But by this point the show's producers seemed to have found ways around this. Those shows depended on the writing and producing end of things than the guest stars to carry the day. So, with the shift to the hour format, Gunsmoke became a quasi-anthology series, with many more episodes built around other characters living or passing through Dodge City. Once Gunsmoke shifted from a half-hour to an hour format, it became impossible to prominently feature star James Arness in every episode - he would have dropped dead from exhaustion. Gunsmoke in the early-‘70s probably cost in the region of $200,000 an episode or less, and the 24-episode seasons made for a brutal production schedule. A current show often costs $8-10 million per episode, with ten episodes per season. ![]() This is especially astounding when one compares early-‘70s Gunsmoke to TV production methods today. Indeed, as these new video masters attest, Gunsmoke is often classically lush and handsome, with exceptionally good 35mm color photography. By the time we got to seasons 16 and 17, the show not only went on location more, they actually went out-of-state occasionally, shooting in gorgeous locales that lend it, at times, the look of a big-budget feature film. Part of the reason was that the series gradually moved away, at least some of the time, from its TV-Western look, its obvious soundstage set of Dodge City's main thoroughfare most exemplifying this. Reviewing the later, color (and hour-long episodes) I initially expressed mild disappointment that they weren't as taut as the original, 30-minute version of the show, or that too much time in the hour episodes are allotted to character portraits played by guest stars rather than the series' regulars.īut around the 15th season mark Gunsmoke subtly transformed into more solid, more consistently satisfying program. As new sets have been released, I typically watch 7-8 representative episodes then return to where I left off which, at present, is still Gunsmoke during its black-and-white years. The program was so prolific, upwards of 40 episodes per season in its early days, it's been impossible to watch everything in broadcast order. I've been reviewing Gunsmoke sets since the First Season was released in July 2007. Many wondered if the label would complete the series before the DVD format went kaput, so their determination to see it through deserves our gratitude. ![]() Nearing home plate, CBS/Paramount's Eighteenth and Nineteenth of 20 season sets of Gunsmoke (1955-1975) nearly finishes off the classic series. ![]() In preparing them I watched at episodes and the extras from both sets.) (Note: Reviews of Gunsmoke: The Eighteenth Season and Gunsmoke: The Nineteenth Season are identical.
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