Product Description

Marshall Matt Dillon is responsible for bringing law and respectability to the Dodge City in this western action-drama. The show still holds the record for being the longest running primetime drama series in television history.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #16030 in DVD
• Brand: PARAMOUNT HOME VIDEO
• Released on: 2006-01-03
• Rating: Unrated
• Aspect ratio: 1.33:1
• Formats: Box set, Black & White, NTSC
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 3
• Dimensions: .55 pounds
• Running time: 544 minutes

Amazon.com
Gunsmoke: 50th Anniversary Edition Volume 1 is a winning collection of episodes from the long-running CBS Western's first nine seasons, with an accent on special guest stars who had yet to find fame. A few key storylines are in the mix, too, including Gunsmoke's first episode, dated September 10, 1955 and introduced by John Wayne, who more or less suggests that the series' beefy star, James Arness, is cut from the same heroic cloth as the Duke himself. No matter who drops in for a guest spot, however, or whether Gunsmoke was a half-hour or hour-long program (the show doubled its running time by season 8), the running storyline and core characters are as constant as the prairie stars.

Arness plays plain-speaking U.S. Marshal Matt Dillon, who keeps the peace over a wide territory from his perch in Dodge City, Kansas, a rough-and-tumble town where prospectors, farmers, bounty hunters, outlaws, and the occasional lunatic pass through. Dennis Weaver lends support as Dillon's deputy, Chester, a courageous clown; Amanda Blake is saloon keeper Kitty; and Milburn Stone plays irascible Doc, apparently Dodge City's only physician. Volume 1 highlights feature a couple of episodes with Charles Bronson, including "The Killer," in which the future Death Wish star portrays a psychopath preying on the weak. Mogul Aaron Spelling, at one time a character actor, appears as a spacey wanderer who nearly gets lynched in "The Guitar." Cloris Leachman is very good as a woman with a diabolical edge in "Legal Revenge," Angie Dickinson is memorable as an Arapaho Indian whose marriage to a white settler incites racial anger, and Jack Lord portrays a pair of brothers who threaten Doc's life. Burt Reynolds, who joined the cast of Gunsmoke as the half-white, half-Comanche character Quint, is introduced in the very effective drama "Quint Asper Comes Home," while Ken Curtis, whose goofy Festus effectively replaced the departing Chester in season 9, enters the series in "Prairie Wolfer." --Tom Keogh

Customer Reviews

The First "Must See" TV Series
The selection of the episodes is fine. The commentary by the stars varies between good and excellent.

Since I purchased almost all of the original 30 minute episodes of "Gunsmoke" from Columbia House (four per tape at $25), I am still disappointed that this amazing series was not released in sequence of broadcast, just as it was released by Columbia House.

"Gunsmoke" was so much more than entertainment 50 years ago. Families would gather around the "Cool Blue Fire" to share the stories (and morality tales) told by the actors and writers. Fifty years ago I was six years old, and obviously not cognizant of the great leap forward - into 'adult' territory - which "Gunsmoke" represented.

When I began watching the Columbia House 30 minute episodes, always in order of first broadcast ten years ago, I was amazed at the quality of the productions and the way that the totality had survived across (then) 40 years. Awed.

By selecting the 'best' of "Gunsmoke" the marketers imply that the rest of the series was like every other series on TV: there were only a few episodes worth watching, much less, worth BUYING. My view: that is not true.

This is one series that still deserves to be watched, and remains "must see" TV after 50 years.

I would encourage the release of "Gunsmoke" by seasons, just as "Have Gun Will Travel" is being released.

"Gunsmoke" was the primal American legend brought to black and white TV. It deserves to be seen as it was broadcast, not simply because the nostalgia quotient is higher but because it remains a seminal series.

The definitive episodic TV Western.

Goode show, Mister Dillon
As most fans of "Gunsmoke" probably know, this set and the second set, representing the latter half of the series, include some very good episodes drawn from throughout the show's 20 year run, but are not season sets. But what you do get are 17 very good looking episodes from the first nine seasons, primarily the Chester Goode (Dennis Weaver) years, with the last episode introducing Festus (Ken Curtis). What distinguishes this collection is the inclusion of some truly great DVD extras, from John Wayne's introduction of the first episode to Dennis Weaver's home movies made on the set, as well as other great bonus material. The inclusion of so many extras should come as no surprise as this collection was produced by Paul Brownstein, who was also behind the great DVD releases of "The Dick Van Dyke Show." Considering the age of the episodes, it's wonderful to hear so many episode commentaries, not only from the likes of stars James Arness and Dennis Weaver, but from popular guest stars like Angie Dickinson, George Kennedy, Adam West and Barbara Eden, all of whom share wonderful memories of the show and their early days as actors working in the relatively new medium of television. Both James Arness and Dennis Weaver took active roles in this DVD release, with Mr. Arness providing audio introductions for every episode and bonus item, and Mr. Weaver sharing his "Gunsmoke" memories.

While it would have been preferred to have full season sets of "Gunsmoke" (and, who knows, maybe this will eventually happen), Paramount has delivered a mostly great release.

A Tough Review to Write
This is a very tough review to write because the shows, transfers, etc. are excellent. THE HUGE PROBLEM IS: WHY IS THIS SHOW NOT BEING REALESED SEASON BY SEASON? This is probably the most outstanding westerns ever produced for television. The transfers are clean and clear (except for a few spots-remember that these shows are roughly fifty years old). Also, to me, I'll take Chester over Festus any day, so, these shws are great for me from September 10th, 1955 through the first appearance of Festus on 1/18/64 (ninth season). In this episode both Festus and Chester appear together. There are only seventeen episodes for NINE SEASONS on these three discs! During that time period, the television season usually began in mid September to early October. There were probably somewhere around 25-30 shows per season. Why in the world is Paramount not releasing the entire show,season by season (granted, I'd probably only buy the season's up until Chester leaves). Still, I'd be buying nine full seasons of this wonderful show. (I'm certain that there would be others who would buy every single season). Paramount, you're releasing the complete full seasons of other shows. Why only a vol. one and a volume two of Gunsmoke? Have Gun Will Travel is being released season by season. Why not Gunsmoke?