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Gunsmoke season 5

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Gunsmoke
Season 5
Starring
No. of episodes39
Release
Original networkCBS
Original releaseSeptember 5, 1959 (1959-09-05) –
June 11, 1960 (1960-06-11)
Season chronology
← Previous
Season 4
Next →
Season 6
List of episodes

Gunsmoke is an American Western television series developed by Charles Marquis Warren and based on the radio program of the same name.[1] The series ran for 20 seasons, making it the longest-running Western in television history.[2][3]

The first episode of season 5 aired in the United States on September 5, 1959, and the final episode aired on June 11, 1960. All episodes were broadcast in the U.S. by CBS.[4]

Season 5 of Gunsmoke was a half-hour program filmed in black-and-white, as one hour episodes were not introduced until season 7, and color episodes were not filmed until season 12.

Synopsis

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Gunsmoke is set in and around Dodge City, Kansas, in the post-Civil War era and centers on United States Marshal Matt Dillon (James Arness) as he enforces law and order in the city. In its original format, the series also focuses on Dillon's friendship with three other citizens of Dodge City: Doctor Galen "Doc" Adams (Milburn Stone), the town's physician; Kitty Russell (Amanda Blake), saloon girl and later owner of the Long Branch Saloon; and Chester Goode (Dennis Weaver), Dillon's assistant.[5]

Cast and characters

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Main

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Production

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Season 4 consisted of 39 half-hour black-and-white episodes produced by Norman Macdonnell. Episode 1 of the season is the first on-screen credit of James Arness as an associate producer.

Episode 15, "Tag, You're It", was the last episode to feature the beginning Boot Hill introduction.

Episodes

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No.
overall
No. in
season
TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air date
1571"Target"Andrew V. McLaglenStory by : Les Crutchfield
Screenplay by : John Meston
September 5, 1959 (1959-09-05)
A love story ends tragically when a rancher attempts to drive squatting gypsies off his land.
1582"Kitty's Injury"Buzz KulikStory by : Marian Clark
Screenplay by : John Meston
September 19, 1959 (1959-09-19)
Kitty is injured when her horse throws her, and Matt must seek assistance from a poor prairie family whose son has distorted plans of his own.
1593"Horse Deal"Andrew V. McLaglenJohn MestonSeptember 26, 1959 (1959-09-26)
Matt devises a plan to catch a con man who's selling stolen horses to unaware townfolk.
1604"Johnny Red"Buzz KulikStory by : Les Crutchfield
Screenplay by : John Meston
October 3, 1959 (1959-10-03)
A young man comes to Dodge claiming to be the long-lost son of a lonely widow, but Matt recognizes him from an old wanted poster and suspects a ruse.
1615"Tail to the Wind"Christian NybyStory by : Les Crutchfield
Screenplay by : John Meston
October 10, 1959 (1959-10-10)
Divine intervention intercedes when a timid homesteader and his wife are bullied off their land and refuse Matt's help.
1626"Annie Oakley"Jesse HibbsJohn MestonOctober 17, 1959 (1959-10-17)
A drama-seeking woman manipulates her husband into a fight with their neighbor.
1637"Kangaroo"Andrew V. McLaglenJohn MestonOctober 24, 1959 (1959-10-24)
A religious zealot passes judgment and delves out his own brand of justice, and now Chester has drawn his ire.
1648"Saludos"Andrew V. McLaglenStory by : Les Crutchfield
Screenplay by : John Meston
October 31, 1959 (1959-10-31)
Matt escorts three cowboys back to Dodge with hopes that a wounded Pawnee Indian girl can identify the one that shot her.
1659"Brother Whelp"R.G. SpringsteenStory by : Les Crutchfield
Screenplay by : John Meston
November 7, 1959 (1959-11-07)
After three years in prison, a brother returns home only to find out that his life has been turned upside down, which he blames on his younger sibling.
16610"The Boots"Jesse HibbsJohn MestonNovember 14, 1959 (1959-11-14)
An ex-gunman whose life spiraled down into a bottle still has one redeemable attribute, a 12-year-old orphan that he cares deeply for.
16711"Odd Man Out"Andrew V. McLaglenStory by : Les Crutchfield
Screenplay by : John Meston
November 21, 1959 (1959-11-21)
Something's amiss when an old farmer exhibiting odd behavior tells Matt and Chester that his wife left him.
16812"Miguel's Daughter"Andrew V. McLaglenStory by : Marian Clark
Screenplay by : John Meston
November 28, 1959 (1959-11-28)
A father who greatly believes in family honor takes the law into his own hands when his daughter is harassed and molested by two cowboys.
16913"Box o' Rocks"R.G. SpringsteenLes CrutchfieldDecember 5, 1959 (1959-12-05)
Matt searches for a man who faked his own death after his coffin is found full of rocks.
17014"False Witness"Ted PostStory by : Marian Clark
Screenplay by : John Meston
December 12, 1959 (1959-12-12)
An attention-seeking man claims he was an eyewitness to murder and then proceeds to finger an innocent cowboy.
17115"Tag, You're It"Jesse HibbsLes CrutchfieldDecember 19, 1959 (1959-12-19)
Dodge townspeople are highly agitated when a notorious gunfighter comes to town, and no one knows who he's after.
17216"Thick 'n' Thin"Stuart HeislerStory by : Les Crutchfield
Screenplay by : John Meston
December 26, 1959 (1959-12-26)
Matt tries to keep the peace between two old bickering curmudgeons who share a homestead.
17317"Groat's Grudge"Andrew V. McLaglenStory by : Marian Clark
Screenplay by : John Meston
January 2, 1960 (1960-01-02)
After years of searching, an ex-Confederate cavalryman has finally found the former Union officer he thinks was responsible for the death of his wife, during Sherman's March to the Sea.
17418"Big Tom"Andrew V. McLaglenStory by : Marian Clark
Screenplay by : John Meston
January 9, 1960 (1960-01-09)
Two unscrupulous boxing promoters set up a deadly match for a washed-up local prize fighter in a winner take all contest.
17519"Till Death Do Us"Jean YarbroughLes CrutchfieldJanuary 16, 1960 (1960-01-16)
An abusive and self-righteous rancher becomes the target of a hired gunman.
17620"The Tragedian"Arthur HillerStory by : Les Crutchfield
Screenplay by : John Meston
January 23, 1960 (1960-01-23)
An unemployed and impoverished stage actor resorts to petty crime when his world collides with a jailed murderer.
17721"Hinka Do"Andrew V. McLaglenLes CrutchfieldJanuary 30, 1960 (1960-01-30)
Matt, Chester and Doc try to unravel a mystery involving the missing Lady Gay Saloon owner and the brash, larger-than-life female proprietress whose taken over the establishment.
17822"Doc Judge"Arthur HillerJohn MestonFebruary 6, 1960 (1960-02-06)
Chester protects Doc from an escaped convict who mistakes him for the Wyoming Territory judge that sentenced him to seven years.
17923"Moo Moo Raid"Andrew V. McLaglenStory by : Les Crutchfield
Screenplay by : John Meston
February 13, 1960 (1960-02-13)
Two trail bosses driving their herds to Dodge threaten to kill each other over the use of a local farmer's special swimming cow.
18024"Kitty's Killing"Arthur HillerStory by : Marian Clark
Screenplay by : John Meston
February 20, 1960 (1960-02-20)
Kitty prevents a distraught and frenzied man from killing his son-in-law, who he blames for the death of his daughter.
18125"Jailbait Janet"Jesse HibbsLes CrutchfieldFebruary 27, 1960 (1960-02-27)
Matt tracks down a desperate family who robbed a train and killed the baggage clerk in retaliation for the railroad inadvertently burning down their farm.
18226"Unwanted Deputy"Andrew V. McLaglenStory by : Marian Clark
Screenplay by : John Meston
March 5, 1960 (1960-03-05)
A convicted murderer's sibling concocts a unique plan to avenge his brother's hanging, by unofficially acting as town deputy with hopes of provoking Matt into a gunfight.
18327"Where'd They Go"Jesse HibbsStory by : Les Crutchfield
Screenplay by : John Meston
March 12, 1960 (1960-03-12)
Matt and Chester ride out to arrest a shrewd farmer for robbing the general store, but the silver-tongued fellow completely pulls the wool over their eyes.
18428"Crowbait Bob"Andrew V. McLaglenLes CrutchfieldMarch 26, 1960 (1960-03-26)
A dying old prospector has everyone curious when he wills Kitty all of his worldly possessions, much to the dismay of his niece and her husband.
18529"Colleen So Green"Jean YarbroughStory by : Les Crutchfield
Screenplay by : John Meston
April 2, 1960 (1960-04-02)
A pretty Southern belle uses her beauty and native wit to charm the pants off all the single men of Dodge.
18630"The Ex-Urbanites"Andrew V. McLaglenJohn MestonApril 9, 1960 (1960-04-09)
Chester takes care of a severely injured Doc when they're bushwhacked by a pair of outlaws out on the open prairie.
18731"I Thee Wed"Jesse HibbsStory by : Les Crutchfield
Screenplay by : John Meston
April 16, 1960 (1960-04-16)
A despicable and abusive husband keeps beating his wife and she just hopes and believes that he'll change, until he doesn't.
18832"The Lady Killer"Andrew V. McLaglenJohn MestonApril 23, 1960 (1960-04-23)
Matt suspects Kitty's new saloon girl is a hired killer and when she shoots a man set to testify against a known gambler, he must connect the dots.
18933"Gentleman's Disagreement"Jesse HibbsLes CrutchfieldApril 30, 1960 (1960-04-30)
After five years, a jealous gunman carrying a personal grudge has finally found the man who married the girl he once courted.
19034"Speak Me Fair"Andrew V. McLaglenLes CrutchfieldMay 7, 1960 (1960-05-07)
Matt has his hands full investigating two separate crimes, a Kiowa Indian boy found nearly beaten to death and cattle rustling at a nearby ranch.
19135"Belle's Back"Jesse HibbsLes CrutchfieldMay 14, 1960 (1960-05-14)
A local girl returns to Dodge asking for a fresh start, after riding off with a notorious gunman three years ago.
19236"The Bobsy Twins"Jesse HibbsJohn MestonMay 21, 1960 (1960-05-21)
Crude hillbilly twin brothers come west to Dodge to kill Indians, and along the way their callous nature leaves a trail of violence.
19337"Old Flame"Jesse HibbsStory by : Marian Clark
Screenplay by : John Meston
May 28, 1960 (1960-05-28)
Matt's old girlfriend asks him to find her abusive husband, who she claims beat her and ran off with all her money, but Kitty suspects she has ulterior motives.
19438"The Deserter"Arthur HillerStory by : Marian Clark
Screenplay by : John Meston
June 4, 1960 (1960-06-04)
Matt acquires information that puts him on the trail of an Army corporal and his civilian partner who stole a Fort Dodge payroll.
19539"Cherry Red"Andrew V. McLaglenLes CrutchfieldJune 11, 1960 (1960-06-11)
A stagecoach special agent comes to Dodge searching for one-half of a hold-up team and falls in love with the wife of the other half, who he shot and killed.

Release

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Broadcast

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Season five aired Saturdays at 10:00-10:30 pm (EST) on CBS.[4]

Home media

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The fifth season was released on DVD by Paramount Home Entertainment in two volumes. The first 20 episodes were released on October 11, 2011 and the remaining 19 episodes were released on December 13, 2011.

Reception

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Gunsmoke held the number one primetime spot in the Nielsen ratings four years straight, for the third, fourth, fifth, and sixth seasons.[6]

Footnotes

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  1. ^ Barbaras 1990, p. 74–75.
  2. ^ Brooks & Marsh 2007, p. 570–571.
  3. ^ McNeil 1996, p. 351–352.
  4. ^ a b Brooks & Marsh 2007, p. 570.
  5. ^ Barbaras 1990, p. 87–102.
  6. ^
    • "1957-1958 TV Ratings". classictvguide.com.
    • "1958-1959 TV Ratings". classictvguide.com.
    • "1959-1960 TV Ratings". classictvguide.com.
    • "1960-1961 TV Ratings". classictvguide.com.

References

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