Customer Reviews

Gunsmoke [VHS]

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

When watching an Audie Murphy western, you have to overlook his baby face and small build and remember his service to his country. You know he was tough in real life, so that makes him more believable in his western outings.

Gunsmoke is a solid outing for Murphy. He moved well in a Western setting and he practiced quick drawing to the point where he could do it faster than his instructor. Therefore, no fancy editing was needed when he used his gun.

The scenery alone makes this movie worth watching as Reb Kittridge, played by Murphy, goes from outlaw to cattle ranch owner and drives the herd to market to sell them in time so the mortgage on the Montana ranch can be paid.

Charles Drake, a regular in Murphy movies, gives a solid performance as well, and Susan Cabot is a little sparkplug as she resists Kittridge's advances (but only for a while).

The ending is suspenseful as you don't know until the very end who is loyal to who. Very recommendable.

I've seen this movie on vhs, now it needs to come out on dvd. Audie has a lot of good westerns that need to come out on dvd. I have the one's all ready out, so now it's dvd time. There are a lot of good westerns that need to come out on dvd, bet they would sell like hot cakes.

Universal International Pictures presents "GUNSMOKE" (1953) (79 min/Color) -- Starring Audie Murphy, Susan Cabot, Paul Kelly, Charles Drake, Mary Castle & Donald Randolph

Directed by Nathan Juran

Gunslinger Reb Kittridge (Audie Murphy) rides into town expecting to take a job helping badman Matt Telford (Donald Randolph) get rid of Dan Saxon (Paul Kelly), now the only other farmer in the basin. Instead the wily Saxon arranges that Kittridge become owner of his ranch, so the gunman lands up with the job of getting a cattle herd to their buyer while he fights off Telford and his men. He also himself falling for Saxon's pretty but independent daughter, Rita (Susan Cabot).

Special footnote: -- During the cattle drive, Audie Murphy (Reb) has ridden up ahead, over a ridge, to scout the trail and sees a range fire burning towards the herd. As he races back down the hill to the other riders, his horse slips and almost falls down. He and the horse are able to recover and without missing a beat, Murphy says his lines to the others and the scene goes on.

Watch for a brief appearance by a handful of "B-Western" veteran character actors - Edmund Cobb as the stage driver, William Fawcett as the crusty hotel clerk and Denver Pyle as Paul Kelly's ranch hand.

BIOS:
1. Nathan Juran [aka: Naftuli Hertz Juran] (Director)
Date of Birth: 1 September 1907 - Gurahumora, Bukovina, Austria-Hungary (now Gura Humorului, Romania)
Date of Death: 23 October 2002 - Palos Verdes Estates, California

2. Audie Murphy [aka: Audie Leon Murphy]
Date of Birth: 20 June 1924 - Kingston, Texas
Date of Death: 28 May 1971 - near Roanoke, Virginia

3. Susan Cabot [aka: Harriet Shapiro]
Date of Birth: 9 July 1927 - Boston, Massachusetts
Date of Death: 10 December 1986 - Encino, California

4. Paul Kelly [aka: Paul Michael Kelly]
Date of Birth: 9 August 1899 - Brooklyn, New York
Date of Death: 6 November 1956 - Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, California

5. Charles Drake [aka: Charles Rupert]
Date of Birth: 2 October 1917 - New York City, New York
Date of Death: 10 September 1994 - East Lyme, Connecticut

Mr. Jim's Ratings:
Quality of Picture & Sound: 5 Stars
Performance: 5 Stars
Story & Screenplay: 5 Stars
Overall: 5 Stars [Original Music, Cinematography & Film Editing]

Total Time: 79 min on DVD/VHS ~ Universal International Pictures (UI) ~ (May 16, 2000)