Wanted: GUNSMOKE (CBS/1955-1975) (2 Viewers)

[JohnHopper]

On the whole, Disc 1 highlights good episodes including the first masterpiece "Seven Hours to Dawn".
Next week, I will explore Disc 2 of Gunsmoke season 11. So stay tuned for more!


PS: Season 11 is a genuinely good season.

 

[JohnHopper]

GUNSMOKE SEASON 11

Episode #2
“The Storm”
written by Paul Savage
directed by Joseph Sargent
music by Leon Klatzkin
guests: Forrest Tucker, Willard Sage, Tim McIntire, Richard Evans, Kelly Thordsen, Stuart Margolin

Two youngsters named Ab (actor Richard Evans) and Claude (actor Tim McIntire) from a farmer family kill a drunk buff hides trader named Cantwell (actor Willard Sage) in a back alley and one innocent named Woodley (actor Kelly Thordsen) is sentenced to death instead. One of the two young men feel guilty and sinks his conscience into whiskey and provokes a saloon customer that guns him down cold and makes his final confession. Matt Dillon goes picks up the other brother at the home of his friend (actor Forrest Tucker) during a storm. But things take another turn …

It’s a decent Film Noir and family drama about a murder at night that degenerates that is supported by the tense score of Leon Klatzkin. Matt Dillon is again wounded. Don’t miss Festus performing a song at the saloon The Long Branch, accompanied by the bartender Rudy (actor Rudy Sooter) at the guitar who is a real country music musician, by the way. Composer Leon Klatzkin previously worked on Rawhide (season 5 and 6) and will let one onscreen credits during one third season episode (“The Night of the Falcon”) of The Wild Wild West which will happen to be just stock music.

Actor Forrest Tucker returns from the season 10 “Double Entry”, Willard Sage from the season 10 “Chief Joseph” and Kelly Thordsen from the season 3 “Mavis McCloud”.

Festus performs a song at The Long Branch, accompanied by bartender Rudy at the guitar.

 

[JohnHopper]

GUNSMOKE SEASON 11

Episode #5
“Taps for Old Jeb”
written by Les Crutchfield
directed by James Sheldon
music by Leon Klatzkin
guests: Ed Begley, Wayne Rogers, Morgan Woodward, Arthur Batanides, Don Keefer

At night and at his camp, an old excentric gold prospector named Jeb Crater (actor Ed Begley) supported by his partner Sholo (actor Morgan Woodward) hire a stranger named Stretch Morgan (actor Wayne Rogers) to be their bodyguard. Arriving at Dodge City, Jeb organizes a big party at the Long Branch to celebrate his richness. The next day, Sholo complains at the marshal’s office that Jeb might be dead but actually he was clubbed from behind. Morgan is suspected. But things are not what it appears to be …

It’s an absurb con game episode with a twist and features Thad who meets his cousin: Stretch Morgan. The episode should be re-titled “Fool’s Gold”. The character of Doc performs a song during Jeb’s party accompanied by bartender Rudy playing guitar and Sam at the fiddle.

Actor Morgan Woodward returns from “Seven Hours to Dawn” and Wayne Rogers from the season 7 “Cody’s Code”.

 

[JohnHopper]

GUNSMOKE SEASON 11

Episode #6
“Kioga”
written by Robert Lewin
directed by Harry Harris
music by Lyn Murray
guests: Neville Brand, Roy Roberts, John Hubbard, Hank Patterson, Ken Renard, Howard Culver, John War Eagle, Teno Pollick, Catherine Wyles

Furs trader McCaw (actor Neville Brand) shoots down two Indians after having a lunch with them and heads to Dodge City but one of the victims named Kioga (actor Teno Pollick) is still alive and tracks him down to Dodge to avenge the death of his relative.

It’s a decent little revenge drama. The story is served by a beautiful low key photography. Composer Lyn Murray’s score includes nice hapsichord passages for the character of Kioga—Murray used to work on Rawhide. Thad is absent.


End credits for CBS composer Lyn Murray.

 

[JohnHopper]

On the whole, Disc 1 highlights good episodes including the first masterpiece "Seven Hours to Dawn".
Next week, I will explore Disc 2 of Gunsmoke season 11. So stay tuned for more!


PS: Season 11 is a genuinely good season.

Among other things, the treat of season 11 is to witness the lighting of DP Harry Stradling, Jr.
See below his file:
https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0005888/?ref_=fn_nm_nm_1

 

[JohnHopper]

GUNSMOKE SEASON 11

Episode #7
“The Bounty Hunter”
written by Paul Savage
directed by Harry Harris
guests: Robert Lansing, Burt Freed, Wright King, Lisabeth Hush, James Anderson

Bounty hunter Luke Frazer (actor Robert Lansing) posing as Turner accepts a $600 contract that includes 10,000 acres of land from rancher Thornton (actor Burt Freed) wishing to avenge his young son and picking up Otto Fry (actor Wright King) that changes his name to Lon Jensen. Frazer stops at Dodge City and tracks Fry down. Matt Dillon covers and warns Jensen. But later on, we learn that Thornton didn’t tell the whole truth about the events of his son’s death. Things take another turn…

It’s a dual family affair (Thornton and Jensen’s), a marital dilemma, a good existential drama disguised as a bounty hunter intrigue. Actor Robert Lansing’s performance is impeccable and makes this entry exciting. Don’t miss the intense fight scene between diehard Frazer and his shady client Thornton at the ranch and its wild aftermaths. Festus knows Luke Frazer from way back. During the bath scene, we learn about the true motivations of Frazer. As in most series, the bounty hunter is considered as a harbinger of death and people refuse to cooperate with him. Thad is absent. Actor Wright King looks like Henry Fonda in this episode because he talks and behaves as him in his western feature films: see John Ford’s My Darling Clementine. The majority of the stock music comes from Leon Klatzkin’s “The Storm” and sustains the edgy and tense atmosphere of the drama.

Actor Wright King returns from the season 9 “No Hands” and Bert Freed from the season 4 “The F.U.”.

Recommended!

 

[JohnHopper]

GUNSMOKE SEASON 11

Episode #8
“The Reward”
written by Gilbert Ralston, Scott Hunt, Beth Keele
directed by Marc Daniels
guests: James Whitmore, David Ladd, Fred J. Scollay, Peter Whitney, Gilman Rankin

Returning home at Dodge City after a prison sentence for gold swindling, Jim Forbes (actor James Whitmore) joins his son Brian (actor David Ladd) back and wants to prove to the townspeople that there’s gold in his mine. The gang of Clint Fisher (actor Fred J. Scollay) and Jason Holt (actor Peter Whitney) keep on provoking Forbes. The gang lets their impulses loose at The Long Branch while torturing Forbes at his mine to make him pay his debt.

It’s a rough family drama about the themes of ostracism and redemption. Actor James Whitmore is good as usual.
Director Marc Daniels has a good sense of composition: see the high angle shot arrival scene of Forbes intercut
with close wide angle shots. Thad is absent.

Actor James Whitmore returns from the season 10 “Dry Road to Nowhere”.

 

[JohnHopper]

I hope you enjoy this trip to Dodge City.
Next week, folks, it's disc 3 with these episodes: “Malachi”, “The Pretender”, “South Wind”, “The Hostage”.
So stay tuned for more Matt Dillon's adventures!

 

[JohnHopper]

I hope you enjoy this trip to Dodge City.
Next week, folks, it's disc 3 with these episodes: “Malachi”, “The Pretender”, “South Wind”, “The Hostage”.
So stay tuned for more Matt Dillon's adventures!

For Kolchak aficionados, don't miss the Friday entry entitled “The Hostage”. And it's recommended!
Note that in your calendar.

 

[JohnHopper]

GUNSMOKE SEASON 11

Episode #9
“Malachi”
written by William Putman
directed by Gary Nelson
music by Morton Stevens
guests: Jack Elam, Harry Townes, Edward Andrews, Robert Sorrells, Rex Holman

In Mexico, outlaw Del Ordman (actor Jack Elam) shoots down a member of his gang named Shobin (actor Rex Holman) who let kill his brother and, later on, at night, and in a clearing, an old horse merchant while bones trader and whiskey addict Malachi Harper (actor Harry Townes) receives a letter from his rich brother Ethan (actor Edward Andrews) announcing his coming. Malachi is obliged to pose as Dodge City’s marshal and asks the help of Festus, Doc and Miss Kitty to stage a simulacrum but Del Ordman pops-up and wants to kill the man who shot down his brother: the marshal. Later on, Matt Dillon returns home. Dodge City has two marshals now!

It’s a fun light dual story episode that is served by a good guest cast: Jack Elam, Harry Townes, Edward Andrews. In a way, it plays like a spoof of John Ford’s The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance. Matt Dillon leaves Dodge at the start of Act 1. Thad is absent. This is the second score of CBS music head Morton Stevens after “Seven Hours to Dawn”.

Actor Harry Townes returns from the season 10 “Two Tall Men” and both actor Jack Elam and Robert Sorrells from this season “Clayton Thaddeus Greenwood”.

 

[JohnHopper]

GUNSMOKE SEASON 11

Episode #10
“The Pretender”
written by Calvin Clements, Sr.
directed by Vincent McEveety
music by Leon Klatzkin
guests: Tom Simcox, Tom Skerritt, Julie Sommars, Nehemia Persoff, Harry Davis, Gregg Palmer

Ex-convict Edmund Dano (actor Tom Skerritt) and his elder brother Frank (actor Tom Simcox) return home to the farm of their parents and attend the official party at Dodge City when sheriff Jackson (actor Gregg Palmer) from Garden City questions Frank for the charge of robbing the stage’s cashbox. Both sons try to get a second chance but they keep on fighting each other and therefore their mother has a stroke. At night and with the help of a female insider (actress Julie Sommars) that he seduced, Edmund rob the money of the Freight Express head Mr. Daniels (actor Harry Davis) who gets shot.

It’s a conflictual and existential Italian American family drama about the two sons of the Dano’s mixed up in a past dirty business and tackles the theme of fate and redemption: it’s also a pathos-filled story. The basic plot of the sons’ dilemma will be redone in the season 1 episode “Bitter Wine” with a Greek American family (also guest staring Nehemia Persoff playing again an angry father) from QM’s series The Street of San Francisco. The cast of the male characters is good: Tom Simcox, Tom Skerritt, Nehemia Persoff. Doc acts as a master of ceremony and performs a song at the Dodge City party accompanied by three musicians and among them, Sam and Rudy. Thad is present.

Actor Nehemia Persoff returns from this season “Ten Little Indians”.

 

[JohnHopper]

GUNSMOKE SEASON 11

Episode #11
“South Wind”
written by Jack Bartlett
directed by Allen Reisner
music by Tommy Morgan
guests: Bruce Dern, Pat Cardi, Robert Random, Michael Witney, Ryan Hayes, Michael Davis, Gregg Palmer

Walking on a hill, a boy named Homer Bonney (actor Pat Cardi) witnesses the killing of his father from the rear by Judd Print (actor Bruce Dern), the father of a traveller’s family enroute to Colorado. Homer hides from danger and runs with a pistol when he meets Doc Adams that saves him from hunger. The Print’s stop at Dodge City to get their wagon’s wheel fixed by the blacksmith. Homer eventually faces Judd Print in the lively stable.

It’s a brutal family drama centered around an avenging kid and that story is the companion piece to this season “Kioga”. As in “The Bounty Hunter”, Doc rides his buggy on a country road and discovers a wounded person. The vicious performance of Bruce Dern is inspired.

Actor Bruce Dern returns from this season “Ten Little Indians” and actor Gregg Palmer from “The Pretender”.


End credits for CBS composer Tommy Morgan.

 

[ClassicTVMan1981X]

GUNSMOKE SEASON 11

Episode #11
“South Wind”
written by Jack Bartlett
directed by Allen Reisner
music by Tommy Morgan
guests: Bruce Dern, Pat Cardi, Robert Random, Michael Witney, Ryan Hayes, Michael Davis, Gregg Palmer

Walking on a hill, a boy named Homer Bonney (actor Pat Cardi) witnesses the killing of his father from the rear by Judd Print (actor Bruce Dern), the father of a traveller’s family enroute to Colorado. Homer hides from danger and runs with a pistol when he meets Doc Adams that saves him from hunger. The Print’s stop at Dodge City to get their wagon’s wheel fixed by the blacksmith. Homer eventually faces Judd Print in the lively stable.

It’s a brutal family drama centered around an avenging kid and that story is the companion piece to this season “Kioga”. As in “The Bounty Hunter”, Doc rides his buggy on a country road and discovers a wounded person. The vicious performance of Bruce Dern is inspired.

Actor Bruce Dern returns from this season “Ten Little Indians” and actor Gregg Palmer from “The Pretender”.


End credits for CBS composer Tommy Morgan.
View attachment 55513

Tommy Morgan was a very prolific harmonica player, having lent his instrument to many popular songs and TV show theme tunes over the years. These include Sanford and Son and In the Heat of the Night, among others.

~Ben

 

[JohnHopper]

For Kolchak aficionados, don't miss the Friday entry entitled “The Hostage”. And it's recommended!
Note that in your calendar.

Tomorrow's the big day, Carl Kolchak and Tony Vincenzo meet Matt Dillon!
Be warned! Be there! The heavies will take over!

 

[JohnHopper]

GUNSMOKE SEASON 11

Episode #12
“The Hostage”
written by Clyde Ware
story by Joe Ann Johnson
directed by Vincent McEveety
music by Harry Geller
guests: Darren McGavin, Simon Oakland, Tom Reese, Vito Scotti, Willis Bouchey, I. Stanford Jolley

Four escaped convicts led by hardened criminal Lon Gorman (actor Darren McGavin) beat up and abduct Matt Dillon in order to use it as a shield to cross the Mexican border. Thad and Festus go after them to free Dillon. We learn later that Lon Gorman is actually innocent of the past murder charge and is on his way to kill the sadist who send him to prison and break his voice. Unfortunately, Thad and Festus end up in jail for breaking the law.

After “Seven Hours to Dawn”, it’s another good episode in which Matt Dillon is hurt pretty bad by the outlaws done by the tandem of writer Clyde Ware and director Vincent McEveety. Above all, it’s a revengist plot. Thad is present. Actor McGavin talks with a broken voice. How odd that both McGavin and Oakland will end up in the same series (Kolchak: The Night Stalker) in the next decade and here the social position is reversed because McGavin orders Oakland playing a stubborn cut throat. For the record, director Vincent McEveety will manage one episode of Kolchak: The Night Stalker entitled “The Knightly Murders”. After Morton Stevens and Richard Shores and Fred Steiner, find the fourth composer working on The Wild Wild West but also participated at Rawhide.

Actor Darren McGavin returns from the season 10 “Twenty Miles from Dodge” and Simon Oakland from the season 5 “Miguel’s Daughter” and appears on both Rawhide (see the season 6 “Incident of the Travellin’ Man” and the season 8 “Encounter at Boot Hill”) and The Wild Wild West (see the season 4 “The Night of the Fugitives”).

Recommended!


End credits for CBS composer Harry Geller.

 

[JohnHopper]

GUNSMOKE SEASON 11

Episode #12
“The Hostage”
written by Clyde Ware
story by Joe Ann Johnson
directed by Vincent McEveety
music by Harry Geller
guests: Darren McGavin, Simon Oakland, Tom Reese, Vito Scotti, Willis Bouchey, I. Stanford Jolley

Four escaped convicts led by hardened criminal Lon Gorman (actor Darren McGavin) beat up and abduct Matt Dillon in order to use it as a shield to cross the Mexican border. Thad and Festus go after them to free Dillon. We learn later that Lon Gorman is actually innocent of the past murder charge and is on his way to kill the sadist who send him to prison and break his voice. Unfortunately, Thad and Festus end up in jail for breaking the law.

After “Seven Hours to Dawn”, it’s another good episode in which Matt Dillon is hurt pretty bad by the outlaws done by the tandem of writer Clyde Ware and director Vincent McEveety. Above all, it’s a revengist plot. Thad is present. Actor McGavin talks with a broken voice. How odd that both McGavin and Oakland will end up in the same series (Kolchak: The Night Stalker) in the next decade and here the social position is reversed because McGavin orders Oakland playing a stubborn cut throat. For the record, director Vincent McEveety will manage one episode of Kolchak: The Night Stalker entitled “The Knightly Murders”. After Morton Stevens and Richard Shores and Fred Steiner, find the fourth composer working on The Wild Wild West but also participated at Rawhide.

Actor Darren McGavin returns from the season 10 “Twenty Miles from Dodge” and Simon Oakland from the season 5 “Miguel’s Daughter” and appears on both Rawhide (see the season 6 “Incident of the Travellin’ Man” and the season 8 “Encounter at Boot Hill”) and The Wild Wild West (see the season 4 “The Night of the Fugitives”).

Recommended!


End credits for CBS composer Harry Geller.
View attachment 55541

Darren McGavin as Lon Gorman and Simon Oakland as Carl Mandee.

 

[JohnHopper]

Next week, folks, it's disc 4 with these episodes: “Outlaw’s Woman”, “The Avengers”, “Gold Mine”, “Death Watch”.
So stay tuned for more Matt Dillon's adventures!

 

[JohnHopper]

The late actor Morgan Woodward appeared in 19 episode from Gunsmoke and was typecasted as a heavy.

"Matt Dillon Must Die" (1974) ... Abraham Wakefield
"A Game of Death... An Act of Love: Part 2" (1973) ... Bear Sanderson
"A Game of Death... An Act of Love: Part 1" (1973) ... Bear Sanderson
"The Sodbusters" (1972) ... Lamoor Underwood
"The Wedding" (1972) ... Walt Clayton
"Luke" (1970) ... Luke Dangerfield
"Hackett" (1970) ... Quentin Sargent
"Stryker" (1969) ... Josh Stryker
"Lobo" (1968) ... Luke Brazo
"Lyle's Kid" (1968) ... Grant Lyle
"Death Train" (1967) ... Harl Townsend
"Vengeance: Part 2" (1967) ... Zack Johnson
"Vengeance: Part 1" (1967) ... Zack Johnson
"The Hanging" (1966) ... Beaumont
"Whispering Tree" (1966) ... Earl Miller
"The Good People" (1966) ... Ben Rucker
"Taps for Old Jeb" (1965) ... Sholo
"Seven Hours to Dawn" (1965) ... Deeks
"Potato Road" (1957) ... Calhoun​

 

[Bob Gu]

Hold It!

Morgan Woodward's GUNSMOKE count is 20, if we count the TV Movie, GUNSMOKE: To The Last Man-1992.

Remember him best as, Shotgun Gibbs on THE LIFE AND LEGEND OF WYATT EARP.

With Wyatt:

With Roscoe:

Watching Gunsmoke, playing on MeTV, it seemed like every other episode guest starred Morgan Woodward or Victor French. French guested 18 times.

I wonder what female guest star appeared the most?

 

[JohnHopper]

GUNSMOKE SEASON 11

Episode #13
“Outlaw’s Woman”
written by Clyde Ware
directed by Mark Rydell
music by Harry Geller
guests: Lonny Chapman, Lou Antonio, Lane Bradbury, Vincent Beck, Gene Tyburn, Ted Jordan, Peggy Rea

Six wild robbers led by Dove Bailey (actor Lonny Chapman) ride fast to escape from two posses of lawmen. Matt Dillon fires his winchester and hits a young woman named Allie Sommers (actress Lane Bradbury) in the shoulder when her brother Eddie (actor Gene Tyburn) leaves her and joins back his gang but Hank Wheeler (actor Ted Jordan), one of the men, guns him down by accident. Bailey orders Harve Kane (actor Lou Antonio) to track Allie Sommers down to get the loot of $20,000. Allie Sommers ends up at Doc’s office in Dodge City. Later on, Harve Kane resumes to town and conditions Allies to make her believe that Matt Dillon kills her brother.

It’s a good runaway outlaws episode written by gifted Clyde Ware and directed by feature film auteur Mark Rydell (see The Fox, The Reivers, The Cowboys, Cinderella Liberty). The tandem of Clyde Ware and Mark Rydell work together during season 10: see “Chief Joseph” and “Twenty Miles from Dodge”. The doctor’s office scenes with actress Lane Bradbury as the untamed Allie Sommers are well-shot. The cast of criminal characters is very good: Lonny Chapman, Vincent Beck, Lou Antonio. Thad is present. Bartender Rudy (actor Rudy Sooter) of The Long Branch sings a song and plays the guitar outside of the establishment.

Actor Ted Jordan returns from the season 10 “The Pariah” and Lonny Chapman from the season 8 “Tell Chester”.