Posted on 06/03/2011 10:35:24 AM PDT by Wilum
Banner Only
Yep. Lights, camera, action. All filmed for a celestial audience, many of whom probably enjoyed the original series.
BTW, I wrote Doc Stone. It wasn’t Doc Stone but Doc “Galen” Adams played by Milburn Stone.
For some reason our security software terminated my session when I clicked on your link and sent me a msg that it was dangerous. First time that’s ever happened.
Matts on the way Peter, saddle Buck up.
Yes, I’ve heard that the radio version of “Gunsmoke” was much darker and grittier. One of the writers, in an interview, was pretty clear about Kitty’s profession, in case anyone didn’t catch on. And Matt Dillon was a rather conflicted character, with a kind of shady past before he became a lawman, and didn’t always catch the bad guy in the end. Some of the radio shows are available on CD, and I’m going to order them.
Me neither, but I bet he could have pulled it off.
The funny thing is that he was personally not much like Matt Dillion, a funny guy, good natured. Heard an interview of his doems several years ago, and I was surprised how articulate he was. Started out on the radio. Limited in his roles by his size, 6’6”. In “Farmer’s Daughter,” he played Loretta Young’s borther, and I notice how when they were in the same frame, he had to kind of crouch over. War wounds left him with a a limp, and constant pain. The irony was that Dennis Weaver — “Chester”—was a fine athlete, but in order for him to to play along side Arness, they gave the character a stiff knee. John Wayne liked him for his good humor and all, and got him the Gunsmoke Role. I think he said laster that after he saw what Arness did with the role, he wished he could have done it. The 30 minute “Gunsmokes” were the best, with Arness giving a very hard edge to “Matt.”
Didn’t realize his brother was that tall.
Two great actors and two great Americans in that picture. That was in a time when Hollywood possessed real class and dignity. They're both sorely missed.
RIP to the both of 'em.
Sad day :>(
By the way, one of Ken Curtis’s best ever: singing lead (with The Sons Of The Pioneers) on “I’ll Take You Home Again Kathleen” to John Wayne and Maureen O’Hara in ‘Rio Grande.’
Actually it was both, Them and The Thing
Steve Forrest was Dana Andrews' younger brother.
Dana Andrews
His obit is in the San Fransicko chron.
A local channel here has “Perry Mason”, “The Untouchables” and the old 30-minute “Marshal Dillon” episodes one right after the other. I hadn’t seen “Perry Mason” for decades, so I had forgotten what a good actor Raymond Burr was. Sometimes when I’m watching “Marshal Dillon” I think about Burr in that role. He probably could have done it. I guess that seeing James Arness as Matt Dillon my entire life, I just have trouble picturing anyone else in the role. Just as Raymond Burr is Perry Mason. I guess things turned out pretty well for both of them.
My! My sister and I were just speaking about him last night along with his connection to John Wayne, i.e, that Wayne had recommended Arness for the role instead of himself.
May he rest in peace and may light perpetual shine upon him, both now and evermore. Amen.
I actually just watched a rerun of Gunsmoke 2 hours ago.
RIP Marshall Dillon. You entertained a lot of people in those 88 years.
Maybe because he was kind of publicity-shy, the public never saw much of him but Matt Dillon.
Re: the 30-minute episodes. You’re right about their being the best. A local channel shows them at 12:30 a.m., and I make myself stay awake to watch.
I’ve been watching “Gunsmoke” again lately, and man, was he born for the role of Matt Dillon!””
I watch an episode at least once a week. Some of the stories are just outstanding. Life was hard in the old west and the human tragedies were well portrayed.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.