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Gunsmoke

Gunsmoke
★ 6.7/10•1955•45m•TV-G•Western•Action & Adventure•Drama
Similars

Get out of Dodge!

Gunsmoke is an American radio and television Western drama series created by director Norman MacDonnell and writer John Meston. The stories take place in and around Dodge City, Kansas, during the settlement of the American West. The central character is lawman Marshal Matt Dillon, played by William Conrad on radio and James Arness on television.

StatusEnded
Runtime45m
LanguageEN
First Air DateSep 10, 1955

Episodes

Episode 1 - Matt Gets ItE126m

Matt Gets It

Dan Grat, a gunman hunted by Texas authorities, seeks refuge in Dodge City. Marshal Dillon goes into action against this outlaw who shoots before he talks.

Sep 10, 1955

Episode 2 - Hot SpellE226m

Hot Spell

Matt intercedes on behalf of ex-con Cope Borden, when Rance Bradley accuses Cope of horse theft and attempts to lynch him. Cope is proven innocent of the charge, but later kills Bradley's nephew in a fair fight during a gambling dispute. Matt is caught in an awkward situation when he must defend the unsavory Cope against the decent people of Dodge.

Sep 17, 1955

Episode 3 - Word of HonorE326m

Word of Honor

Hank Worth, son of wealthy rancher Jake Worth, is kidnapped by three men and held for $20,000 ransom. They shoot him in the back for trying to escape. They call on Doc but Hank dies. The killers decide to let Doc go because he is the only doctor within 400 miles and they fear they might need his services someday. Before sparing his life and freeing him, they force the reluctant Doc to give his word of honor that he will never reveal their identities.

Oct 1, 1955

Episode 4 - Home SurgeryE426m

Home Surgery

When returning to Dodge, Chester and Matt are confronted by Holly Hawtree, whose father is desperately ill with gangrene. His only hope for survival is amputation of the affected leg. Matt performs the surgery, but the gangrene has spread too far and the old man dies. Matt later discovers that the presumed accident leading to Mr. Hawtree's condition was actually caused by Ben Walling, who has his sights on Holly.

Oct 8, 1955

Episode 5 - Obie TaterE526m

Obie Tater

Two outlaws seek the rumored hidden fortune of old prospector Obie. They drag him to get him to tell. Obie forgets his cares and disappears on honeymoon with newcomer Ella May. Matt suspiciously questions the simple Obie about Ella May's motives and finds Obie is deeper than he seems.

Oct 15, 1955

Episode 6 - Night IncidentE626m

Night Incident

Little Timmy Wyatt witnesses a series of bizarre murders. He has a habit of telling tall tales, so no one will believe him.

Oct 29, 1955

Episode 7 - Smoking Out the NolansE726m

Smoking Out the Nolans

Clay Young is trying to evict Josh Nolan, who says he paid for the property. Matt and Chester are tied up in reluctantly enforcing eviction law unless they can find another way.

Nov 5, 1955

Episode 8 - Kite's RewardE826m

Kite's Reward

Matt warns skilled gunman Andy Travis, of his choice between quitting the gun or else being constantly hunted and forced to prove himself. Matt finds a way to foil the $1000 bounty on Andy's head.

Nov 12, 1955

Episode 9 - The HunterE926m

The Hunter

Buffalo hunter Jase Murdock is warned by storekeeper Ross to stay out of Indian territory. Matt talks with Murdock's skinner, Golden Calf, who determines that Murdock's medicine is no longer good.

Nov 26, 1955

Episode 10 - The QueueE1026m

The Queue

Two bullies cut off Chen's pig-tail, gravely dishonoring him in Chinese culture. Chen vows vengeance.

Dec 3, 1955

Episode 11 - General Parsley SmithE1126m

General Parsley Smith

Old-timer Smith is a former Army officer considered a butcher. He arrives in Dodge City speading rumors about the new Banker, Drew Holt.

Dec 10, 1955

Episode 12 - MagnusE1226m

Magnus

Chester is embarrassed at a visit by his estranged mountain man brother Magnus. To prove that Magnus is too uncivilized for town, Chester tours him through the highlights of Dodge: card gambling, drinking, and talking with Kitty. Meanwhile, the Long Branch women plan a Christmas Eve dance which is busted by the spiteful Lucifer Jones.

Dec 24, 1955

Episode 13 - Reed SurvivesE1326m

Reed Survives

Lucy professes her love for handsome Booth Rider, and concocts a scheme against Ephram. Booth becomes the unwitting pawn in a homicide that culminates in an ironic twist of fate.

Dec 31, 1955

Episode 14 - Professor Lute BoneE1426m

Professor Lute Bone

Doc is enraged by traveling medicine man Professor Lute Bone and his opium elixir, and digs up a gun to shoot him with. A lad also hunts him because his father died drinking his elixir, so Bone reconsiders the patent medicine business.

Jan 7, 1956

Episode 15 - No HandcuffsE1526m

No Handcuffs

A dishonest deputy sheriff steals a prisoner from Matt's jail, so Matt and Chester hunt them.

Jan 21, 1956

Episode 16 - Reward for MattE1626m

Reward for Matt

Matt kills a man and his widow posts a $1,000 bounty in vengeance. Everyone from sodbusters to gunslingers are out for that reward.

Jan 28, 1956

Episode 17 - Robin HoodE1726m

Robin Hood

Witnesses refuse to testify against a notorious outlaw.

Feb 4, 1956

Episode 18 - YorkyE1826m

Yorky

Yorky, a white boy who was brought up by Arapahoes, is victimized by horse thieves. Accused of their crime, he is shot by the vengeful Abe Brandt and his son. Matt is also targeted by the horse thieves.

Feb 18, 1956

Episode 19 - 20-20E1926m

20-20

A former lawman tries to keep his failing eyesight a secret from his enemies.

Feb 25, 1956

Episode 20 - Reunion '78E2026m

Reunion '78

A well-liked hardware drummer is actually a man wanted for multiple murders.

Mar 3, 1956

Episode 21 - Helping HandE2126m

Helping Hand

A would-be tough guy picks on the wrong man in an attempt to make a name for himself when he tries to involve Marshal Matt Dillon by staging a street fight.

Mar 17, 1956

Episode 22 - Tap Day for KittyE2226m

Tap Day for Kitty

An old sodbuster comes to town and decides he wants to marry Kitty. When he won't leave her alone she declares she'll shoot him if he pesters her anymore.

Mar 24, 1956

Episode 23 - Indian ScoutE2326m

Indian Scout

When an old Indian scout (Eduard Franz) murders a man (DeForest Kelley), Matt pursues him into Comanche territory.

Mar 31, 1956

Episode 24 - The Pest HoleE2426m

The Pest Hole

Doc must find a way to thwart a typhoid epidemic in Dodge (Howard McNear appears).

Apr 14, 1956

Episode 25 - The Big BroadE2526m

The Big Broad

Matt has to figure a way around a six-foot-tall, 200-pound woman with a six-gun.

Apr 28, 1956

Episode 26 - Hack PrineE2626m

Hack Prine

Hack Prine, a friend of Matt's rides into Dodge. However he is there as a gunman, for Matt Dillon.

May 12, 1956

Episode 27 - CooterE2726m

Cooter

A dishonest gambler (Vinton Hayworth) uses a mentally challenged man (Strother Martin) in a plot against Matt (Robert Vaughn appears).

May 19, 1956

Episode 28 - The KillerE2826m

The Killer

Charles Bronson guest stars as a cowardly gunslinger who only goes after old men or young kids who aren't very experienced with guns. But, when Matt Dillon gives him an ultimatum, he shows his true colors.

May 26, 1956

Episode 29 - Doc's RevengeE2926m

Doc's Revenge

A stranger comes to Dodge, and Doc bewilders and dismays Chester and Matt by arming himself and vowing to kill the man.

Jun 9, 1956

Episode 30 - The PreacherE3026m

The Preacher

Seth, a newcomer to Dodge is bullied by Keeler, a boxer.

Jun 16, 1956

Episode 31 - How to Die for NothingE3126m

How to Die for Nothing

The brother of a man Matt was forced to kill vows to kill Matt by any means necessary (Mort Mills appears).

Jun 23, 1956

Episode 32 - Dutch GeorgeE3226m

Dutch George

Matt's Childhood hero, Dutch George is now the leader of a notorious gang of horse thieves he must now stop.

Jun 30, 1956

Episode 33 - Prairie HappyE3326m

Prairie Happy

A bitter old man spreads rumors of an impending Indian raid on Dodge.

Jul 7, 1956

Episode 34 - Chester's Mail Order BrideE3426m

Chester's Mail Order Bride

When Chester's mail-order bride arrives, neither she nor Chester are what the other are expecting (first credited appearance of Bert Rumsey as 'Sam').

Jul 14, 1956

Episode 35 - The GuitarE3526m

The Guitar

An ex-Union soldier is forced to use violence against a pair of diehard Rebels (Jacques Aubuchon appears). First episode without the "Boot Hill" intro.

Jul 21, 1956

Episode 36 - CaraE3626m

Cara

Matt encounters an ex-girl friend---who's now working on the wrong side of the law.

Jul 28, 1956

Episode 37 - Mr. and Mrs. AmberE3726m

Mr. and Mrs. Amber

A self-styled religious prophet (Ainslie Pryor) is making life miserable for his daughter and new son-in-law..

Aug 4, 1956

Episode 38 - Unmarked GraveE3826m

Unmarked Grave

A young outlaw uses an old woman as a pawn in his bid for freedom.

Aug 18, 1956

Episode 39 - Alarm at Pleasant ValleyE3926m

Alarm at Pleasant Valley

While on the way back to Dodge, Matt and Chester discover a homsteading family fleeing Pleasant Valley, which is besieged by Indians.

Aug 25, 1956

Actors

James Arness

James Arness

Marshal Matt Dillon

Amanda Blake

Amanda Blake

Kitty

Ken Curtis

Ken Curtis

Festus

Milburn Stone

Milburn Stone

Doc

Woody Chambliss

Woody Chambliss

Woody Lathrop

Recommendations

Have Gun, Will Travel
Wanted: Dead or Alive
The High Chaparral
Rawhide
The Lone Ranger
Daniel Boone
The Rifleman
Bonanza
The Virginian
Centennial
Walker, Texas Ranger
Cheyenne
The Big Valley
Vegas
Wagon Train
The Young Riders
Into the West
Spirit: Riding Free
Little House on the Prairie
Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman

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