"Gunsmoke" (1955) - Review & Commentary

[user328]

Shitload of guys named Nate in this season.

[Mister Obvious]

S4 E17 - "Young Love"

0:22 I thought we'd seen the last of the Boot Hill intros for some reason, but here's another one and it's righteous at that.

0:24 "You know, there must be easier ways to die than most of the men up here took. Like passing away in one's sleep, or gently dissolving in old age. Or even being carried off by a disease of some kind. But getting stabbed, shot, hung, kicked to death -- all the violent ways we have of dying out here -- they leave a man without any dignity all. And it's worse when it happens suddenly... when a man hasn't time to prepare himself. It's something I myself have to face every day. Matt Dillon, US Marshal."

4:16 fuck, he's so sexy.

6:20 do horses really remember their way home??

Wherever they are, horses can orientate themselves on the basis of magnetic fields. Have you ever wondered why your horse is much more forward on the way home than when you are leaving the stable? Even when riding with loose reins in an unfamiliar area, horses seem to know which way is home.

https://www.ipostechnology.com/post/hors...ild-in-gps

WTF!

15:15 somebody's leather is stiff. I think it's Matt's. Either Matt's or Chester's. Needs some oilin'.

17:08 this part made me think about something I read in an article lastnight. The way Matt smiles and stares at Kitty after he says "She finds out everything anyway." This is what Amanda Blake said once...

"He's big, impressive and virile. I've worked with him for 16 years, but I don't really know him."

https://obits.al.com/us/obituaries/mobil...=151471198

Being very private, never really seeking any personal ego stroking, and just generally trying to keep out of the spotlight (beyond whatever project you're working on) is actually one of the only ways to avoid making the dreaded and damning "Crossroads Agreement"... https://www.sectual.com/thread-6662.html

When James Arness looked at Amanda Blake in that scene, I just couldn't help but notice the distance... he looked charming, that warm gaze and his whole great big handsome presence. But there was something about it that just felt... walled up a mile high. Not in a rude way, not in a cold way. Hard to describe. Never really seen anything like it.

Here's another article about how private James Arness was...

https://www.metv.com/stories/no-one-in-h...t-that-way

Gunsmoke star James Arness was, as The Tallahassee Democrat wrote in 1973, "one of the most private men in Hollywood." His closest onscreen costar Amanda Blake, who played Kitty, said Arness kept everyone at a distance. She said in the whole time she'd shared the screen with Arness, his cool but charming demeanor never changed, and Festus actor Ken Curtis agreed. "I've been on the show 10 years and Jim hasn't changed one iota," Curtis said.

[Mister Obvious]

S4 E18 - "Marshal Proudfoot"

2:00 it's rare to see Marshal Dillon lounging around in bed and going around with his shirt untucked. Just so happens I'm laying in bed watching this, and I usually never lay down early. Kinda strange!

[Mister Obvious]

S4 E19 - "Passive Resistance"

1:10 fuck, I love this show.

2:35 pft, I wouldn't be going anywhere with that guy!

3:20 like who the fuck hates sheep that much, lmao.

3:42 pretty dog though.

8:27 I'm sorry but this is just dumb. They killed ALL his sheep, but he's not gonna fucking tell the marshal and his plan is just to get more sheep? What an idiot. It's hard to feel sorry for the guy.

11:10 I can't even with this.

12:08 Miss Kitty is like the wild west Mary Poppins in this scene.

13:38 whatever he's given will just go to waste because he's not gonna fight back OR fuck off. I don't consider somebody like that particularly "honest" or righteous in any way... maybe that's what they're trying to prove with this episode.

13:54 if somebody had done that to my animals and disrespected my claim that way, I'd be the fuck out of there. Who would stick around in a situation like that? Somebody who lives their life the way this guy does wouldn't make it to be as old as he is.

15:27 there... totally wouldn't be.

18:15 "Gideon, men like that don't have enough conscience to make 'em suffer." He's right you know. And he's got such a sexy voice.

24:40 if their point with this episode was that "evil destroys itself" then I think that's real nice and all, but I only saw some evil get destroyed by Marshal Dillon... *shrug*

25:00 I love that long walk off at the end... it portrayed this perfect "weight of the world" sense, leaves the audience totally enamored with the character of Matt Dillon.

[Mister Obvious]

I love flipping through the sleeves of this 10 lb. CD case whenever it's time to put in the next DVD...

It feels like I'm turning the pages of a giant magical grimoire.

[Mister Obvious]

https://guides.loc.gov/chronicling-ameri...-masterson

Bat Masterson (1853-1921) famously ran the bad men "the hell out of Dodge". In his wild, boisterous life, Masterson was a marshal, a sheriff, a criminal, a scout, a journalist and a sportsman.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bat_Masterson

On October 25, 1921, at age 67, Masterson died at his desk from a massive heart attack after writing what became his final column for the Morning Telegraph.

His last column included the following statement:

"I suppose these ginks who argue that because the rich man gets ice in the summer and the poor man gets it in the winter, things are breaking even for both. Maybe so, but I'll swear I can't see it that way."

Timeline

1877 - Masterson settles in Dodge City and is elected county sheriff.

1881 - Reportedly meets Wyatt Earp, another Old West lawman.

1902 - After various arrests, Masterson settles in New York.

1903-1921 - Restarts his career as a journalist through his thrice weekly column "Masterson's View on Timely Topics."

1905-1909 - Appointed by Theodore Roosevelt as U.S. Marshal for the Southern District of New York.

October 25, 1921 - Dies from a heart attack after writing his final column for the New York Morning Telegraph.

[Mister Obvious]

S4 E20 - "Love of a Good Woman"

2:20 this Abbie and Doc are a perfect looking pair.

3:08 excellently convincing character too, great actress... https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jacqueline_Scott

A TV Guide article once referred to her as "The Youngest Old-Timer in the Business" because she played opposite most of the leading men of the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s.

She's definitely a special one.

3:36 "I'm too restless, Doc. I need something... and I don't know what." #relatable. I'd make a joke about dick and whatnot, but TBH, I'm just too much in agreement with her to BS about it.

7:08 lmao.

7:21 uh oh, the subtitles are slippin' again. They spelled saloon "salon"... that specific misspelling is one of my pet peeves.

18:18 both Matt and Kitty have tiring jobs.

19:10 there's that fabled gunsmoke.

[Mister Obvious]

S4 E21 - "Jayhawkers"

It's hard to stop watching even though you know you should go to bed.

1:06 man they DO NOT like Texans lmfaooo!!!

1:50 well I'll be, it's Festus (Ken Curtis) in one of his guest star roles before he ever joined the regular cast. He's sexy, I like his body. I won't mind seeing him as a regular. According to his Wiki page, when he was a kid, his father was a sheriff in Colorado from 1926-1931. The family lived on the first floor of the jailhouse... the jail area was on the top floor, and his mom cooked for all the prisoners.

2:40 it's funny how Dennis Weaver's character acts defensive toward Ken Curtis's character and ends up being replaced by him several years later.

4:12 Ken Curtis has a sexy body... damn nice face too, unique and attractive profile. Looks good as fuck on a horse too.

13:28 that's a surprisingly pleasant sound honestly.

17:10 the way he moves is super sexy. I can't wait to see more of him.

Check it out, author Richard Hamilton even wrote a book inspired by Festus...

"According to Festus: Profound Words of Wisdom by Festus Haggen of Gunsmoke" (2016)
https://www.amazon.com/According-Festus-...1534713972

That book has done pretty well too.

24:46 that was a nice overhead zoom out at the end, rare to see that in the show up til this point.

[user328]

Did you see these scan lines in the Season 3 DVDs, MO?

https://imgur.com/a/GGMM9mu

[Mister Obvious]

I definitely never noticed anything like that.

[Mister Obvious]

I can remember about 3 episodes since the beginning where I thought something strange was happening with the picture but I didn't see any lines.

[Mister Obvious]

S4 E22 - "Kitty's Rebellion"

Ooo, this one sounds juicy, Kitty's been feisty lately!!!

0:36 I love Matt's profile... he's so sexy.

0:44 "Well, you want me to go back in?" roflmfao.

1:08 there's a fly on the post behind him. I love that realism. I feel like you'd never see a fly on a TV show today, lmao! Everything's shot on a green screen in a studio, it's all a bunch of fakery these days.

1:34 lol what's with the doomy music? Who's gonna get off this stagecoach?!

1:56 I like the stagecoach driver, he's in a lot of episodes. He's really good looking.

2:22 uh oh, looks like we've got a bonafide dude on our hands... *eye roll*

2:37 he's definitely perfectly chosen for the role, got a face you just love to hate. He's good looking or whatever, but he just looks like a priss.

2:40 "What's on your mind, son?" LOL, he's so offended by that. I mean the guy looks like he's 20. Apparently the actor is Barry McGuire... he didn't really go on to do much acting, which is sorta hard to believe.

3:08 uh oh, he's looking for Kitty! Matt looks taken aback. Jealousy?! That's hot. Makin' my ladybits tingle.

3:23 "Uh, Chester, why don't you go get the mail?" He stopped Chester from telling him where to find Kitty lmfao, he's totes jealous, what the eff! What's he gonna say to him!? *popcorn*

3:38 lmao he's gonna walk him over himself! Just to let Kitty know who's boss I guess... ain't no young buck gonna come between Matt and Kitty, much less a DUDE!!!

4:00 "You uh... know she's a saloon madame, right??"

4:22 "But... th-this is a saloon, sir!" lmfaoooh my.

5:00 awwwkwaaarrrrddd. She doesn't even recognize him?!

5:18 lmfao she's gonna be three sheets to the wind before she's done testing these alcohol samples!!!

5:50 "At your cervix."

6:18 I like Kitty's titties. You know if somebody was playing this character today, they'd have fake triple Ds and be all plastic.

6:50 "Listen, kid, I've been sluttin' this ass to frontier fellas since you were in diapers... a gal's gotta survive."

8:08 I dunno, he's likable enough. I'd take him for a ride.

10:00 lol they've always got a new chef.

11:40 oh Lord... have mercy on him, Kitty, he's just a little squirt. For real. Grin and bear it.

11:54 "Billy... for dessert, I'm gonna let you get a taste of this firecrotch and then maybe you'll understand why I had to share my special gifts and provide some sustenance to mankind."

11:58 oh dude come on... like does this shit really happen to Kitty on a regular basis? Like who just busts into a busy restaurant and yells across the room that way??

12:50 Kitty should have stood up right then and put her arm around Billy's arm and got in close to him. She's not exactly being supportive in a proper way. If she had done that, the guys would have no choice but to fuck off. With her just sitting there flapping her gums, there's division between the two. If she bridged the gap and 'chose', there would be no argument or incentive for the other guys. They'd leave with their tails between their legs, but who cares... they're just two bozos anyway. They're too gross and dirty to even be in the restaurant.

13:15 bitch, Billy doesn't need to sit down, you need to STAND UP AND GET NEXT TO HIM. Put your fucking body against his body. To me, this scene is unrealistic. It's made up for the sake of a story... it wouldn't go down this way in reality. It's not like this situation has any class left to it anyway, these two rowdy dirty cowboys have already fucked all that up, Kitty's got no reason to maintain some kind of facade. She's not reacting properly and I find it unrealistic.

13:20 OMFG HE JUST CALLED HIM A SQUIRT. I LITERALLY CALLED HIM A SQUIRT EARLIER. THIS IS INSANE.

13:35 yeah just great, get him to sit down so they can talk shit to him. Lame. Not like I'd be sticking around after a scene like that just took place in a restaurant anyway, I'd be the fuck out of there.

13:56 Kitty totally failed her little friend here, IMO. She really just failed that entire situation. That's not the way for a female to exert power over a situation. By claiming the young dude as her turf (even just temporarily), she would have diffused the entire situation. They might still wanna take it out on him later, but there'd be nothing to fight for... she would have proven she'd rather drink a beer mug of her own piss than cater to those dumbfuck cowboys again.

Staking a claim doesn't just apply to land... she should have made it clear who she was supporting in that situation, but she didn't and this is another episode where Kitty makes me not 100% like her. To me, Marshal Dillon can do no wrong. Chester gets annoying sometimes. Kitty's another character that pisses me off sometimes. I guess it's that type of friction that makes the show go 'round though.

15:20 and now Matt's being weird with her. Like yeah, he knew the kid was trouble for one reason or another as soon as he saw him, but. This whole thing is just wank. Billy's totally green and Kitty has a damn near motherly duty to protect him while he's in town. And yeah I mean... I still think they should bump uglies while they're at it, but that's beside the point. She's got a duty to him, to his sister, to their whole family. Where's the loyalty? Just because she's a bigtime saloon ownin' broad doesn't negate nature.

16:20 oh whatever, he's taken peoples' guns for less.

16:35 "That boy's gotta grow up sometime." I agree with him though.

17:10 "No man ever grew up by being babied either." Damn right. You know what else would have helped the kid grow up? If MISS FUCKING KITTY had taken his arm and DEFENDED *HIS* FUCKING HONOR, HOW ABOUT THAT?

17:20 "You're all alike!" Whatever, Kitty... seems like Kitty's empowered woman crap is getting to be a plank in her own eye.

17:28 again she's being a douchewit... you know there's gonna be trouble as soon as she gets there anyway, if she'd let Matt walk her then he'd be there right when it happened. Sooo obvious what's going on here. OT, but why the fuck do I smell mac 'n cheese when there's definitely no mac 'n cheese happening? Fuck that smells good!!!

18:48 "I ain't never been called out by no dude kid before." BAHAHAHAHAAHAAAAAHHHH.

18:55 now in this scene the kid IS totally unlikable and Chester is handling the situation well. Billy needs to get the hell outta Dodge, and hopefully he gets out alive.

20:27 well thank God.

21:08 see, he wouldn't be "hiding behind" Kitty if Kitty had TAKEN THE INITIATIVE and CLAIMED HIM before. It pisses me the fuck off.

22:08 I mean it IS kind of a Darwinian situation in action, lmao but... somebody's gotta put a stop to it.

22:20 well at least she's FINALLY employing SOME KIND of psychological tactics here, my God.

22:50 that's one way to do it, I guess. I really liked this scene because it was super raw and real. She slipped up over her words a few times... that's realistic. That's something you would only see in a classic TV show, they don't allow that kind of thing anymore... real isn't allowed in modern TV and movies. It's all straight pure and total propaganda now... no moral stories, no perfect imperfection.

It's for the best that TV is dead, but shows on Netflix or Amazon or anywhere else that is replacing TV are really no better. They're all scrubbed and fake too. We better hold on to Gunsmoke and other true classics, because odds are, they'll never come close to doing anything that good again. Not unless those industries are revolutionized, taken back to basics, and started from scratch again.

23:20 see what she just did there to the cowboy? THAT'S WHAT SHE SHOULD HAVE FUCKING DONE TO BILLY AT THE RESTAURANT. I can't fucking believe it. She makes the PRECISE PHYSICAL MOVEMENTS SHE SHOULD HAVE TAKEN... but too late, and on the wrong damn dude if you ask me.

All anybody learned from this is that Kitty sides with gross dirty saloon dudes and fronts on her "independent woman" shit instead of actually taking a true stand for herself and her interests. I'm calling it how I see it, and that's how I see this entire episode, her behavior, etc. I've said it from the start she ain't my favorite Gunsmoke character. Yeah, she's iconic. Yeah, without her there really is no Gunsmoke. But... it doesn't mean I like her all the time and it doesn't mean she's my favorite.

24:20 I knew she was gonna cry about this.

24:57 well you did, and you wouldn't have had to if you'd done the right thing to begin with. Now go upstairs and take it out on the good marshal's undoubtedly giant dick and just call it a night.

[Mister Obvious]

S4 E23 - "Sky"

0:52 if you asked Miss Kitty, I bet she'd tell you Matt knows exactly how to put his fingers where they belong!!!

1:20 Kitty's singing, sounds good.

1:33 Matt looks enchanted... lovemakin' in the air tonight.

2:06 second mention of Lillie Langtry on the show.

2:27 another fucking character named Billy. Lil soon isn't it?? Can we stick to Jim as the most used name in this show please?

2:38 he's pretty hot though.

3:00 lmao he's being a total asshole!

3:07 it DOES look like she's got an unhealthy fixation on him though lol. I dunno, the look on her face is that he's her long lost son she gave up at birth or something, lmao!

3:50 holy shit man this lady is WILLLLLLDDDDD.

4:36 damn Chester, he's coming, FFS.

4:48 check it out, lightning. Is there gonna be a storm in Dodge City for like the first time ever? Lol.

12:27 "Well, maybe it doesn't get into 'em, Chester. Maybe it's always there, just that most people don't ever turn it loose."

[user328]

This chick is hot.

https://imgur.com/a/EHZoE2n

I finally got around to watching the rest of this episode. I'd probably run off with the girl and the stolen money. I don't have the moral fortitude Matt has.

[user328]

2:27 another fucking character named Billy. Lil soon isn't it?? Can we stick to Jim as the most used name in this show please?

Jim, Billy, and Nate. Those must be the names of the producer's kids. lol

[Mister Obvious]

S4 E24 - "Doc Quits"

0:12 what I wouldn't give to hump that leg.

7:50 what the fuck does "tin horn" even mean? lmao.

10:30 this new doctor must put cocaine in everything.

13:25 lmao that's just rude.

21:10 wow this "doctor" is a serial bullshit artist.

25:00 "I think he's gonna need a doctor." Lol, Marshal Dillon was so cute in this scene.

[Mister Obvious]

S4 E25 - "The Bear"

5:45 wow he's kinda simple... he doesn't get it at all.

23:20 yikes, this scene is way too intimate. But this Blocker guy is a keeper for sure, he owned the shit outta that guy straight up, with his hands like a boss!

24:55 I guess the moral of this story is don't fuck with nice guys cuz they'll kick your ass.

[Mister Obvious]

S4 E26 - "The Coward"

0:55 there's something super sexy about this Jack guy. His voice is kinda hot.

10:28 this guy kinda looks like Neil Patrick Harris.

12:30 it's so sexy when his star catches the light.

14:42 I love that blink Doc does sometimes.

20:40 no requests.

23:40 lmao, OMG~!!!!!!

[Mister Obvious]

S4 E27 - "The F.U."

Lmfao @ this title.

8:12 wow check out this train interior, super badass.

10:16 Marshal Dillon's authority is soooo sexy.

10:30 that's one crotch that would make you feel like a REAL woman if it was staring you in the face.

12:30 wow this Botkin guy is a real douche.

14:28 he sounds so sexy when he's talking down to the bad guys.

14:50 there's nothing I'd rather be watching than Gunsmoke.

15:08 rofllllllmaooooo.

22:50 official first time we've seen rain on the show.

24:36 I gotchyer horehound right here!!! *gyrates*

[Mister Obvious]

S4 E28 - "Wind"

0:26 been a while since we've seen a Boot Hill intro.

0:30 "You know, they say when drink ceases to ease a man's devils, he sometimes turns to gambling to keep from blowing his brains out. But how ever he gets there, the professional gambler's a man to watch. I guess I've known some who could be trusted, but offhand I just can't think who they were. Generally I leave gamblers alone, unless one forces me into facing him down. Then I do it gladly. Matt Dillon, US Marshal."

So many episodes about gamblers, I love it!!!

4:10 well that escalated quickly, lmao.

4:28 "Underwear sure smells good when it's fresh, don't it?" lmfaololol.

6:20 it always sounds like they're saying Dolly Parton. Lmao. In 1959 at 13 she'd just released her first record, pretty damn sure they ain't talking about her.

7:16 oh whatever, they don't know each other.

7:23 you know, I still wonder why Kitty doesn't just live in the saloon. They make it seem like she lives at that Ma Smalley's boarding house.

7:26 Matt's gonna go up and plant the dick in this saloon girl, get her to talk the good old fashioned roughhousin' way!!!

8:40 "You know, you're nothin' but trouble." Little less talkin' and a little more dickin', Marshal.

8:42 "I don't think I like you, Marshal." Well it's because he hasn't laid that dick on you yet.

8:46 "You're gonna like me a whole lot less with your ankles behind your ears." Roflmfaolol okay okay, I'ma stop.

14:42 I told ya what he should've done.

19:46 lmao, so hot.

21:26 I think I can see his dick through his pants.