No one in Hollywood really knew the real James Arness — and he liked it that way

Advertisement

“Jim is the mystery man,” said his costar Amanda Blake. Even Carol Burnett developed a big crush because he was so elusive!

For the three-part Gunsmoke episode “Gold Train,” Matt Dillon receives a bullet wound that Doc decides is beyond his skill level to operate.

This sends the Marshal on a harrowing journey by train to see a specialist.

The whole sprawling episode, it’s bad enough the lawman is on the brink of paralysis, but then the action amps up even more when a gang hijacks the train, led by an outlaw who bears a very deep grudge against Matt.

It’s certainly a gripping episode, and it’s one in which you see how much this seasoned cast of characters truly cares for one another.

During the third part, Festus fills in as the hero, as Doc overcomes his fears of inadequacy to ultimately save Matt from losing feeling in his limbs forever.

By 1971, Gunsmoke had been on the air for 16 years, and you’d think that would give the main cast plenty of time to get to know one another, but famously Gunsmoke star James Arness was, as The Tallahassee Democrat wrote in 1973, “one of the most private men in Hollywood.”

His closest onscreen costar Amanda Blake, who played Kitty, said Arness kept everyone at a distance.

Advertisement
Advertisement

Leave a Comment

error: Content is protected !!