Gunsmoke: Season 1

"GUNSMOKE" premiered in 1955 and was canceled in 1975, for a total of 20 seasons and 635 episodes. It is one of the best, if not the best, television series of all time. Originally, it was in the black and white half hour format, then it went to black and white full hour, and finally to the beloved color full hour programming. The episodes in color are probably the best known to today's audiences. But I guarantee you that the episodes from the original black and white programming are just as good, and the first season is no exception. This great show also had an excellent cast. James Arness was Marshal Matt Dillon of Dodge City, Kansas, Amanda Blake was Miss Kitty Russell, a prostitute at first, and then later the full owner of The Long Branch. When the show first started out, Kitty was just a madame, or, as the show so cleverly disguised it, a "saloon girl". Over time, the many fans of the show began to see her profession as awkward, because how could she work in the saloon when there was a certain special relationship between her and Matt? Since the show was so strongly devoted to its fans, the writers changed Miss Kitty to at first half owner, and then later, full owner. However, the show never took Kitty and Matt's relationship to a higher level. It would be strange to see Marshal Dillon come home to a house full of kids, now wouldn't it? Also in the main cast were Dennis Weaver as Chester Goode, and Milburn Stone as Galen "Doc" Adams. Chester was not a deputy, but more of a helper to Matt. He was best known for his straight legged limp and his high pitched cries of "Mr. Dillon". Doc was a crusty and cantankerous old coot on the outside, but had a very good heart on the inside. The constant friendly badgering between Doc and Chester was always hilarious, so much that they eventually became somewhat of a comedy act. Unfortunately, Weaver left the show in 1964 to pursue other things. This is when the newer and more familiar to modern audience age of "Gunsmoke" was ushered in. When the show brought in Ken Curtis as Festus Haggen in 1959, Roger Ewing as Thad Greenwood in 1965, and Buck Taylor as Newly O'Brien in 1967. But I am not picky, and love any episode just as much as another. I shall look forward to all those episodes, some of which I have never seen. Other wonderful characteristics of this show were its impeccable use of guest stars, and transitioning the Western genre from the old serials of the 1940's to the adult Western. This show was actually the first adult television Western. The writers and producers attempt was to break away from the cliche-laden Lone Ranger to the realistic West. No masked men found here! The first season of "Gunsmoke" did not feature as much as it would later in the way of special guest stars, because it was just viewed as another Western. However, this first season did have several guest stars, such as John Dehner, Royal Dano, Aaron Spelling, Charles Bronson, and Strother Martin. The guest stars can be found more abundantly in later seasons, but it did not take long for the producers to realize the jackpot they had found for television. Below is a list of all the episodes that can be found in this 6-disc set. 1. MATT GETS IT (Series Pilot) **** 2. HOT SPELL *** 3. WORD OF HONOR *** 4. HOME SURGERY ***1/2 5. OBIE TATER *** 6. NIGHT VISITOR *** 7. SMOKING OUT THE NOLANS *** 8. KITE'S REWARD ***1/2 9. THE HUNTER ***1/2 10. THE QUEUE *** 11. GENERAL PARSLEY SMITH *** 12. MAGNUS ***1/2 13. REED SURVIVES *** 14. PROFESSOR LUTE BONE *** 15. NO HANDCUFFS **** 16. REWARD FOR MATT *** 17. ROBIN HOOD ***1/2 18. YORKY *** 19. 20-20 *** 20. REUNION '78 *** 21. HELPING HAND *** 22. TAP DAY FOR KITTY *** 23. INDIAN SCOUT *** 24. THE PEST HOLE *** 25. THE BIG BROAD *** 26. HACK PRINE **** 27. COOTER **** 28. THE KILLER ***1/2 29. DOC'S REVENGE ***1/2 30. THE PREACHER *** 31. HOW TO DIE FOR NOTHING *** 32. DUTCH GEORGE *** 33. PRAIRIE HAPPY *** 34. CHESTER'S MAIL ORDER BRIDE *** 35. THE GUITAR **** 36. CARA *** 37. MR. AND MRS. AMBER *** 38. UNMARKED GRAVE ***1/2 39. ALARM AT PLEASANT VALLEY ***1/2 SPECIAL FEATURES Sponsor Spots THIS REVIEW IS DEDICATED TO ANYONE, LIVING OR DEAD, INVOLVED WITH THE MAKING OF "GUNSMOKE".

I applaud this release of the entire first season of Gunsmoke on DVD, and hope the remainder of the best TV western ever made will also be released. Gunsmoke, the longest running western in TV history (or TV drama for that matter at 20 years and 635 episodes), is complex and textured, dealing with mature themes and unforgettable characters that became part of our culture. It was billed as the first `adult western.' I grew up watching the series, which debuted in 1955 as a half-hour black and white show then progressed to an hour in its seventh season, and began being produced in color in 1966. The original opening depicted the Marshall in a fast-draw gunfight against a villain he killed, but this was toned down years later after groups complained of violence. As a result, rather than seeing the villain fall dead, the camera instead stayed only on Dillon as he drew his `peacemaker.' In the 70's, the opening eliminated the gunfight altogether and depicted Dillon riding quickly across the range. In the 1960's, early episodes of the series were rebroadcast as `Marshall Dillon.' The much-honored and beloved show went off the air in 1975. Thirty-nine glorious black and white half-hour shows comprise this incredible set. Few need to be told what his western depicted: It's the story of Marshall Matt Dillon (played to perfection by James Arness) who tamed the lawless Dodge City, Kansas, in 1873. He did so not only with his six-shooter but with his courage, sense of honor, justice and irreproachable integrity behind the badge. A radio show predated the TV series and aired from 1952 to 1961. The radio Marshall was voiced by William Conrad (who later portrayed the lead role of the portly private investigator `Cannon' in the 1970's.) When CBS decided to produce a TV series, Conrad wanted the role, but wasn't chosen because of his girth. The rumor that western icon John `Duke' Wayne was offered the pivotal role of Dillon, but he turned it down and instead recommended his good friend Arness, has largely been debunked. In addition to Dillon, the core characters are Miss Kitty Russell (Amanda Blake), owner of the Longbranch Saloon and Matt's long-time love and lover; the crusty but sensitive Doctor Galen Adams (Milburn Stone); and Deputy Chester Goode (Dennis Weaver). Burt Reynolds also had a recurring role as Quint Asper from 1962-1965. Ken Curtis replaced Goode as `Matthew's' Deputy Festus Haggen, who portrayed the loveable deputy who couldn't read from 1959 through the end of the series. Gunsmith then deputy Newly O'Brien (portrayed by Buck Taylor) moved to Dodge City in 1967 and remained until the show went off the air. Pat Hingle portrayed hard-nosed Doctor John Chapman for six episodes in 1971 when Milburn Stone left briefly for health reasons. Arness and Stone remained through the series entire 20-year run, while Blake brilliantly portrayed the red-headed Kitty for 19 seasons. Weekly guest stars represented the cream of the acting crop for decades! Here's an example: Bette Davis, Victor French, Morgan Woodward, Jack Elam, Denver Pyle, Jeanette Nolan, Jim Davis, Warren Oates, Jacqueline Scott, George Kennedy, Ed Nelson, Michael Learned, Forrest Tucker, Paul Fix, Slim Pickens, Bruce Dern, Harry Morgan, Steve Forfest, Richard Kiley, Beverly Garland and Leonard Nimoy. Here are the episodes included in this boxed set: Matt Gets It (Debut); Hot Spell; Word of Honor; Home Surgery; Obie Tater; Night Incident; Smoking Out the Nolans; Kite's Reward; The Hunter; The Queue; General Parcley Smith; Magnus; Reed Survives; Professor Lute Bone; No Handcuffs; Reward for Matt; Robin Hood; Yorky; 20-20; Reunion '78; Helping Hand; Tap Day for Kitty; Indian Scout; The Pest Hole; The Big Board; Hack Prine; Cooter; The Killer; Doc's Revenge; The Preacher; How to Die for Nothing; Dutch George; Prairie Happy; Chester's Mail Order Bride; The Guitar; Cara; Mr. and Mrs. Amber; Unmarked Grave; and Alarm and Pleasant Valley.

In my humble opinion, Gunsmoke may very well be the best television show ever created. I don't say this because I am partial to westerns. My assessment is based on the quality of the production, the realism of the show, the acting of the main characters and supporting actors, the locations for shooting the scenes, and finally, the writing of the scripts. In all cases I give Gunsmoke five stars in each category. I have never seen a show on American television that can bring it all together in such perfection. I have always been a big fan of the Gunsmoke radio show because I believed that for its time, it was unsurpassed for quality and realism. I was skeptical that the television version of Gunsmoke could be as great as the radio show but I was proven wrong. The first season of Gunsmoke (1955/1956) did not finish in the top 15 for ratings but by the next season it jumped to number 8 and then by the 1957/1958 season it was the number one show on television for the next 4 seasons. John Wayne was right when he said that James Arness is the only man who could play Matt Dillon. Arness' imposing height of 6 feet 7 inches and his rugged appearance make him the perfect marshal to enforce law and order. The supporting cast of the show provides some great acting as well. Amanda Blake as Miss Kitty and Dennis Waver as Deputy Chester Goode compliment the superb performance of James Arness. The plots are often hard to predict which makes the show even more enjoyable. The dialogue that occurs between the characters is entertaining, realistic, intense, and sometimes humorous in its abruptness. For example, Matt Dillon is trying to determine who shot a prisoner in the jail cell. When he asks the sheriff of a nearby town the sheriff replies, "I might have done it. Maybe I didn't like the way he looked." Matt Dillion then knocks the sheriff to the ground with a hard right and says, "Maybe I don't like the way you answer questions." Parents be forewarned. This show is very realistic and somewhat brutal at times. There is usually at least one fatality before the show ends. I can't wait for season two to be released. Well worth the money.

Good questions! I have some too based on the first season episodes. How come Matt handcuffs a bad guy but doesn't bother to cuff him TO some object, thereby allowing the prisoner to conk him on the head and try to escape? How come he sometimes leaves his empty office unlocked, only to return and find some stranger sitting at his desk, with ready access to a rack full of rifles? (Sure, there's a lock on the rack but, seriously, how hard would it be to shatter that lock?) How come he gets shot in the gut more than once and seems to shake it off like the proverbial "flesh wound"? Sure, the writers might want to have him get shot once in a while for dramatic effect but maybe it would work better if he got "winged" in the arm or leg with a "thru-n-thru"? Gut wounds in the Old West were pretty dangerous, especially Doc Adams has to dig the slug out of your chest! How come Matt's got so much time to wander around Boot Hill?! Why was poor ole Chester never deputized? Wouldn't that have made his "job" (whatever it was!) much easier, especially when he's ostensibly "in charge" when Matt's on one of his mysterious week-long trips "out of town"? When I had only seen the later hour-long episodes, I used to wonder why Matt never settled down with Miss Kitty; indeed never even kissed her. Now that I realize she started her days as a saloon prostitute, I have a better understanding! How come Dodge City citizens have such a pro-Confederacy bias that some of them want to hang a Yankee veteran passing through? Kansas entered the Union as a free state and Kansas military veterans served in the Union Army. Dodge City itself wasn't even in existence until after the Civil War. How come Matt pays for everything with one coin, looks to be a silver dollar, from his shirt pocket? Does everything cost a dollar, or does he round up everything to a dollar leaving the change as a tip? One episode seems to indicate he was paid $100 a month. A U.S. marshal was probably paid decently, so say a modern lawman makes at least $50k. If that's comparable in buying power, Matt Dillon's silver dollar is worth 40 of today's dollars. 40 bucks for a shot of whiskey and a beer for Chester?? 40 bucks for two plates of eggs & biscuits? I guess Matt was a classic Ole West "Big Spender!" (A lot of Westerns seem to play it very loosely with the comparative buying power of the dollar. Check out the wanted posters in and outside Matt's office. The ransom on one bad guy is $2000! That's almost two years of Matt's pay. He'd be better off resigning and tracking down "owlhoots" for the reward money, if being a U.S. marshal wasn't in his blood!) Fun to raise questions like these but it's all in fun. Gunsmoke is a great show and I'm looking forward to receiving Season 2 in the post!

Mom loves it! Her favorite series. Delivered to her as a surprise. New season each month. Great product!!!

The first season of Gunsmoke had a great price so I bought it. The memories that it brought back from when my dad, brother and myself would watch the westerns. The half hour Gunsmokes were my favorite even in reruns. They packed a lot of action into 30 minutes. I am happy with this set.

First of all, I need to say that I like western movies and television, with all their hokey conventions. And in comparison with other TV westerns of the period, this one was very good. There was something downright comfortable about it. But there are a few things that I con't quite understand. What exactly was Miss Kitty's source of income? She wore some pretty fancy low cut gowns. Was she a "soiled dove," in the parlance of the Old West? Was she Matt's main squeeze or did she go upstairs with any of the boys who had the price, like Laurie in "Lonesome Dove?" Why was there never any horse manure in the street? And how did they keep those streets unrutted with packed sand? How come the town and the Long Branch Saloon didn't look anything like the pictures of Dodge City from the 1800s? The real Long Branch was a narrow and dark hole of a place. Why doesn't the countryside around Dodge look anything like the topography and flora around the real Dodge City? The plants we see appear to be more native to California than Kansas. Oh, there are just lots of questions, but these will suffice. The answers have to do with what viewers and censors would tolerate when this series was made, and with where studios could film. The Dodge City we see here is an idyllic place, a place of myth, of the imagination, not of reality. Had they stuck with stark reality, people wouldn't have watched. So accept "Gunsmoke" for what it was: how we wanted the west to be.

The men luv this dvd