Gunsmoke

CBS (ended 1975)

23 TOTAL REVIEWS Write A Review
175 EPISODES ONLINE Watch Online
laurameyer User Score: 3267
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Show Summary

Premiered: --
Status: Ended

Dodge City, known as the Sodom and Gomorrah of the plains, is a typical frontier city of the late 1800s with typical problems ranging from rumored Indian raids to bank and stage robberies, cattle rustling, and family feuds. All of these must be dealt with within the law and that task falls to Matt Dillon, US Marshal (James Arness).''
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Dillon is a man who prefers the use of logic over the use of the gun but the nature of the people passing through Dodge doesn't always leave him that choice. Aided by various assistants and deputies over the years (played by Dennis Weaver, Burt Reynolds, and Ken Curtis), he does his best to keep the lawless element out of his town and his territory. Matt often solves his crimes through keen observation and deduction, an innovative approach for the times.''
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Crucial information about cases is often provided by his beautiful companion, Long Branch owner Kitty Russell(Amanda Blake), while they drink beer or whiskey in her establishment. Matt also often exchanges banter or bounces his theories off of the crusty town doctor, Galen Adams (Milburn Stone).moreless

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Episode Guide

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S 20 : Ep 24	The Sharecroppers	Aired 3/31/75
S 20 : Ep 23	Manolo	Aired 3/17/75
S 20 : Ep 22	The Busters	Aired 3/10/75
S 20 : Ep 21	I Have Promises to Keep	Aired 3/3/75
S 20 : Ep 20	Hard Labor	Aired 2/24/75

Watch Gunsmoke Full Episodes

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Jenny

S 16 : Ep 15

Aired 10/13/62
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Netflix

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The Prisoner

S 14 : Ep 25

Aired 5/19/62
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Reprisal

S 14 : Ep 20

Aired 3/10/62
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Comcast

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Parson Comes to Town

S 11 : Ep 31

Aired 4/30/66

Gunsmoke News

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9

Gunsmoke's James Arness Dies at 88

By Tim Surette, Jun 03, 2011

... A solemn "happy trails" to actor James Arness, who passed away today at the age of 88. Arness is best known as Marshal Matt Dillon on the classic Western Gunsmoke, which was the longest-running scripted show in primetime before… more
10

December 9, 2008 DVD Releases

By Athena Karantzalis, Dec 09, 2008

Lost The Complete Fourth Season: The Expanded Experience Buy the DVD! Show Summary | Episode Guide | Forum Lost The Complete Fourth Season: The Expanded Experience Buy the Blu-ray! Show Summary | Episode Guide | Forum The Wire The Complete… more

Cast & Crew

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Burt Reynolds

Quint
Ken Curtis

Festus
Dennis Weaver

Chester

Fan Reviews (23)

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Festus vs Chester

9.5

"Superb"

By arizonarealtor, Jan 27, 2012 Report Abuse

We watch Gunsmoke religiously every night with the two 1/2 hr series and the one hour series.
When is Festus comming back and can you let us know? It gets too repetive to see the same shows over and over.
Thanks

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Gunsmoke! Greatest show of all time!!!

10

"Perfect"

By ArmyVet, Jan 19, 2012 Report Abuse

I grew up watching Gunsmoke as a kid and always wanted to be like Marshal Dillon yet comedic like Festus or Chester. There was always a variety of drama and laughter throughout the series, that's what made the show so GREAT!

Encore Westerns recently rewound back several years from 1966 to 1961, now the Chester era. I finally get to see the episodes with Chester (Dennis Weaver) and he's as funny and silly as Festus is, you gotta love that! I've only known Gunsmoke to be on TV Land all these years until it got canceled from TV Land few months ago. I'd like to see a network channel that'll show all the Gunsmoke episodes from beginning to end, that would be nice.

I love Matt Dillon's serious side, you don't dare mess with Matthew! As a Marshal, he was very hard but fair as always, professional yet courteous to his fellow man and woman. I would've loved to see the final episode of him and Kitty riding off in the sunset together. That may have been the perfect ending to the entire series.

Kitty... she was definietly easy on the eyes. A fine good looking woman who was tough as nails when she had to be. That's the kind of women I like...grooooowl !!!

Thad and Newly... always there for Matt when it got a bit rough out there, great back-up no matter what! I'll have to admit, the episode where Newly got married to a woman who just died after was tear jerking! Everyone knew she was going to die soon and all felt heartbroken over it.

Chester... still getting to know his character right now but realizing he's a lot like Festus yet more slightly on the serious side. Can someone tell me why Chester's leg limps? Was there a storyline to that or never brought up? Would love to know.

Louie Pheters... the town drunk. He tends to be at the wrong place and at the wrong time seems like. So drunk yet so innocent, I always feel sorry for him. I like how he always tells Matt "You're my friend Matt!" with a shaky scared voice and Matt lets Louie sleep it off in his jail.

And last but never least - Doc and Festus, my 2 favorites!! I will always crack up at those two when they go at it! That is definitely me and my old man neighbor next door. We are a lot like them. Too many scenes to mention, but every episode where they do the "Abbott & Costello" routines is a breath of fresh air to me! And yet when something happens to one of them the other either cries or gets deeply upset. I would've loved to see a spin-off series of just those two going at it all the time. "You old scudder"!

I knew Ken Curtis could sing (and I know he was with the Sons of the Pioneers) but never like what I saw on You Tube doing "Tumbling Tumbleweeds". What a voice! I didn't know Festus could sing that good!!! Holy Crap!!! His voice as Festus is so high pitched you would think he's lip synching to it. And yet he still wears his Gunsmoke clothes in that video, CLASSIC!!! Rest in peace my friend! I'll drink a beer with you anyday!

So yes, Festus is my favorite character from Gunsmoke, Dont'cha See???!!!

SFC Mark Michael, U.S. Army (Desert Storm Veteran).moreless

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1 0
Oh boy, bummer we only have five channels to chose from!

1.9

"Abysmal"

By Stryper7, Jun 05, 2011 Report Abuse

Festus and Kitty, these two people alone were enough to make you puke! This show really stunk! Ok, relax all you old geezers, you have to realize there was nothing else on T.V. back then. I know you want to relive your past but just admit it, this show was lousy! The only reason I didn't give it a zero was because James Arness was a true monster of a man and one feared dude! But man, that Festus wimp...man was he a lousy actor or what! He always looked like a slob! Every commercial and every episode he always managed to be out in the dirt street winding up some rope into a circle. Ugh! To this day I can't get that image out of my mind, it torments me! That goofy loser winding that rope just past the water trough....ahhhh!!!!!! Oh, and that miss Kitty. Oh yuck! That goofy dot on her face, that drove me nuts! Was that supposed to be sexy? NOPE! Let's face it guys, Ginger did it for awhile but most men choose Mary Ann because of that freakin' dot! haha With cable there's no reason to watch this show. Period. Ok, if your last name is Arness or you have Altsheimers, five minutes at the most!moreless

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0 7
A great western and a great show

9.5

"Superb"

By comet19, Nov 28, 2010 Report Abuse

As somone in my late fourty's I never watched the early gunsmoke episodes when they aired. I was brought on on the colored 1 hour versions with Festus as Matt side kick. These were for the most part great episodes mixed with heavy drama and playful interaction with Matt Doc and Festus and they were the only episodes we were shown on TV. When the first half hour seasons were issued on DVD It took a while for me to get used to them with a different side kick, Chester and a different more violent Matt (in one episode Matt and Chester voilently ambush six outlaws somethihg you would never see in the one hour cored episodes) However that being said I enjoyed these just as much as the later colored episodes becasue the action was quick and the story lines straightforward and although in the end I preferred Festus to Chester the later had a charm of his own.moreless

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This television show was a pioneer in its day. Gunsmoke laid the foundation and standards for the formating of television shows in general and for its specific genre.

10

"Perfect"

By tygermoonfoxx, Nov 04, 2010 Report Abuse

Gunsmoke is one of the first television shows I can remember watching. One of the best things about it is its complexity, diversity, rich tapestry for storytelling, and its appeal even now to diverse generations and age groups.

Among the first of its kind, one of the first westerns to make the jump from radio to television, it set the standard not only for other western series but for the way shows were developed for television. It managed to keep the overall feeling of the serialized radio show while utilizing the new media of television to tell its stories. Some of the special effects and stunts are cutting edge for the era and beautifully executed.

The concept of the same actors playing out the lives of their characters was new. Gunsmoke holds the distinction of being the only live action television show to have its main characters played by the same actors for its entire twenty year run. This allowed the writers to explore the characters' personalities in more depth. The result was a stunning character study for each character reflecting how personal experience changes them over time.

Another concept introduced by the show was continuity. Earlier episodes lack this and you'll find wild variations in the characters' back stories. Some episodes which aired in later years apparently take place before earlier episodes. In later years, the writers tried for a more solid linear story line and this eventually became standard for most television shows.

Gunsmoke also didn't shy away from exploring a variety of topics which were considered controversial at the time of airing. Domestic violence, women's rights, and child abuse are all themes which the show tackles head-on with a modern slant in a classical setting. It was one of the first shows to break the romanticized stereotype of the Native American and to attempt to show the settling of the west from their point of view.

I continue to be amazed by the long list of supporting actors Gunsmoke whose careers either started or were boosted on that set. Guest appearances have included William Shatner, Leonard Nimoy, Ron Howard, Burt Reynolds, and Dennis Weaver to name a few.

These are the things which make this an influential, classic staple for me and the reasons why, years later, I am still watching the show in syndication. In spite of the violent setting and the often shocking subject matter, the show still portrays wholesome societal morals and family values. It's a family show with something to offer all ages whose topics are often still relevant. The acting and storytelling alone, along with all the cinematic precedents it set, make it worth watching.moreless

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Replies

Ken Curtis' singing voice
For all of you who think that Ken Curtis was not a very good singer on Gunsmoke might be interested to know that he started his sh...

By RonfromMD, Aug 09, 2011

08/09/11

1
Reply
Miss Kitty
Hi everyone, I'm a huge Kitty fan, I'm also a huge Matt and Kitty romance fan.The seriers left alot unsaid and undone. Thats also ...

By katinacup, Feb 25, 2008

07/28/11

5
Reply
James Arness RIP
James Arness, who passed away June 3, 2011 at age 88, was a great actor and a great American. If I'm not mistaken, he was the only...

By tvking1, Jun 04, 2011

06/14/11

2
Reply
Chester and Doc sing!
Can anyone tell me the name of the episode where Doc and Chester sing "Goin down the road with a pack on my back, pack on my back,...

By mem2009, Feb 16, 2011

02/22/11

2
Reply
RIP Dennis Weaver
He was a great, and from My Hometown of Joplin MO, he even went to HS with my great uncle.. he will be missed

By port5170, Feb 27, 2006

04/21/10

15
Reply