Wanted: GUNSMOKE (CBS/1955-1975) (1 Viewer)

[JohnHopper]

GUNSMOKE SEASON 11

Episode #23
“Sanctuary”
written by Calvin Clements, Sr.
directed by Harry Harris
music by Leon Klatzkin
guests: Sean Garrison, Richard Bradford, Larry Ward, Jack Grinnage, Joan Blackman, Virginia Gregg, Martin Priest, Charles Wagenheim, Marcia Blakesley

A band of savage outlaws led by Paul Wiley (actor Richard Bradford) runs away from Dodge City and hurts a woman and her young son. Paul Wiley is hit in the leg and takes refuge in the Church with three hostages: reverand John Porter (actor Sean Garrison) and his bride Phyllis Bowman (actress Joan Blackman) and sewing old maid Miss Howell (actress Virginia Gregg). The posse track the bandits down while Doc is forced to heal the leg of Wiley. But Mr. Ayers (actor Larry Ward), the husband of the two casualties, wants to take his revenge with the help of the townspeople.

It’s a decent hostage entry in which a preacher faces his moral opposite: a bandit. Thad is present.

Actor Larry Ward returns from the season 10 “He Who Steals” and Jack Grinnage from the season 6 “Brother Love”.

 

[JohnHopper]

GUNSMOKE SEASON 11

Episode #24
“Honor Before Justice”
written by Frank Q. Dobbs
story by Frank Q. Dobbs and Robert Stewart, Jr.
directed by Harry Harris
music by Lyn Murray
guests: France Nuyen, Ralph Moody, George Keymas, Michael Ansara, Ken Renard, Richard Gilden, James Almanzar, Ted Jordan, Barton MacLane, Harry Bartell, Noah Beery

After the majority of the Osage council—except Grey Horse (actor Michael Ansara)—votes and states that John Two-Bears (actor Noah Beery) is guilty of killing a man named Samuel Brightwing and will be executed in three days, his young daughter Sarah (actress France Nuyen) rides to Dodge City and asks the help of the law but only Thad is available. Meanwhile Matt Dillon and Festus question rancher Herk Crawford (actor Barton MacLane) about his stolen horses when a band of undercover Indians dressed as Americans raid the farm. Later on, Thad talks to Two-Bears, heads to see Grey Horse and fights two undercover Indians when he gets arrested by agent Franklin (actor Harry Bartell). Matt Dillon asks the release of Thad and runs to unfold the mystery of the stolen horses and the connection to Grey Horse which may alter the fate of Two-Bears.

It’s a laborious and weak mystery paired with an Indian conspiracy entry and the corny companion piece to “Kioga” in terms of Indians-related episode because of the unexpected arrival of an Indian youngster to town to claim justice. The episode is limited because of the blatant artificial studio-bound scenes. Thad is present. As usual actor Michael Ansara is typecasted as an Indian character: see his input on Rawhide. Actually, Ansara acts like Qarlo from The Outer Limits episode “Soldier”: which is not a compliment. It’s not an original score but stock music from Murray’s “Kioga” because we recognize the harspichord music and from Richard Shores.

Actor Noah Beery returns from the season 9 “Prairie Wolfer”.

 

[JohnHopper]

Next week, folks, it's disc 7 with these episodes: “The Brothers”, “Which Dr.”, “Harvest”, “By Line”.
So stay tuned for more Matt Dillon's adventures!

 

[JohnHopper]

GUNSMOKE SEASON 11

Episode #25
“The Brothers”
written by Tom Hanley
directed by Tay Garnett
music by Franz Waxman (stock music)
guests: Scott Marlowe, Robert Crawford, Eddie Firestone, Kathryn Harrow, James Nusser, Sailor Vincent, Tom Reese, Warren Vanders, Edmund Hashim, Joseph Hoover, Mark Sturges

A band of outlaws led by two brothers rob the bank of Dodge City. At the exit of the establishment, Billy (actor Robert Crawford), the young brother of Ed (actor Scott Marlowe), is shot in the shoulder and held prisoner at the marshal’s office. Ed plans to free his brother by terrorizing and torturing the townspeople: Doc, Thad’s friend named Will (actor Mark Sturges), newspaperman Dave Crandall (actor Joseph Hoover) and his wife Helen (actess Kathryn Harrow). Matt Dillon counterattacks with the kid brother used as a trap.

It’s a rough educational entry that condemns violence and the second holdup in Dodge City episode after “The Raid” and features stock music from Waxman’s “The Raid” and Morton Stevens’ “Seven Hours to Dawn”. As a holdup drama, it’s average. As in “The Raid”, Doc is hit by an outlaw. The cast of bandit characters is decent but not edgy: Scott Marlowe, Tom Reese, Warren Vanders, Edmund Hashim—Scott Marlowe slightly displays his Outer Limits madness, by the way. Thad is present and introduces his friend Will to Matt Dillon. Veteran director Tay Garnett is known for the 1946 Film Noir feature film: The Postman Always Rings Twice.

Actor Scott Marlowe returns from the season 10 “Thursday’s Child” and Tom Reese from this season “The Hostage”. Actor Edmund Hashim returns from this season “The Raid” in which he plays again a bank robber.

 

[JohnHopper]

Howdy folks,

I'm currently watching back-to-back the first season of The Wild Wild West, just in case.

 

[JohnHopper]

GUNSMOKE SEASON 11

Episode #26
“Which Dr.”
written by Les Crutchfield
directed by Peter Graves (the brother of James Arness)
music supervision by Morton Stevens
guests: R.G. Armstrong, Gregg Palmer, Shelley Morrison, George Lindsey, Elisabeth Fraser, Claire Wilcox

Two buffalo hunters miss their targets because singing outloud Thad stampedes the herd when a wagon stops and the two men threaten him to steal his boots to make him pay but he runs away. Latter the afternoon and at the marshal’s office, Thad shows Doc the fish he caught and tells him his secret place. One hour after, Doc and Festus go fishing but Argonaut Moonercan (actor R.G. Armstrong), the leader of the buffalo hunters, hold them prisoners in order to cure his little daughter Piney and, later on, forces Doc to stay and to marry Addie (actress Shelley Morrison) so that he become the resident camp’s doctor.

It’s a corny and comical adventure, another hillbilly entry after “Sweet Billy, Singer of Songs” and another Doc fails to go fishing entry after “Wishbone” but ends up as a forced good samaritan story. The episode title refers to the two doctors of the episode: Doc Adams representing academics and Addie, the local healer. It reminds the milieu of a Rawhide episode entitled “Incident of the Rawhiders” (season 6) in which Rowdy Yates is obliged to marry one local woman. Thad is present. This is the first direction of actor Peter Graves that is just a flat studio-bound work and he will later manage one episode of Mission: Impossible entitled “Kidnap” (season 7) that is much better. The majority of the stock music is from Richard Shores’ “Sweet Billy, Singer of Songs”.

Actor R.G. Armstrong returns from the season 10 “The Lady”.

 

[Jeff Flugel]

Don't have much to say on these episodes, John, as I haven't seen this season...just wanted to let you know that I'm following your reviews with interest. I'm especially interested in "Sanctuary" as it stars the Man in a Suitcase himself, Richard Bradford. He's a compelling actor to watch, and he didn't have the career he deserved, IMO.

Keep up the good work!

 

[JohnHopper]

GUNSMOKE SEASON 11

Episode #23
“Sanctuary”
written by Calvin Clements, Sr.
directed by Harry Harris
music by Leon Klatzkin
guests: Sean Garrison, Richard Bradford, Larry Ward, Jack Grinnage, Joan Blackman, Virginia Gregg, Martin Priest, Charles Wagenheim, Marcia Blakesley

A band of savage outlaws led by Paul Wiley (actor Richard Bradford) runs away from Dodge City and hurts a woman and her young son. Paul Wiley is hit in the leg and takes refuge in the Church with three hostages: reverand John Porter (actor Sean Garrison) and his bride Phyllis Bowman (actress Joan Blackman) and sewing old maid Miss Howell (actress Virginia Gregg). The posse track the bandits down while Doc is forced to heal the leg of Wiley. But Mr. Ayers (actor Larry Ward), the husband of the two casualties, wants to take his revenge with the help of the townspeople.

It’s a decent hostage entry in which a preacher faces his moral opposite: a bandit. Thad is present.

Actor Larry Ward returns from the season 10 “He Who Steals” and Jack Grinnage from the season 6 “Brother Love”.

Portrait of outlaw Paul Wiley (actor Richard Bradford).

 

[JohnHopper]

Don't have much to say on these episodes, John, as I haven't seen this season...just wanted to let you know that I'm following your reviews with interest.

Keep up the good work!

Thank you, partner!

 

[JohnHopper]

GUNSMOKE SEASON 11

Episode #27
“Harvest”
written by Les Crutchfield
directed by Harry Harris
music by Harry Zimmerman and Willis H. Schaefer
guests: James MacArthur, Karl Swenson, George Kennedy, Lesley Ann Warren, Alma Platt, Ted Jordan, Fred Coby

The McGoverns, a poor family of Scottish people, settle on the land of iron proprietor Ben Payson (actor George Kennedy) with a legal claim and that triggers ownership issues and an impossible romance between two youngsters: David McGovern (actor James MacArthur) and Betsy Payson (actress Lesley Ann Warren). Rancher Ben Payson complains to his best friend: Marshal Matt Dillon. Feeling betrayed by his daughter, Payson does his best to make the life of the McGoverns miserable.

It’s a simple and sad Scottish settler drama paired with a young people love story that slightly reminds the antagonistic families dilemma tackled by Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. Don’t miss the hand-to-hand fight scene at the camp between Ben Payson and Ian McGovern because of the hectic catchy music conducted by Morton Stevens. One episode of Rawhide had a Scottish story: “Incident of the Dowery Dundee” (season 6). Anyway, the cast of characters is good: the McGoverns (James MacArthur, Karl Swenson) and the Paysons (George Kennedy, Lesley Ann Warren) and the two families have one common denominator: the absence of mother. Writer Les Crutchfield seems to be focused on picturesque folkish characters: see his previous gold prospectors in “Taps for Old Jeb” and buffalo hunters in “Which Dr.” Thad is present and is Betsy’s best friend. It’s the first episode produced by John Mantley and Philip Leacock is only executive producer.

Actors George Kennedy (“Crooked Mile”) and Karl Swenson (“Blue Heaven”) all return from season 10.


A change of production: associate producer John Mantley is promoted to producer.

A change of production: producer Philip Leacock became the executive producer.

End credits for CBS composer Harry Zimmerman and Willis H. Schaefer.

 

[JohnHopper]

GUNSMOKE SEASON 11

Episode #28
“By Line”
written by Les Crutchfield
directed by Allen Reisner
music supervision by Morton Stevens
guests: Chips Rafferty, Stefan Arngrim, Dabbs Greer, Denver Pyle, Ted de Corsia, Gertrude Flynn, Dorothy Neumann, Adrienne Marden, John Francis, Fletcher Fist, Maudie Prickett

Riding slow his mule on a country road, Festus fails to be knocked over by the fast wagon of newspaper man Angus McTabbot (actor Chips Rafferty) and his nine years old nephew named Jock (actor Stefan Arngrim) running away from Hays City. A few minutes later, angry Festus finds the wrecked wagon at the end of the road and some bullet holes in the tailgate. A few hours later, Festus becomes the new associate of McTabbot and opens up a printing house at Dodge City so that they release the first issue of The Dodge City Clarion, The Voice of Truth. Unable to write, Festus becomes an ad man for the newspaper and the official reporter whose articles are penned by the little Jock. But things turn wrong because Festus become a gossip reporter creating disorder amongst people and therefore complaining violently: starting with cattleman Merl Benlan (actor Ted de Corsia) against Festus then general store owner Clab Chummers (actor Denver Pyle) against his rival Jonas Finch (actor Dabbs Greer) …

It’s a light but fun story dealing with the manipulative power of the press combined with advertisement that reminds the topic from Samuel Fuller’s 1952 Park Row and the second Scottish entry after the previous “Harvest” (also written by Les Crutchfield) and in both the Scots are obliged to leave town to avoid trouble. After “Death Watch” with the Kansas City Beacon, this is the second episode focusing on the theme of the press depicted as dubious. Thad is absent but mentioned by Festus. The music for the theme of Festus and the majority of the stock music is from Richard Shores’ “Sweet Billy, Singer of Songs”.

Actor Dabbs Greer returns from the season 9 “Caleb”, Denver Pyle from the season 10 “Deputy Festus” and Ted de Corsia from the season 7 “He Learned About Women”.


Park Row (1952) - Trailer

 

[JohnHopper]

Next week, folks, it's the last disc with these episodes:
“Treasure of John Walking Fox”, “My Father, My Son”, “Parson Comes to Town”, “Prime of Life”.
So stay tuned for more Matt Dillon's adventures!

 

[JohnHopper]

Gunsmoke Commercials with James Arness

 

[JohnHopper]

GUNSMOKE SEASON 11

Episode #29
“Treasure of John Walking Fox”
written by Clyde Ware
story by Leo Bagby
directed by Marc Daniels
music by Leon Klatzkin
guests: Leonard Nimoy, Jim Davis, Ted Gehring, Tom McCauley, Kelton Garwood, Richard Webb, Lloyd Gough

At night, three saddle tramps led by loud mouth Gainer (actor Jim Davis) stop at the camp of two bull hide traders but one of them is a Comanche named John Walking Fox (actor Leonard Nimoy) so the three men are obliged to leave. The next day at Dodge City, the two sides feud again each other. Later on, Jacob Beamus (actor Lloyd Gough) tries to sell his hives for the usual 50 cents a piece to the merchant Mr. Tigue (actor Richard Webb) who cuts the price to 26 cents so Jacob implies he is a crook and threatens him with a handgun and ends up dead. John Walking Fox pays the funeral of his partner with a rare $50 gold coin that raises suspicion. Later on and back at the camp, a fight concerning the location of a hidden gold shipment through a map is started by the same three wanderers against John Walking Fox but stopped at the last minute by the greedy hive merchant who helps him. The morning after at the Dodge House hotel, two parties still look for the gold but John Walking Fox has already prepared a double-edged scheme …

It’s a decent morality tale about greed and the third Indian entry after “Kioga” and “Honor Before Justice”. The three saddle tramps are played by Jim Davis, Ted Gehring, Tom McCauley who plays Banjo at the Long Branch. As in Rawhide (see the season 3 “Incident Before Black Pass”), actor Leonard Nimoy is typecasted as an Indian but, here, he acts like a wise man in the line of actor David Carradine in Kung Fu. Thad is present.

Actor Jim Davis returns from this season “The Raid”, Kelton Garwood from this season “Seven Hours to Dawn” and Leonard Nimoy from the season 8 “I Call Him Wonder”.

 

[JohnHopper]

GUNSMOKE SEASON 11

Episode #30
“My Father, My Son”
written by Hal Sitowitz
directed by Robert Totten
music supervision by Morton Stevens
guests: Jack Elam, Lee Van Cleef, John McLiam, Billy Halop, Scott Hale, James Nusser, Teno Pollick, Charles Kuenstle, Del Monroe, James Gammon, Zalman King

Hays City, Trail’s End saloon: hotheaded Joey Jeffords (actor Zalman King), one of the two farmer brothers, provokes professional gunman Jim Barrett (actor Jack Elam) playing pool who eventually shoots him straight but his brother Bernie (actor Charles Kuenstle) sends a curse on him. The next day at Dodge City, Jim Barrett is arrested by Matt Dillon and released after checking his criminal status. At night, another hotheaded young man (actor Teno Pollick) tries to eliminate Barrett but in his hotel room and fails and we learn later it is his own son. Farmer Ike Jeffords (actor Lee Van Cleef) rides to unite all his sons for his vengeance crusade.

It’s an interesting and unusual intimistic Film Noir entry and a dual rough family drama shot at night with a wonderful dark palette. Notice the way DP Harry Stradling, Jr. uses twice the zoom shot when an intruder observes Barrett outside the saloon. As in “Ten Little Indians”, the character of actor Zalman King dies quickly by the hand of a hired gun. As in “Kioga”, the character of actor Teno Pollick tries to kill a man at the Dodge House hotel. Thad is present. The cast of the Jeffords family consists of the following actors: Lee Van Cleef, Charles Kuenstle, Del Monroe, James Gammon, Zalman King. The minor character of Doherty (actor John McLiam) is amusing and rents his handgun to David Barrett. Among other things, contains stock music from Bernard Herrmann’s “Encounter at Boot Hill” from Rawhide (season 8)—used for the Jeffords family—, Franz Waxman’s “The Raid”.

Actor Jack Elam (“Clayton Thaddeus Greenwood” and “Malachi” in which he plays a gunning outlaw), Teno Pollick (“Kioga”), Zalman King (“Ten Little Indians”) all return from this season 11. Actors John McLiam (“Big Man, Big Target”) and Lee Van Cleef (“The Pariah”) all return from season 10.

 

[JohnHopper]

GUNSMOKE SEASON 11

Episode #31
“Parson Comes to Town”
written by Verne Jay
directed by Marc Daniels
music by Leon Klatzkin
guests: Sam Wanamaker, Lonny Chapman, John McLiam, Hank Patterson, Kelton Garwood, Ted Jordan, Woody Chambliss, Charles Wagenheim, Elizabeth Rogers, Joan Granville, Kevin Burchett

Clarendon, Texas: Reverend Aaron Longworth (actor Sam Wanamaker) is gunned down by two unknown drifters willing to get his cash in his new-built church and presumed dead because of the three bullets in his back. At Dodge City, the Reverend stops at the Dodge House hotel and acts like a prophet of doom and warns the population of a future funeral. The townspeople are shaken up! The Reverend spots the guilty one named Sipes (actor Lonny Chapman) and keeps on harassing him. At the Marshal’s office along with Matt, Festus, Doc, the man dressed as the Reverend reveals he is a Southern Illinois schoolteacher named Asa Longworth and the twin brother of Reverend Aaron Longworth on his crusade to track down the last of the two murderers of his kin. Returning home to Dodge, Willie Dougherty (actor John McLiam) warns Matt Dillon about the events of the first murderer’s death at Garden City. At the Dodge House, Matt Dillon warns Sipes he sent his description to Clarendon so Sipes looses his mind and shows his true nature.

It’s a good and solid revengist drama in which the avenger toys with the nerves of his prey—picture if you will Columbo acting as a preacher. The score of Leon Klatzkin helps to underline the tense atmosphere. The character of undertaker Percy Crump (actor Kelton Garwood) returns from “Treasure of John Walking Fox”. Thad is present and shot in the leg. As in “The Avengers” with a mad judge, Matt Dillon does his duty with a wound.

Actor Lonny Chapman (“Outlaw’s Woman”), John McLiam (“My Father, My Son”) and Kelton Garwood (“Treasure of John Walking Fox”) all return from this season 11. Actor Sam Wanamaker appears the same year in one episode (“The Night of the Howling Light”) of The Wild Wild West produced by John Mantley.

 

[JohnHopper]

Actor Sam Wanamaker appears the same year in one episode (“The Night of the Howling Light”) of The Wild Wild West produced by John Mantley.

Onscreen credits for the cast and crew.

 

[JohnHopper]

GUNSMOKE SEASON 11

Episode #32
“Prime of Life”
written by Daniel B. Ullman
directed by Robert Totten
music by Leon Klatzkin
guests: Douglas Kennedy, Jonathan Lippe, Joe Don Baker, Martin West, Victor French, Lyn Edgington, Cal Naylor, Barbara Wilkin, James Nusser, Ted French

At night, three young men led by Kyle Stoner (actor Jonathan Lippe) step into the Long Branch to get a drink. Hotheaded and fast drawer Kyle moves to the table of a young couple to introduce saloon girl Wilma Prather (actress Lyn Edgington) to his friends Joe Smith (actor Victor French) and Jack Brown (actor Martin West) but the boyfriend named Brad (actor Cal Naylor) has an argument with Kyle and it ends up in a duel in which Brad dies. A few minutes later, Matt Dillon locks up Kyle for interfering with an officer in the performance of his duty. Matt Dillon suspects the three young men to be part of a holdup. Feeling humiliated, Kyle Stoner wants to kill Matt Dillon! Later on, the father of the Stoner’s discovers a terrible secret that may stain his good name … a fourth member of the holdup.

It’s a ruthless and nihilistic Film Noir entry and the third story related to a holdup after “The Raid” and “The Brothers” but also a family drama and its added value is the performances of Jonathan Lippe, Joe Don Baker, Victor French. Notice the intrinsic violence of that episode: see the prologue’s showdown, the tense social relations between Matt Dillon and Kyle and Woody Stoner and, Festus, beaten up in a back alley at night—shot like “My Father’s Guitar”. After “Seven Hours to Dawn” with Matt Dillon, find another leading character (here, Festus) on the brink of dying! The Stoner family consists of ex-lawman John (actor Douglas Kennedy) and his two sons: Kyle (actor Jonathan Lippe) and Woody (actor Joe Don Baker). Actor Ted French is the father of actor Victor French. Thad is present. Contains a cue from Morton Stevens’ “Seven Hours to Dawn” at the start of Act 1.

Actor Victor French (“Wisbone”) and Jonathan Lippe (“Killer at Large”) all return from this season 11 and Douglas Kennedy from the season 10 “The Violators”.

 

[JohnHopper]

TOP GUNSMOKE SEASON 11 EPISODES
"The Raid"
"Seven Hours to Dawn"
"The Hostage"
"The Avengers"
"Death Watch"
"My Father’s Guitar"
"Ten Little Indians"
"The Bounty Hunter"
"Outlaw’s Woman"
"Parson Comes to Town"
"My Father, My Son"
"Malachi"

 

[JohnHopper]

GUNSMOKE SEASON 11 • THE SCORES

INDEX OF COMPOSERS ONSCREEN CREDITS

Harry Geller (2)
“The Hostage”
“Outlaw’s Woman”

Leon Klatzkin (8)
“The Storm”
“Taps for Old Jeb”
“The Pretender”
“Death Watch”
“Sanctuary”
“Treasure of John Walking Fox”
“Parson Comes to Town”
“Prime of Life”

Tommy Morgan
“South Wind”

Lyn Murray (2)
“Kioga”
“Honor Before Justice” (stock music)

Richard Shores (2)
“Clayton Thaddeus Greenwood”
“Sweet Billy, Singer of Songs”

Fred Steiner
“Ten Little Indians”

Morton Stevens (2)
“Seven Hours to Dawn”
“Malachi”

Franz Waxman (2)
“The Raid”
“The Brothers” (stock music)

Harry Zimmerman and Willis H. Schaefer
“Harvest”

NOTES
Composer Morton Stevens conducts the scores of Franz Waxman (“The Raid”) and Harry Zimmerman and Willis H. Schaefer (“Harvest”) and we also see the generic credits of music supervision by Morton Stevens.

music supervision Morton Stevens (5)
“My Father’s Guitar”
“Wishbone”
“Which Dr.”
“By Line”
“My Father, My Son”