About
"If Matt Dillon had to shoot somebody, you'd cut around to him. You could see that he just hated to have to do that and he felt a sort of revulsion over it. That's something that hadn't really been done much up to that point."
In his two-and-a-half-hour interview, James Arness (1923-2011) speaks about his early years and experiences, which included serving in the army during World War II, and recalls his start in local radio in Minneapolis. He notes his break into acting in movies and lists several in which he appeared. He describes his experiences in early television, including anthology series that were done "live." He then speaks in great detail about the role for which he is best known, that of "Marshal Matt Dillon" on Gunsmoke. For Gunsmoke, he talks about his initial reluctance to take the part (until he was convinced by John Wayne for whom he was under contract). Arness describes the series characters and their relationships with each other, and discusses working with the behind-the-scenes talent, including key producers and directors. He also talks about later television roles, including his appearance as a regular on the late 1970s western series How the West Was Won. B-roll consists of photos from his Hollywood years (including films The Farmer's Daughter and The Thing) and a still each of Arness in Gunsmoke and The McCahans. Henry Colman conducted the interview on August 16, 2002 in Los Angeles, CA.
Highlights
James Arness on playing the title character in the science fiction classic "The Thing" and on meeting John Wayne
James Arness on Dodge City, the setting of Gunsmoke
James Arness on CBS president William S. Paley's affinity for Gunsmoke
James Arness on Bette Davis guest starring on Gunsmoke
James Arness on Burt Reynolds as "Quint" on Gunsmoke
James Arness on the cancellation of Gunsmoke in 1975
Full Interview
Chapter 1
On his early life and influences; on his experience with World War II; on his early interest in acting
On being cast in his first feature film "The Farmer's Daughter"; on playing the title character in the science fiction classic "The Thing" and on meeting John Wayne; on his first television appearance, playing William Tell on a Hallmark Hall of Fame live broadcast
Chapter 2
On appearing on Lux Video Theatre; on appearing on The Lone Ranger; on being cast as "Marshall Matt Dillon" on Gunsmoke
On John Wayne introducing the first episode of Gunsmoke; on the concept of Gunsmoke, and on the production schedule of the show; on the character of "Marshall Matt Dillon" on Gunsmoke
On the rules the writers set for his character "Marshall Matt Dillon" on Gunsmoke; on CBS president William S. Paley's affinity for Gunsmoke
On "Matt Dillon's" relationship with "Miss Kitty" played by Amanda Blake on Gunsmoke; on Dennis Weaver as "Chester" on Gunsmoke
Chapter 3
On making personal appearances with Dennis Weaver during the run of Gunsmoke; on Ken Curtis as "Festus" on Gunsmoke; on Milburn Stone as "Doc" on Gunsmoke
On Burt Reynolds as "Quint" on Gunsmoke; on Dodge City, the setting of Gunsmoke; on the various storylines of Gunsmoke, and on how his character changed over the years
On working with the behind-the-scenes staff of Gunsmoke; on hiring New York actors to appear on Gunsmoke
Chapter 4
On casting actors for Gunsmoke; on Gunsmoke expanding from a half-hour to an hour, and on how it impacted the storyline; on William S. Paley saving Gunsmoke from cancellation
On Bette Davis guest starring on Gunsmoke; on Gilbert Roland guest-starring on Gunsmoke; on Fran Ryan guest-starring on Gunsmoke
On favorite Gunsmoke storylines; on the cancellation of Gunsmoke in 1975; on starring on How the West Was Won
Chapter 5
On his favorite episode of How the West Was Won, and on the casting of the show; on the Hollywood Blacklist; on starring in McClain's Law
On doing several Gunsmoke reunion movies; on career achievements and regrets; on the legacy of Gunsmoke
On how the industry has changed since he started; on advice to an aspiring actor and on his autobiography; on how he would like to be remembered
Shows
Gunsmoke
James Arness on being cast as "Marshall Matt Dillon" on Gunsmoke
James Arness on John Wayne introducing the first episode of Gunsmoke
James Arness on the concept of Gunsmoke, and on the production schedule of the show
James Arness on the character of "Marshall Matt Dillon" on Gunsmoke
James Arness on the rules the writers set for his character "Marshall Matt Dillon" on Gunsmoke
James Arness on CBS president William S. Paley's affinity for Gunsmoke
James Arness on "Matt Dillon's" relationship with "Miss Kitty" played by Amanda Blake on Gunsmoke
James Arness on Dennis Weaver as "Chester" on Gunsmoke
James Arness on making personal appearances with Dennis Weaver during the run of Gunsmoke
James Arness on Ken Curtis as "Festus" on Gunsmoke
James Arness on Milburn Stone as "Doc" on Gunsmoke
James Arness on Burt Reynolds as "Quint" on Gunsmoke
James Arness on Dodge City, the setting of Gunsmoke
James Arness on the various storylines of Gunsmoke, and on how his character changed over the years
James Arness on working with the behind-the-scenes staff of Gunsmoke
James Arness on hiring New York actors to appear on Gunsmoke
James Arness on casting actors for Gunsmoke
James Arness on Gunsmoke expanding from a half-hour to an hour, and on how it impacted the storyline
James Arness on William S. Paley saving Gunsmoke from cancellation
James Arness on Bette Davis guest-starring on Gunsmoke
James Arness on Gilbert Roland guest-starring on Gunsmoke
James Arness on Fran Ryan guest-starring on Gunsmoke
James Arness on favorite Gunsmoke storylines
James Arness on the cancellation of Gunsmoke in 1975
James Arness on doing several Gunsmoke reunion movies
James Arness on the legacy of Gunsmoke
Hallmark Hall of Fame
James Arness on his first television appearance, playing William Tell on a Hallmark Hall of Fame live broadcast
How the West was Won
James Arness on starring on How the West was Won
James Arness on his favorite episode of How the West Was Won, and on the casting of the show
Lone Ranger, The
James Arness on appearing on The Lone Ranger
Lux Video Theatre
James Arness on appearing on Lux Video Theatre
McClain's Law
James Arness on starring in McClain's Law
Topics
Advice
James Arness on advice to an aspiring actor
Characters & Catchphrases
James Arness on the character of "Marshall Matt Dillon" on Gunsmoke
Classic TV Series Episodes
James Arness on John Wayne introducing the first episode of Gunsmoke
Creative Influences and Inspiration
James Arness on having a mentor and being a mentor
Historic Events and Social Change
James Arness on his experience with World War II
Hollywood Blacklist
James Arness on the Hollywood Blacklist
Industry Crossroads
James Arness on the Hollywood Blacklist
Pivotal Career Moments
James Arness on having a mentor and being a mentor
Pop Culture
James Arness on the character of "Marshall Matt Dillon" on Gunsmoke
James Arness on John Wayne introducing the first episode of Gunsmoke
Television Industry
James Arness on the Hollywood Blacklist
James Arness on how the industry has changed since he started
James Arness on advice to an aspiring actor
War
James Arness on his experience with World War II
World War II
James Arness on his experience with World War II
Professions
Actor
James Arness on advice to an aspiring actor
Performers
James Arness on advice to an aspiring actor
Genres
Classic Anthology Series
James Arness on his first television appearance, playing "William Tell" on a Hallmark Hall of Fame live broadcast
Cop/Detective/Mystery Series
James Arness on starring in McClain's Law
Western Series
James Arness on playing "Marshall Matt Dillon" on Gunsmoke
James Arness on How the West Was Won
James Arness on doing several Gunsmoke reunion movies
People
Amanda Blake
James Arness on "Matt Dillon's" relationship with "Miss Kitty" played by Amanda Blake on Gunsmoke
Bette Davis
James Arness on Bette Davis guest starring on Gunsmoke
William S. Paley
James Arness on CBS president William S. Paley's affinity for Gunsmoke
James Arness on William S. Paley saving Gunsmoke from cancellation
Burt Reynolds
James Arness on Burt Reynolds as "Quint" on Gunsmoke
Milburn Stone
James Arness on Milburn Stone as "Doc" on Gunsmoke
John Wayne
James Arness on John Wayne introducing the first episode of Gunsmoke
Dennis Weaver
James Arness on Dennis Weaver as "Chester" on Gunsmoke