‘Gunsmoke’: THR’s 1955 Review
On Sept. 10, 1955, the iconic Western series Gunsmoke premiered on CBS from 10 p.m.-10:30 p.m. The James Arness-starrer went on to have a 20-season, 635-episode television run, picking up 5 Emmy Awards and 15 nominations along the way. Its popularity proved to be enduring, the show appeared among Nielsen’s top streaming series in 2025, 70 years after it first began airing. The Hollywood Reporter’s original review of the series is below:
Continuing in the trend of “adult” westerns set this season, Gunsmoke is a high calibre show. Everything about the program points to its enjoying a very good rating. James Arness shows the kind of courageous grace under pressure that a U.S. marshal should have in order to maintain the peace. Dennis Weaver is believable as Chester, Dillon’s assistant, but is a little too serious where some comic relief could be used to good effect. Amanda Blake as Kitty and Milburn Stone as “Doc” turn in creditable performances.
The debut show had Paul Richards as Dan Crat, a psychotic killer who wants to be left alone and almost brings death to Arness when he doesn’t take his advice. The townspeople tread lightly around Richards’ arena as he proves how fast he can draw his sixshooter. What removes Richards from the realm of ordinary western bad men is that he is not a coward nor is he stupid. Of course, Arness finally out wits and kills him, but meanwhile there’s lots of good western style entertainment. Richards brings a quality of understatement to the role that lifts the part above mere histronics.
Charles Marquis Warren’s direction pinpoints the action with neat perfection. Warren also holds the producing reins and gets co-scripting credit with john Meston. Norman Macdonnell is associate producer. Chesterfield pays the bill. — Hal Landers, originally published on Sept. 12, 1955.
