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Early Gunsmoke ... John Meston

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Been watching the early episodes of Gunsmoke on DVD (Season 1 - 3) ... Black & White half hour episodes.
Comments ... John Meston was one hell of a writer. This series was way ahead of it's time for something that was filmed in the late 1950's. He often "implied" things in his stories ... you had to draw your own conclusions and think.
Episodes that stuck in my mind ... there were many others
* BLOODY HANDS ... When Marshal Dillon kills 3 men of an outlaw gang, he begins to suffer a nervous breakdown because of all men he has killed in the past. [How does one learn to live with killing so many men, even in the line of duty]
* WHAT the WHISKEY DRUMMER HEARD ... A weird whiskey drummer named Wilbur Hawkins makes a claim to Matt that he overheard a man making a offer to pay 300 dollars to kill him, and shortly thereafter an attempt is made on Matt's life. [covers the subject of a serial killer].
*GUN FOR CHESTER ... Chester claims the new stranger in town is really there to kill him and Matt investigates, but remains skeptical even after Chester is shot in the arm by an unseen person. (Chester had killed somebody's relative before in a drunken bar room Gunfight ... but he won't talk about it to Matt ... did he feel guilty about it?)
*KITTY's OUTLAW ... Kitty is suspected of being an accomplice when she leads Matt to a restaurant on the edge of town, and the stranger she has been seeing, robs the bank. [Was she trying to help an old love?]
Gunsmoke was rather dark & more like "film noir" in the early days. It was characterized as an "Adult Western" ... I have to agree.
John Meston was once quoted as saying (in reference to Gunsmoke) "If I had known it would last this long, I would never have created the darn thing."
I for one am glad he did create it ... very talented writer. He wrote 196 of the 635 episodes produced for television between 1955 and 1975

If you understand, things are just as they are; if you do not understand, things are just as they are.
--Zen Proverb

Edits: 01/05/12 01/05/12

Follow Ups:

I haven't watched it since the fifties and sixties - violinist3 14:58:49 01/07/12 (2)
So on your tip,I started watching the first season on You Tube. It's even better than I remembered (then again I was only 10 in 1955).It seems like realistic period stories ( embellished though).A few hokie things now and then (keeping up with the old west preconceptions sometimes).A dollar back then was probably worth 50 times todays dollar. I'm keeping track of all the surrounding towns mentioned and the 'wanted' posters on the marshals office. I'm not sure how accurate some of the posters are relating to the 1870s. Black Bart was there and a few others. I don't expect complete accuracy but it would be interesting if some of those posters were in the same time frame. Ross' general store seemed fairly realistic for the 1870s.

I guess you noticed that I take an interest in details ...factual or not.
- RE: interest in details - Condorsat 11:09:19 01/08/12 (0)
  If you take an interest in details ... watch the Gunsmoke Season 3- Episode 90- How to Kill a Woman ... First aired on CBS 11/30/1957
  
  In showdown between Marshal Dillon & fast draw gunfighter Nate Pilcher (Pernell Roberts)... Pilcher easily outdraws Dillon but misses because he was more worried about drawing fast and fanning the gun vice accuracy.
  
  According to the writings of Wyatt Earp ... many men could draw fast but not hit a target accurately. Earp claims to have witnessed gunfights where both men fired all their rounds without hitting each other.
  
  To view the Gunfight ... fast forward to YouTube video ... PT 3 Gunsmoke In How to Kill a Woman ... 3.30.
  
  Also notice that Marshal Dillon is reloading his gun after the Gunfight ... very accurate ... a true western gunmen never holstered an empty gun.
  
  If you understand, things are just as they are; if you do not understand, things are just as they are.
  --Zen Proverb
  - PT 3 Gunsmoke In How to Kill a Woman (Open in New Window)
- RE: I haven't watched it since the fifties and sixties - Condorsat 09:34:54 01/08/12 (0)
  My only memories of Gunsmoke are from the early 1970's. My father and my uncle (both passed)were avid fans ... they never missed an episode.
  
  I don't remember watching the half hour episodes (syndicated) on TV in my youth ... not sure if they were aired or not ... I do remember the color hour episodes.
  
  As stated in my earlier post ... John Meston was one hell of a writer. He often "implied" things in his stories ... you had to draw your own conclusions.
  
  The other night I was watching Season 3- Episode 89- "Fingered" First aired on CBS 11/23/1957.
  
  Plot summary: Jim Cobb comes to town to marry a woman from back East. Hank accuses Jim of murdering his first wife then of murdering his second wife. Hank doesn't like Jim because Jim got a claim on some land before him.
  
  After watching the show ... ask yourself ... who was telling the truth?
  
  Marshal Dillon believed Jim Cobb ... as the casual viewer to show would believe. But ... spoiler alert *** Jim Cobb was telling Mat "his story" about how his second wife died (filmed scene). So was the filmed scene reality? ... or just a clever contrived tale? If Cobb's story was true ... why was he so quick to leave town?
  
  If you understand, things are just as they are; if you do not understand, things are just as they are.
  --Zen Proverb
  - Fingered Episode on YouTube (Open in New Window)
When I attended film school in Portland, early Gunsmoke episodes were what we were given to study, for editing - tinear 08:43:46 01/06/12 (1)
and concise storytelling.
- Yes, that makes sense - Condorsat 10:04:55 01/06/12 (0)
  Every time I watch a 30 minute episode ... it feels like an hour went by.
  
  If you understand, things are just as they are; if you do not understand, things are just as they are.
  --Zen Proverb
Loved the show... - mkuller 19:35:22 01/05/12 (1)
...but always felt "Have Gun Will Travel" was more realistic, intersting and dramatic.

And better acted.

Then there was Bonanza...
- RE: Loved the show... - Condorsat 20:48:45 01/05/12 (0)
  "Have Gun Will Travel" was more realistic???
  A man who constantly traveled between the West and San Francisco (that's more like 1950's vice the 1880's) and charged $1000 per job??? (that was a bloody Kings Ransom in those days) A man like Paladin could have made a good living playing Poker ... at less personal risk to himself. I liked the show as well but, it was more Western mythology than realistic. The series can be watched on YouTube for free.
  
  If you understand, things are just as they are; if you do not understand, things are just as they are.
  --Zen Proverb
  
  Edits: 01/05/12

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