The final act of one of Gunsomkes greatest stories. Charles Bronson takes a trip to boot hill as Matt Dillon (James Arness) decides its time for him to die.
True. It was interesting to see Bronson play the part of a cowardly bad guy. This is just the opposite of the kind of roles he later became famous for.
The writing truly was superb. And watching it now as an adult I’ve come to appreciate the work of the whole cast. Especially Milburn Stone as Doc. His interactions with Chester, Festus and Kitty gave the show added substance. What a tremendous group of actors.
Are you kidding? Matt had his single action Army pistol pre-cocked in the holster. Nobody ever did that back in the day. That whole scene was as fake as a $3 bill.
I think you're right. Even though it will seem dated and kind of contrived to many viewers, it's actually more authentic than much of what now dominates commercial TV series. I can't stand to watch the phony, stilted cop shows that are representative of dramatic series on TV these days. And sitcoms are just as noxious, in most cases.
@@wapiti3750 Not to mention he would could been tried and hung himself or had to be an outlaw after that. First threatening to kill an unarmed man no matter how many people he killed he got off the charges. Happened to many Sheriffs back in the day.
Guys, Here is Our Savior YaH The Heavenly FATHER HIMSELF was Who they Crucified/Pierced for our sins and “HERE IS THE PROOF” From the Ancient Egyptian Semitic: "Yad He Vav He" is what Moshe (Moses) wrote, when Moses asked YaH His Name (Exodus 3) Ancient Egyptian Semitic Direct Translation Yad - "Behold The Hand" He - "Behold the Breath" Vav - "Behold The NAIL"
Ben Bates was James Arness's stunt double for the Gunsmoke series and some movies. I worked with Ben during the late 80's and he had the best stories about working on Gunsmoke. RIP Ben.
Very unique premise in this episode. Matt actually STARTS a gunfight, instead of trying to stop one. And he did it to prevent future killings; a neat twist on the usual plot.
@@408Magenta A hallmark of this series... great writing and storylines. That's what made Gunsmoke so great... maybe the best tv western ever. Along with a great ensemble cast, and guest stars, of course.
One of the greatest TV series of all time. The early 1/2 hour episodes were standouts by themselves. The acting by the main characters was superb week after week. The writing was as well. Took a little dip after maybe 10 years or so but still very good.
If anyone doubted Bronson was an ACTOR that scene should convince them he was indeed an actor. A very accomplished actor. From the habitual tough guy to a guy almost paralyzed by a fear only a coward can know, the difference is stark. And proof Bronson wasn't one dimensional.
Very much outside Bronson's macho image. Kinda cool to see. I heard he felt bad about acquiescing in this scene and went out that night and ate a lion.
Guys, Here is Our Savior YaH The Heavenly FATHER HIMSELF was Who they Crucified/Pierced for our sins and “HERE IS THE PROOF” From the Ancient Egyptian Semitic: "Yad He Vav He" is what Moshe (Moses) wrote, when Moses asked YaH His Name (Exodus 3) Ancient Egyptian Semitic Direct Translation Yad - "Behold The Hand" He - "Behold the Breath" Vav - "Behold The NAIL"
*_Gunsmoke_** (1955 - 75)* Here's a compilation of Matt Dillon's bullet wounds Locations: Left Arm/Shoulder: 26 Torso: 13 Right Arm/Shoulder: 7 Right Leg: 4 Head: 5 Left Leg: 2 Unspecified: 2 Total 54
I don't know if James Arness won any awards for this performance, but he should have. He showed his great acting ability in this scene, made it so believeable. I love Gunsmoke, watch it every day. Thanks for posting this.
agree i love the fact that jim is an amiable soul but has a very dark side as matt but always beautifully underplays it until he loses it then wham also like the way he is slightly scared in this scene not sure if he can beat bronson but will die trying. love charlie bronson too who was an amazing actor in character parts for years his star vehicles never showed this to full effect
Bronson had to pay his dues for almost 20 years as supporting actor before finally becoming a major star which by then he was nearing 50 but it all paid off for him.
Yes Gunsmoke was a great show, I remember an episode where Morgan Woodward said to him"' yeah I've heard a ya Marshal your a man with an Iron spine when it comes to the law and doing what's right". If we only had leaders like that today. God Bless everyone.
I have seasons 1 through 7 of Gunsmoke on DVD and It's probably one of the few series (along with All In The Family) that I can watch over and over and enjoy it every time. Wonderful writing, terrific ensemble cast, and one great guest star after another. There were several really good westerns on television in the fifties and sixties, but this classic just may have been the best of them all.
Guys, Here is Our Savior YaH The Heavenly FATHER HIMSELF was Who they Crucified/Pierced for our sins and “HERE IS THE PROOF” From the Ancient Egyptian Semitic: "Yad He Vav He" is what Moshe (Moses) wrote, when Moses asked YaH His Name (Exodus 3) Ancient Egyptian Semitic Direct Translation Yad - "Behold The Hand" He - "Behold the Breath" Vav - "Behold The NAIL"
@@oldwestguy hi thankyou very much but I'll buy them eventually... Just gotta get around to it my friend.. my favorite person the show was Nathan Burke.. he was always kind of funny
@@MsNickie1001 i used to live in a city where the cops would run people out of town. it was a lot more peaceful then than it is now! it wasn't like the cliche where the cops are bad and are running good people out
The first years of Gunsmoke were to me, the best. Later was overall good, but the early were gritty, powerful, often dark and foreboding. They covered so many things including pestilence and cannibalism.
The quality of this clip is AMAZING!! Thank you for posting. Dennis Weaver was wonderfully vulnerable. James Arness was THE MAN! And Charles Bronson.. just great as a cowardly murderer.
The least intimidating that I’ve ever seen Charles Bronson be. He usually came across on screen as if he ate steel pellets for breakfast, and would as soon smack you, as look at you. But maybe when you have 6’7” of town marshal telling you he’s going to straight up murder your ass, you lose your steel. Great scene!
Great story of a bully / coward underneath. Was tough gloating other weaker men into fights, then claiming self defense. Bronson’s character showed his true colors when called out by someone else who played HIS game….
Most of the early episodes were adapted from the original radio scripts (which starred William Conrad). This was one of them. They usually didn't have "happy endings" or "neat resolutions".
When it`s done right you feel it.. A Coward back shooter being called out and shamed... James Arness , John Wayne Passed the torch and Aress ran with it.. Great Actors
"Gunsmoke" was a "Western noir" radio program (if you can imagine that) before it was turned into a TV show. Some of that noir found its way into the early TV seasons - in fact, many of the early TV scripts were based on the ones from radio.
I have never heard of Gunsmoke. When I watched it in the mid-fifties in England it was known as 'Gunlaw' and 'Mr Dillon' became a catchphrase. It was my favourite Western series at the time.
In a similar episode Matt takes his gunbelt off and beats a killer senseless with his fists. The killer recovers physically but never emotionally. Nobody could beat our Marshall with guns or fists
Wow! I have the COMPLETE GUNSMOKE SERIES ON DVD! seasons #1 thru #20! I wouldn't part with it for anything! I love me some MATT DILLON and KITTY, CHESTER, FESTUS, Quint, n DOC. ADAMS!
Charles Bronson as a panicky backshooter. Who would've thunk it? But there is only one other person who could outshoot Bronson and that's Sheriff Matt Dillon. RIP James Arness...and Charles Bronson
Love it ❤️ I grew up on this … knowing right from wrong… good from bad … great stuff 🎉 Brings back teriffic memories… watching with family … never grows old !!!
I grew up with Gunsmoke one of the best tv shows that ever existed. TV today is trash. Westerns can't exist in today's world but to me they gave me heros to look up to. I miss those days and those shows when the writing was brilliant and the acters had talent.
Near as I can figure, Marshal Dillon was shot 56 times, but I’ve heard the count could be higher. My figure includes: eight shots in the left arm, six in the left shoulder, four in the left side, one in the left leg, five in the right arm, five in the right shoulder, six in the right side, three in the right chest, four in the right leg, three forehead grazes, five in the back and several creases. The poor marshal was also knocked unconscious 29 times, stabbed three times and poisoned once. That’s a lot of blood loss!
Guys, Here is Our Savior YaH The Heavenly FATHER HIMSELF was Who they Crucified/Pierced for our sins and “HERE IS THE PROOF” From the Ancient Egyptian Semitic: "Yad He Vav He" is what Moshe (Moses) wrote, when Moses asked YaH His Name (Exodus 3) Ancient Egyptian Semitic Direct Translation Yad - "Behold The Hand" He - "Behold the Breath" Vav - "Behold The NAIL"
As I see many of the re-runs of this series on TV, I find it more compelling that most of the current drama series that dominate in commercial television. This clip is an example of how Marshal Dillon was portrayed--confident, wise, courageous, and committed to doing whatever will keep his town safe and provide a form of justice. The formula might seem simple-minded and formulaic to some, but it still provides a potent good vs evil dramatic tension that goes back to ancient drama. At its best, this show remains surprisingly strong, thanks in large part to the way James Arness played the part and the way writers provided him with situations that brought out his smarts and decency. The production values and some characterizations are dated by comparison with current shows, yet the dramatic situations and authenticity often seem far superior to the phony, straining and inauthentic scenarios and characters that dominate in current shows, especially the crime series that have become so pervasive.
I have the entire twenty season DVDs and these early half-hour B&W episode are my favorites. There were many good westerns from TV's golden age and Gunsmoke was the greatest of them all.
James Arness was the real-life older brother of Peter Graves (Mr. Phelps of Mission Impossible). Both brothers died within a year of each other (Graves died in 2010, Arness died the following year).
Watched a few Gunsmoke episodes as a kid never thought much about em now I watch the reruns and they are great and I’m hooked the early 30 minute episodes they are my favorite!
I was too young the first 9 years Chester Goode (Dennis Weaver) was Mr. Dillion’s side kick... I try to watch every one that Dennis was in.... mighty good actor I tell you that..... When I started watching GS as a kid frowning up in NL., Matt’s side kick was Fetus.,, so I didn’t know about Chester.... but i love watching Chester, he is one hell of a good entertainer.... I love this show... and
he was a great one for sure...it took some convincing acting to be able to pull off getting all the nuances in Chester's character and to make it believable...and Dennis Weaver did it so well that he makes you believe that Chester Goode actually existed
Man they don't make tv like this no more... and before any one gets on my case yes I am in my 30's but i grew up with a man who loved to watch westerns: my father... I got my appreciation for shows like gunsmoke and any other western from him.
RED ROVER RED ROVER!! That is an awesome gunsmoke clip. I Miss Bronson's actioning rolls. It's a "Little Stranger" seeing this old clips now a days. But Rock On anyway.
Totally agree, Mister Master Shafter. Dillon was stone cold all business in the 1950s shows. He protected the innocent and gladly smoked the rest any chance they gave him to. The 30min shows were crisper and more raw.
WOW! That was one of the most "questionable" things Matt Dillon did to my memory. I remember the whole episode, the "killer" played by Bronson goaded people he was sure he could beat. He thrived on killing others and really needed to be stopped. The marshall was sure the killer would try to shoot him in the back. Matt was so trusting of Chester he wasn't one bit worried about getting a warning. 4
The other was later in the series, when after Miss Kitty got roughed up, he went out to personally settle the score with bad guy Jude Bonner. He did this leaving off his badge. Ironically, in a later episode he admitted it was wrong for him to do that.
I was James Arness’ neighbour in Wyoming for about 10 years. Lovely man and a big fan of moleskin pants. Said they gave him a great feeling of security. I took his advice and I’ve been wearing them ever since. I believe they protected me from the Covid.
I should rewatch this! I remember watching this on Nick@Nite. Used to have to wake up early so my Pops could drop me off to school before he went to work. I remember going crazy when I got to the colorized seasons lol. I felt like I was living through the changes, back like the 50s to the 70s.
