Gunsmoke: One Man's Justice

It's amazing there's only one review of James Arness's last western outing. I guess it shows how far the TV western, not to mention the feature version, has sunk since the horse opera's heyday in the late '50s and early '60s. I'm making it two!

I won't 'spoil' the story. I'll just say that Mr Arness was looking a little creaky by '94 - not that it matters, of course. There's still a flavor of the indelible character and he seems to be enjoying himself. He said how annoyed he was that the studio didn't let the TV saga wind down with a final, goodbye episode. If it had, I guess one-offs like this would have looked foolish.

As it is, enjoy it for what it is - a last hurrah for one of TV's great characters, Marshal Matt Dillon of Dodge.

Watching a retired Matt Dillon in his final adventure was exciting, yet nostalgic. James Arness was 70 years old for this last movie, but, the camera still loved him - age lines and all. James Arness was the true personification of the Old West cowboy on his last ride.

Best Quote in movie. After Matt and his young partner have a shootout and kill one of the stagecoach robbers, His young partner saves Matt's life. Matt looks him up and down and says: "What did you say you did before you started selling?" Replies with a grin: "I didn't..." and walks off, leaving Matt with a better opinion of this new partner.

The most significant fact of this made-for-TV movie is that it is the final time that James Arness portrayed Matt Dillon. It is also his final original production work. He was featured in a compilation effort a few years later, but this is truly his last original work.

As swan songs go, this is a quality movie effort. The script was tight and interesting, invoking plot twists that keep the audience interested throughout the effort.

There is no dedication in this movie, and as Arness was the executive producer, it stands to reason he wouldn't have offered any to himself, but in truth, this movie should be dedicated to him. Arness started the TV role of Matt Dillon in 1955 and this movie was produced in 1994.

Regardless of how one measures his work, by episode count, years running, and decades worked, what Arness did as Matt Dillon has no equals. The stats are stunning: 635 TV series episodes (all staring Dillon and all featuring his acting presence), Arness and Milburn Stone as Doc ran for over 20 straight years, plus another five made-for-TV movies that continued the series well into its fifth decade! In terms of relevance, societal impact, and timeless quality, there has been nothing that can approach Gunsmoke, and likely there never will be!

In this coda, Arness is over seventy years of age, and yet, he's still riding a horse at full gallop and looks every bit the part of an older cattle rancher, which he is. While there are minor references to his past life as US Marshal, the truth is this movie makes it clear that Matt Dillon has moved on from his days as a lawman in Dodge City.

It's a nice break, as there was no room for romantic flashbacks. And yet, the same sense of morality and duty that characterized Dillon remains vivid in this effort. Bruce Boxleitner turns in an excellent supporting role, offering intrigue and well turned plot twists.

There are many other quality performances that are often stark and realistic. This is a fine movie on its own, but in terms of what it brought to a close, ranks as must watch entertainment.

I'm going to avoid talking about this Gunsmoke film, the last and final version of Gunsmoke as we knew it: the long dusty line back to the radio program, thru the 20 years on prime-time network TV to the 4 post-series films (or 'long' episodes) produced about 12-19 years later. I guess the elements of the film are familiar to all fans: the event and the bringing bad guys to justice, albeit a strange variation on the theme.

This time it's different. It's the Marshall's last ride. As portrayed by James Arness. Maybe someday it'll come back with a new cast and take another run at it. As someone said about Gunsmoke and its role in American TV 'the series ran for 20 years. In radio they called such series 'sustained' meaning it had a sponsor. This series was 'sustained' for 20 years, and never had to be carried for old times sake'. It held up its own end of the deal. That alone is amazing. What's more is that it probably could have gone on for even more seasons. Such a long run that it often left people, fans, critics wondering, why?.

Gunsmoke started its run on tv in 1955, the year I was born, as just another Western series in a crowded field. The genre crammed network tv and movies for most of the decade: at one point 7 of the top ten shows were Westerns. Studios rushed to produce them. Several led to starting roles for soon to be famous actors. Why Gunsmoke lasted so long has always been a subject of debate. It wasn't the only show with roots to radio, its cast wasn't in particular famous or its management of a higher order. But, it did break away from the usual Western story line. And, over time, was able to develop characters deeply, giving fans a unique feeling of closeness to it. Almost like a part of the family. Something about it hit home with Americans and they kept tuning in.

When they finally put the series down in 1975 most figured it was about time. It had gone on so long that it would be hard to maintain the high script and production values it was famous for. Later on, some of the episodes were just so bad that you had to be a dedicated fan to just watch. One example, episode 16 in season 16, shows how far off the trail it could wander. How many times could the Marshall slay evil while managing to bring along the cast for another brush with death or drama of some sorts?. The series, without even a finale, just went off the air.

But, 12 years later the Marshall rides again. Four more times in all. The last, this effort in 1994, wasn't recognized either as 'the end'. Instead, Dillon just rides off into the dusty sunset. Taking the genre with him. It's only fitting that the Marshall and the series are given that honor. Because it managed to last the longest of all and was probably the best of the lot.

Americans had a special relationship with its Westerns. It's also how many foreign people see Americans as" cowboys chasing bad guys and Indians while we open new space and build stuff, like railroads and towns'. And, the Marshall enforces the law and an American sense of justice for all. He represents the American sense of fairness and order. He is honest, true and faithful. He is fair. In a world full of bad guys and lawbreakers the Marshall holds true.

Those are values that have nothing to do with the West but somehow have come to represent it in books, radio, tv and the movies. Americans were especially receptive to Westerns in the 50s when a changing world forced us to intervene and lead it away from evil Godless Communism. The Westerns gave us all a place where we could see conflicts between people play out and with outcomes we demanded. And, 'Gunsmoke' did just that. Although the concept had been played out by 1975 on tv, and the genre had been exploited way too far, the basis of 'Gunsmoke', the values it represented, still had a serious following. The Marshall never really represented the 'West' but American values superimposed on it. He never gave up. He lost, but not often. But, he never sold out. He didn't cheat. He fought hard, but fair. He was Tom Rath, circa late 1800's.

Given all of that Marshall Dillon couldn't be denied one last ride. That his values never changed isn't hard to believe. He represented what was good in all of us. That will never go out of style. And, who knows how those values will reappear in the future.

I was born in 1950 so I literally grew up with Gunsmoke. Having seen every episode at least once I felt like I knew Matt Dillon better than most of my family members. In this film Matt Dillon is Matt Dillon. A little older and without the badge but still the same man. The writers didn't try to change his character at all. ( Of course Arness wouldn't have allowed it if they tried) If you liked the TV series at all you'll like this movie. If you're a fan like me you'll LOVE it. Marshal Matt Dillon... They don't make 'me like that any more.