"Law comes hard to a young country, and especially out here on the frontier. I know just how hard. I'm Matt Dillon, US Marshall out of Dodge City. It's a roaring town, filled to overflowing with cow men, gamblers, buffalo hunters, and killers. And this is Boot Hill. There aren't many tears lost for these men lying here-not back there in Dodge. Most men can look at the result of their job and say, 'I did that pretty well; the best I know how.' And they can be proud of their handiwork. But not me, because part of this is my handiwork." - James Arness as Marshall Matt Dillon
Gunsmoke: The First Season DVD Review
By Jude Clement
For more information on the history of Gunsmoke, read our review of Gunsmoke: 50th Anniversary Volume One and 50th Anniversary Volume Two.
Saddle up for Gunsmoke: The First Season, the start of the longest running dramatic primetime series featuring continuing characters in history. Set in Dodge City, Kansas, the series stars James Arness as Marshall Matt Dillon, a tough but fair lawman. The cast also includes Milburn Stone as Dr. Galen Adams, Dodge City's ornery but caring physician; Amanda Blake as Miss Kitty, glamorous proprietor of the Long Branch Saloon; and Dennis Weaver as Chester Goode, Matt's oddball deputy who walks with a limp.
In the first season, each character is given his or her own moment in the spotlight. Doc is forced to make a deal with a gang of murderous kidnappers to save his own life and continue caring for the town ("Word of Honor"). He goes against a medicine man whose magic elixir proves to be deadly ("Professor Lute Bone"). He even turns detective to discover the source of typhoid ("The Pest Hole").
Miss Kitty comes to the aide of an accused cattle rustler, but later doubts her judgment ("Helping Hand"). She becomes a murder suspect when a rancher with his sights set on marrying her turns up shot ("Tap Day for Kitty").
Chester is mortified when his "uncivilized" brother Magnus shows up in town for Christmas ("Magnus"). (This episode is filled with many fine comic moments, from Magnus dancing like an overly enthusiastic kangaroo to his proclamation to Miss Kitty "I've never seen an animal as bee-you-ti-ful as you.") Chester also becomes betrothed to a mail order bride...by pretending to be Matt ("Chester's Mail Order Bride").
The series is realistic in its way-when it's hot, people sweat, including the women. Yet it is also highly presentational and theatrical. Perhaps because of its roots on the radio, the series can also be long on talk and short on action. It is definitely of its time, but fans of early westerns won't want to pass it up.
The thirty-nine episodes that make up Gunsmoke: The First Season are divided onto six discs. All six discs are housed in what, from the outside, appears to be a standard DVD keepcase. Two interior swinging arms hold two discs apiece. The two remaining discs are affixed to the interior front and rear covers. Even with all six discs jammed into such a small space, viewers do not have to remove one DVD to get to another-each DVD is individually accessible. This packaging is a terrific space saver, allowing a six disc set to take up the same amount of room as a single movie.
There is one tiny inconvenience, but the space-saving capabilities of the set override it. The keepcase is clear, allowing the double-sided coversheets show through to the inside of the case. The interiors feature episode titles, original airdates, and brief plot synopses. Because discs one and six attach to the interior front and rear covers, the discs must be removed in order to read the episode guide. Really, though, this is a small price to pay for gaining room on your DVD shelf.
The static menus are functional. Viewers can choose to play all episodes on each disc consecutively or individually. There are no scene selection menus, but chapter stops are included.
