Gunsmoke is directed by Nathan Juran and adapted to screenplay by D.D. Beauchamp from the novel Roughshod written by Norman A. Fox. It stars Audie Murphy, Susan Cabot and Paul Kelly. Music is supervised by Joseph Gershenson and cinematography by Charles P. Boyle.A safe recommendation to Western fans who just want to be entertained by an Audie Murphy picture of no pretensions. Nicely filmed out of Big Bear Valley, San Bernardino National Forest, it's an unassuming film that follows familiar B Western plotting. Bad guy has reform in him and finds it when he ends up fighting for the underdog and falling in love with the daughter of said underdog. Characters are well defined, pace is brisk and the action is well constructed by Juran (latterly 7th Voyage of Sinbad/Jack the Giant Killer). Enjoy the shoot-outs, the cattle drive, the wagon down the hill sequence (those stunt workers rock!), and get on board with the devilishly handsome Murphy and the heart achingly sexy Cabot (check out how she carries off a red number during one scene as she gets the boys all hot and bothered).It's not original and it doesn't bring any psychological smarts to the narrative, but it plays the clichés well and all involved deliver a professional and good looking picture. 6.5/10

A couple of saddle pals, Audie Murphy and Charles Drake, go their separate ways after a job in the Johnson County War in Wyoming. Murphy heads for a job offer from cattle baron Donald Randolph. But like John Wayne who refuses a job from Ed Asner in El Dorado, Murphy decides to throw in with small rancher Paul Kelly. Of course that Paul has an attractive daughter in Susan Cabot has a great deal to do with it.El Dorado is only one of the other westerns that you can see plot elements from. I can count The Man from Laramie, Coroner Creek, and Destry Rides Again in which parts of those films are plainly visible in Gunsmoke.Audie Murphy was always one of the success stories of Hollywood and then unfortunately a tragedy. Our most decorated combat veteran could have had a choice of any number of careers after World War II. He had what only could be described as an instinct in that he chose a movie career. He turned out to be a natural for westerns. His product was always good. Too bad his career never took the path of a successful long running television series or going into A budget projects like John Wayne. Either of those paths might have led him to a longer career and life.In fact both leads in this film met tragic ends, Audie in a plane crash and Susan Cabot, a notorious Hollywood homicide at the hands of her son. Cabot, but for a decision to leave Universal to free lance, might also have gone a television route. Though she became a cult favorite with The Wasp Woman, cult parts are hard to come by and usually really type cast people.By the way, though it is not the only element of Desty Rides Again in this film, saloon girl Mary Castle gets to sing the Marlene Dietrich classic See What the Boys in the Backroom will Have in Gunsmoke. And why not? Since Universal produced Destry Rides Again and they own the song why not use it here as it costs them not a cent.I think western fans will not be disappointed in Gunsmoke.

Get past the unlikely premise of "Gunsmoke" and you've got yourself a pretty good Western. Reb Kittridge (Audie Murphy) is a hired gunslinger who arrives in Montana on an as yet unknown job prospect. Unknown that is, except to most of the rest of the town, including intended victim Dan Saxon (Paul Kelly). Heavy Matt Telford (Donald Randolph) wants Saxon's ranch, and needs him out of the way so he can take over the entire valley basin. So far, it's a pretty typical set up, but Kittridge isn't biting just yet, particularly since he's already met Saxon's pretty daughter Rita (June Cabot). In an unusual turn of events, Reb wins the Saxon ranch by cutting cards with the owner, now finding himself on opposite sides against Telford. To pay off the thirty day note due on the Saxon ranch, Kittridge must round up all the scattered cattle in the territory, and get it to railhead while Telford does all he can to prevent it from happening.It was more than a surprise to see this film had been recorded in Trucolor, the print I viewed was outstanding. Another surprise was the choice of song by saloon singer Cora Dufrayne (Mary Castle) - "See What The Boys in the Bathroom Will Have", to great applause by the cowhand audience.For a 1953 oater, the film offers some great lines: Jesse White as the Professor (camp cook on the cattle drive) - "Come and get it, before I throw it to the hogs." Bill Radovich the bartender - "Just name your poison gentlemen, if we haven't got it, we'll make it!" Charles Drake, as Reb's former partner Johnny Lake, later hired by Telford to take him out - "I never did like to shoot my friends.", in the movie's finale.Keep your eyes peeled for brief appearances by a handful of "B" Western character actors and veterans - Edmund Cobb as the stage driver, William Fawcett as the crusty hotel clerk ("I can just see it now, blood all over my nice clean floors."), and Denver Pyle as a Saxon ranch hand, all in uncredited roles.As a fan of the genre, I was prepared for a rather run of the mill story here, but it came across as rather well done and entertaining - recommended for Audie Murphy and Western fans of all types.

Good shoot-em-up with Murphy as Reb Kittredge, a gunhand in between jobs. He is offered a job to run a cattleman out of the country so the evil Matt Telford can control the entire valley. In an odd turn of events Kittredge comes into ownership of the disputed acreage and begins a hazardous journey to get the bovine to market before the mortgage to Telford comes due. Of course, Telford does everything in his power to ensure the drive is unsuccessful. A side plot along the way involves Kittredge as one corner of a love triangle, pitting him against a hot headed, back shooting polecat for the love of a beautiful woman: gotta have that thrown in, eh? Pretty standard stuff, but I enjoyed the production.