Product Description: Marshall Matt Dillon is responsible for keeping the law and respectability in Dodge City in this western action-drama. Gunsmoke captured the courage character and spirit of the Western Frontier.Format: DVD MOVIE Genre: TELEVISION/SERIES & SEQUELS UPC: 097368528444 Manufacturer No: 852844
Amazon.com: In its second season, Gunsmoke blazed its way into the top ten, where it would stay for the next six years (four of them ranked No. 1), and James Arness earned an Emmy nomination for his towering portrayal of U. S. Marshal Matt Dillon. Dillon broke the mold of the TV lawman. As he notes in one episode, "They tell me that back East, there are a lot of book writers and newspaper people who picture a frontier lawman as someone pretty near perfection, who always guns his man down, never makes a mistake, he's at the top of the heap on every play." The "mule-headed" Dillon is not that man. "My job is to keep the peace, and I'll do it my own way," he proclaims. In the episode "No Indians," he ambushes a band of white men who slaughter a family and frame the Pawnee Indians for the crime. "What kind of man would ambush a bunch of men like that?" a wounded survivor protests. "My kind, mister," Dillon replies. In the episode "Cow Doctor," he knocks out a man who knifes Doc. "Let me know when he comes to and I'll knock him out again," Dillon states. And in "The Mistake," he arrests the wrong man for murder.
These half-hour black and white episodes (the show expanded to an hour format in its seventh season) deliver traditional Western action, but at the heart of Gunsmoke are its character-based human dramas. An excellent example is "Gone Straight," featuring Carl Betz (The Donna Reed Show) as a man who answers the description of a wanted outlaw, but who is now an upstanding citizen trying to help another man (Tige Andrews of The Mod Squad) reform. Some episodes play out in unexpected ways that defy convention. We can pretty much guess the fate of an old friend who insists on helping Matt in "The Round-Up," but we can't predict at whose hand.
Gunsmoke was directed by sure Western hands, including Andrew McLaglan, Ted Post, and Christian Nyby. Several episodes were written by Sam Peckinpah, including "The Round-Up" and "Legal Revenge," featuring a young Cloris Leachman as a woman who appears to have it in for her wounded husband. Several episodes address social issues such as racism ("Sins of the Fathers" featuring Angie Dickinson as the daughter of a marauding Indian chief) and gun culture (the powerful "don't take your guns to town" episode, "Young Man with a Gun"). Along with Matt Dillon, the rest of Gunsmoke's characters became archetypes: "Mr. Dillon's" drawling, bum-legged deputy, Chester (Dennis Weaver), ornery Doc (Milburn Stone), and saloon gal, Miss Kitty (Amanda Blake), who, by the way, looks quite fetching in a riding outfit. An interesting bonus are the show's sponsor shots for LM cigarettes. "See you next week," Arness puffs. "In the meantime, light up." --Donald Liebenson
Review of Gunsmoke Season 2 - Volume 1 DVD I am a great fan of Gunsmoke and when I saw that most of the reviews for season 2, volume 1 were negative, I was quite surprized. However, after reading them I realized that their complaint was not with the DVD, but with CBS/Paramount for splitting up the seasons into 2 parts - for what appears to be either greed, or an opportinuty to end production of a series that they do not expect to make money on (i.e. "The series just didn't sell or there was not enough interest". In reality, season 2, volume 1 has the same high quality and standards as all Gunsmoke seasons and I would recommend it to anyone who appreciates great western classics! I do hope however; that consumers will complain to CBS/Paramount to put these seasons into one DVD each. After all, this IS a 20 season series!
Still the Best I finished the first season, so naturally I had to continue. I watched Gunsmoke for its entire 20 season run and now it is even better with these high quality videos. It would have been nice to have the whole second season in one set, but that does not detract from the individual episodes. The commercials brought back old memories when we were not so worried about being PC all the time. I watched 7 episodes in a row and am up for 7 more any time. I hope CBS comes through with the rest of the series. One of my favorite TV shows of all time so I am in hog heaven. These were shown on Saturday night right after "Have Gun Will Travel" when it came on then moved to Monday night for the final years. Great old memories. Time has not diminished these old shows one bit in my estimation.
gunsmoke diesater All the talk about the gunsomke problem is ok, but we need real awnsers. is anyone really trying to fix the problem? Is there any picket lines?, anyone trying to get to the stuios head people? anyone geting this story into the press? Someone must have the power ,knowledge and abilty to get to the producers of this series and let them know our feelings. At this rate I will be dead before the series is even half out. lets all put up a real stink and make them listin. lets ACT AND NOT JUST COMPLAIN.Gunsmoke: The Second Season, Vol. 2
Stop complaining! 20 episodes for $25 is a good deal! I purchased this at Wal-Mart for $24.99 and was very happy with the quality and the amount of episodes. There were 39 episodes that year (this one has 20. If you love the old classic TV western, you'll love this. I'm not joining the bandwagon of griper misers who expect all 39 episodes for $10 or $15. Get real! Back in the old days people would pay $25 for one episode on 8 mm film. Now people are just mean spirited and expect everything for nothing. Yes, go buy a bootleg, but your quality will suffer. If you want a Cadillac, you're going to have to pay. If you think it's too much money, just don't buy it! I think it's a great deal. Why do so many call it a ripoff? Hey, maybe you can paint my house for $200. No? Oh I see..you've got to make a living at what you do too.
Classic! Any western lover must have Gunsmoke in their collection. I grew up watching Gunsmoke. I guess I'm still growing up 'cause I'm still watching! Love seeing "the beginning", I wasn't around when the show first started.
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