Gunsmoke: One Man's Justice

As a small boy in the 50's I looked forward to each Saturday night, when I got to stay up late, sit on my dad's lap as we watched Gunsmoke.

For the next 20 years from the 30-minute to the 60-minute episodes, from Black and White to Color - this was a mainstay in the house.

For this 2-hour stand alone episode, it is pleasant to re-visit the world of Gunsmoke and Matt Dillon.

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.

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.

I guess I am partial to anything starring Mr. James Arness, as to the 'Gunsmoke TV Series' it does take some adjustment to delete those Episodes from your mind and focus on the 4 TV made movies. But I did enjoy this movie very much and would rate it a '10' as with the other 3 movies. It did take awhile to find this VHS of "One Mans Justice" but the wait was worth the effort it took to find it. It looked as if it may have been filmed in 'Old Tuscon' and had some beautiful scenery. I would rate this movie as a 'Must' for true "Gunsmoke & Matt Dillon" fans. The role Mr. Bruce Boxlietner played in the movie was very well and made the movie more enjoyable; with his superb acting. Of course what more can be said of Mr. James Arness, but Fantastic.