Gunsmoke season 18
| Gunsmoke | |
|---|---|
| Season 18 | |
| Starring | |
| No. of episodes | 24 |
| Release | |
| Original network | CBS |
| Original release | September 11, 1972 – March 5, 1973 |
| Season chronology | |
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 18 aired in the United States on September 11, 1972, and the final episode aired on March 5, 1973. All episodes were broadcast in the U.S. by CBS.[4]
Season 18 of Gunsmoke was the seventh season of color episodes. Previous seasons were filmed in black-and-white.
Synopsis
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 deputy Festus Haggen (Ken Curtis);[5] Doctor Galen "Doc" Adams (Milburn Stone), the town's physician; Kitty Russell (Amanda Blake), saloon girl and later owner of the Long Branch Saloon;[6] and deputy Newly O'Brien (Buck Taylor).[7]
Cast and characters
Main
- James Arness as Matt Dillon
- Ken Curtis as Festus
- Milburn Stone as Doc
- Amanda Blake as Kitty
- Buck Taylor as Newly[8]
Production
Season 18 consisted of 24 one-hour color episodes produced by executive producer John Mantley along with producer Leonard Katzman an associate producer Ron Honthaner.
Occasionally, titles were reused from previous seasons. This season included three such episodes: episode 12, "The Brothers (formerly 'Incident at Sayville Junction')", which was also a title used in season 11; episode 16, "Homecoming", which was also a title used in season 9, episode 34; and episode 22, "Jesse", which was a title used in season 3, episode 6.
Episodes
| No. overall | No. in season | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original air date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 564 | 1 | "The River (Part 1)" | Herb Wallerstein | Jack Miller | September 11, 1972 |
| 565 | 2 | "The River (Part 2)" | Herb Wallerstein | Jack Miller | September 18, 1972 |
| 566 | 3 | "Bohannan" | Alf Kjellin | William Kelley | September 25, 1972 |
| 567 | 4 | "The Judgement" | Philip Leacock | Shimon Wincelberg | October 2, 1972 |
| 568 | 5 | "The Drummer" | Bernard McEveety | Richard Fielder | October 9, 1972 |
| 569 | 6 | "Sarah (formerly 'The Liar')" | Gunnar Hellström | Calvin Clements, Sr. | October 16, 1972 |
| 570 | 7 | "The Fugitives" | Irving J. Moore | Charles Joseph Stone | October 23, 1972 |
| 571 | 8 | "Eleven Dollars" | Irving J. Moore | Paul Savage | October 30, 1972 |
| 572 | 9 | "Milligan" | Bernard McEveety | Ron Bishop | November 6, 1972 |
| 573 | 10 | "Tatum" | Gunnar Hellström | Jim Byrnes | November 13, 1972 |
| 574 | 11 | "The Sodbusters" | Robert Butler | Ron Bishop | November 20, 1972 |
| 575 | 12 | "The Brothers (formerly 'Incident at Sayville Junction')" | Gunnar Hellström | Calvin Clements, Sr. | November 27, 1972 |
| 576 | 13 | "Hostage! (formerly 'The Execution')" | Gunnar Hellström | Paul F. Edwards | December 11, 1972 |
| 577 | 14 | "Jubilee" | Herb Wallerstein | Story by : Jack Freeman Screenplay by : Paul Savage | December 18, 1972 |
| 578 | 15 | "Arizona Midnight" | Irving J. Moore | Dudley Bromley | January 1, 1973 |
| 579 | 16 | "Homecoming" | Gunnar Hellström | Calvin Clements, Sr. | January 8, 1973 |
| 580 | 17 | "Shadler" | Arnold Laven | Jim Byrnes | January 15, 1973 |
| 581 | 18 | "Patricia" | Alf Kjellin | Calvin Clements, Sr. | January 22, 1973 |
| 582 | 19 | "A Quiet Day in Dodge (formerly 'The Marshall')" | Alf Kjellin | Jack Miller | January 29, 1973 |
| 583 | 20 | "Whelan's Men" | Paul F. Edwards | Ron Bishop | February 5, 1973 |
| 584 | 21 | "Kimbro" | Gunnar Hellström | Jim Byrnes | February 12, 1973 |
| 585 | 22 | "Jesse" | Bernard McEveety | Jim Byrnes | February 19, 1973 |
| 586 | 23 | "Talbot" | Vincent McEveety | Jim Byrnes | February 26, 1973 |
| 587 | 24 | "This Golden Land" | Gunnar Hellström | Hal Sitowitz | March 5, 1973 |
Release
Broadcast
Season eighteen aired Mondays at 8:00-9:00 pm (EST) on CBS.[4]
Home media
The eighteenth season was released on DVD by Paramount Home Entertainment on February 4, 2020.
Reception
Gunsmoke season 18 reached #8 in the Nielsen ratings.[9]
Footnotes
- ^ Barbaras 1990, p. 74–75.
- ^ Brooks & Marsh 2007, p. 570–571.
- ^ McNeil 1996, p. 351–352.
- ^ a b Brooks & Marsh 2007, p. 570.
- ^ Barbaras 1990, p. 116–118.
- ^ Barbaras 1990, p. 87–102.
- ^ Barbaras 1990, p. 147–148.
- ^ Costello 2006, p. 496–508.
- ^ "1972-1973 TV Ratings". classictvguide.com.
References
- Barbaras, SuzAnne & Gabor (1990). Gunsmoke: A Complete History. Jefferson, North Carolina: McFarland & Company, Inc. ISBN 0-89950-418-3.
- Brooks, Tim; Marsh, Earle F. (2007). The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network and Cable TV Shows, 1946-Present. New York: Ballantine Books. ISBN 978-0-345-49773-4.
- Costello, Ben (2006). Gunsmoke: An American Institution. Chandler, Arizona: Five Star Publications, Inc. ISBN 978-1-58985-014-9.
- McNeil, Alex (1996). Total Television: the Comprehensive Guide to Programming from 1948 to the Present. New York: Penguin Books. ISBN 0-14-02-4916-8.