introduction] Good evening, my name is Wayne. Some of you may have seen me before I have been kicking around Hollywood for a long time made a lot of pictures all kinds; some of them have been Westerns. That is what I'm here to tell you about tonight a Western Gunsmoke.A new television show called Gunsmoke.

User Reviews

A simple plot to start the long journey

I am sure this was a great episode if I had watched the series in order of production. But I was raised on the color episode and then watched the one hour black and white episodes and the character's already had their identity and form of acting. But after going from the last seasons till this first episode I can say that everyone in the cast is real green.

It really is a simple plot about a man named Dan Grat that is a gunslinger that kills people just for fun. After killing a sheriff, the Marshal calls out Grat for arrest. But Grat is faster and shoots Matt in the chest and head.

But thanks to Doc Adams it is not long before Matt, as a lawman, knows what he has to complete the arrest. He again gets into a show-down with the fast Grat.

I giving a pass on this episode due to the fact that the actors are not established in their parts. The acting was green and the story simple. But I guess you have to start basic to develop a loyal following.