Gunsmoke: Season 4, Vol. 1
Product ID: 20135944
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Product Description Matt Dillon (James Arness) is in charge of Dodge City, a town in the Wild West where people often have no respect for the law. He deals on a daily basis with the problems associated with frontier life: cattle rustling, gunfights, brawls, standover tactics, and land fraud. Such situations call for sound judgment and brave actions: of which Marshal Dillon has plenty. .com "You're one of those hard-nosed lawmen," say two gamblers, sizing up Dodge City lawman Matt Dillon (James Arness) after he turns down their bribe to run a crooked game in the Season Four episode "How to Kill a Friend." Hard-nosed and then some. In "Stage Hold-Up," a bandit forces Dillon's hand and is shot by the Marshal. When Dillon informs him he didn't have the evidence for a conviction, the bandit groans, "You sure ain't one to let a man die happy." "A man makes his dying by the way he lives," the laconic Dillon responds. It's this hard-learned frontier wisdom that made the Marshal an iconic radio and TV character, and this season television's top-rated show. Season Four is a worthy follow-up to the series' Emmy® Award-winning Season Three. The season's first 19 black-and-white half-hour episodes on this three-disc set are taut character-driven stories, most of them written by series cocreator John Meston. Some subvert Western convention. In "Robber Bridegroom," audience sympathy is with a love-smitten kidnapper and not with the woman's wealthy, upstanding fiancé. Others explore the theme of violence, "the only kind of action that brings any respect," Dillon reflects in one episode, adding, "We're not civilized." But Dillon aims to change that, even when he's framed for murder in the season opener. No less than Wild Bill Hickok has been sent to bring him in. It's all Dillon can do not to tear his lying accuser apart, and when justice finally does prevail, Hickok asks him if he would have resisted arrest. Dillon replies, "I've been working for the law too long to break it just 'cause it's going against me." Dennis Weaver earned an Emmy this season as the simple-hearted deputy Chester, one of TV's great sidekicks. One of his best outings is a rare comic episode, "Marshal Proudfoot," in which Chester's uncle visits Dodge City believing that Chester is the Marshal. Dillon's relationship with Long Branch Saloon co-owner Miss Kitty (Amanda Blake) remains as cagey as ever. In one episode, when Kitty tells him he has much to learn about women, Dillon responds, "I'm learning." Kitty's comeback: "At the pace you've set, I'll be in my grave before you ever get out of the first grade." Milburn Stone, as crusty, irascible Doc, has another memorable episode in which he runs afoul of a man who hates and distrusts doctors, an attitude not helped when the man's wife dies under Doc's care. Gunsmoke completists will appreciate one of this set's bonus features, the Season Two episode "How to Cure a Friend," which was left off that boxed set. Sponsor spots in which the cast hawks Remington shavers and L&M cigarettes add nostalgic fun to this high-caliber collection. --Donald Liebenson
O**N
The Best That Television Can Offer
Season 4 of Gunsmoke ran from the fall of 1958 to the spring of 1959. By this time, Gunsmoke was the number 1 show in America and for good reason. Season 4 is just as good as the first three. This is just not a good western show, it is excellent drama. The stories are believable, the characters are realistic, the production values are superb, and the guest stars without equal. Every episode displays the reality of human nature - greed, anger, and dishonesty. Marshall Dillon and his right hand man Chester work tirelessly to bring law and order to the city of Dodge and justice to the victims. There is not a weak episode in this package. This is the only series I have watched where I would give every episode 5 stars. The brutality in some of the episodes is hard watch but in true Gunsmoke form, Marshall Dillon gets to the bottom of the issue and the outlaws get what they deserve - a six foot plot of ground on Boot Hill cemetery or time behind bars. What I like about the show is that the main characters have their imperfections as well. Sometimes they make mistakes and let their emotions get the best of them. The one thing that stands out in season 4 of Gunsmoke is the belief that the wild west was no place for a weak and passive man. If you didn't own a gun and know how to use it, you were raw meat for the outlaws and less scrupulous citizens of the Kansas plains. Although the show is very clean and can be watched by all family members you need to decide if your child is old enough to handle the brutality and violence in the show. For example, one episode is about an old man who wants to raise sheep. The cattle men in the area don't like sheep ranchers so they decide to run him off his land. They first shot all his sheep. They then burn down his house. Finally, they tie a rope around the old man and drag him behind a horse which almost kills him. During this whole ordeal the old man - who doesn't own a gun - never defends himself because he does not believe in violence. He refuses to tell Marshall Dillon who his tormentors are. In the end good prevails but it is hard to watch the story play out. With that being said, I think Gunsmoke is the best television show ever created. Buy it.
S**E
these black and white Gunsmokes are the Best
I hate to recommend something good to anyone, then I wont be able to get it, but I grew up with Matt Dillion and DOC and Kitty and Chester , Festus, these shows brought reasoning to life as Matt was the fairest law man around , he liked Indians he was not predudis nor did he like Lynchings or Gunmen, we need law like him now days, the early Gunsmokes Matt did not take guff from anyone he pistol wippped bad guys and was fast on the draw, so I give 5 star rating to gumsmoke
R**H
It came on time.
It plays good on my tv.
T**N
Among the Best of Classic Westerns
Gunsmoke provides western-lovers with a family-friendly great show that emphasizes character, law & order, and good plain common sense. This half-season, as well as all previous episodes, provide a breath of fresh air in an age when many of the most entertaining movies have drifted from such character-building values. It is amazing to me that the writers were successful in making the plot and storyline consistently excellent and among the best of the classic Westerns from season to season for so many consecutive seasons. I cannot think of one episode to date that felt weak or that let me down.Definitely a great addition for the video library of anyone who likes the Western genre, or who likes solid character and good role models in the primary characters, and a strengthening of the ideas of justice, fair play, the rule of law, and even compassion and wisdom throughout.
K**R
Enjoy little by little!!
Gunsmoke has always been my favorite TV show as I remember growing up with my Dad laughing at the barbs traded by Doc and Festus. I was too young to remember or see some of the earlier years so now its a huge pleasure to be able to go back in time and see some of episodes that were missed by me. Each night I come home from work to watch an episode. I am watching slowly as I want my enjoyment to last as long as it can. I plan on purchasing Volume 2 of Season Four once I am finished with Volume 1. The stories so far all seem to have a solid meaning and a lesson behind them. One can only hope the genre as we hear of recent times is making a comeback! The westerns growing up were a huge part of Americana and rightly so. There is with good reason I believe that they were so popular at one time, as Gunsmoke king of all the TV westerns reined #1 for a lot of years and outlasted them all.
N**D
Guns Still Smoking
I've been buying all these collections of "Gunsmoke" since Season 1. Vol. 1 of Season 4 has been of equal quality. If you are a hard & fast "Gunsmoke" fan like I am, you will not be disappointed in this set. I'll soon be ordering Volume 2 of Season 4 & plan on buying each season as it's available. These are a must for any enthusiast's library. If you're not familiar with "Gunsmoke," you're in for a treat. The writing is excellent; it is well researched historically & sometimes there are real people referred to in the dialogue, e.g., Mark Twain; the characters are each unique & the way they play off of each other is very real & delightful; the stories are always good; & the actors are well cast & do a terrific job--the regulars are amazing--you'll think you know these people. It's much more than good guys & bad guys. There is a great deal of comedy, there is sadness, & there is disappointment when there are moral dilemmas & a character chooses the "wrong" path. I can't say enough about this series; but, again, I'm a huge fan.
M**T
Gunksmoke rating
I love Gun Smoke and I wanted to get the series again they way I am doing it now. I purchased a series that was for the complete set and they were terrible. I couldn't even watch all of them. They wouldn't play. The new set is okay. There are some of the disc that some of the words don't play but so far I have been able to watch them and figure out a little bit of what was said in the missed spots. Why would they skip on this set? I haven't watched season three or four yet. Just now finishing up season two. Can't just set and watch tv all the time. This is the rating for all sets I have received.
M**O
Gunsmoke -- brilliant .
Fourth season vol 1 -- great watching even now .
K**S
I could do with a drink, Miss Kitty.
The product arrived safe and well. The quality of the dvds are excellent. First class series. First class stories, acting and told in a professional manner. "Would you like another drink, Mister Dillon. - Kim x
A**J
Five Stars
This show continues to delight me
L**T
very good
Yes again my friend was very happy with this, and it was packed well when arrived in post brill thankyou.
J**E
Great family showd
Great shows have the whole collection.
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