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| Image Alt: | Gunsmoke (title screen) |
| Starring: | |
| Num Episodes: | 24 |
| Network: | CBS |
| Episode List: | List of Gunsmoke (TV series) episodes |
Gunsmoke is an American Western television series developed by Charles Marquis Warren and based on the radio program of the same name. The series ran for 20 seasons, making it the longest-running Western in television history.
The first episode of season 17 aired in the United States on September 13, 1971, and the final episode aired on March 13, 1972. All episodes were broadcast in the U.S. by CBS.
Season 17 of Gunsmoke was the sixth season of color episodes. Previous seasons were filmed in black-and-white.
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); Doctor Galen "Doc" Adams (Milburn Stone), the town's physician; Kitty Russell (Amanda Blake), saloon girl and later owner of the Long Branch Saloon; and deputy Newly O'Brien (Buck Taylor).
See main article: List of Gunsmoke cast members.
Season 17 consisted of 24 one-hour color episodes produced by executive producer John Mantley along with producer Leonard Katzman an associate producer Ron Honthaner.
Episode 1, "The Lost", was the last episode directed by Robert Totten.
Episode 19, "One for the Road", was the third of three episodes that led to the spin-off series, Dirty Sally.
Pat Hingle was cast as the down doctor to replace Milburn Stone's character, Doc Adams. He appeared in six episodes, beginning with episode 5, "New Doctor in Town". Stone returned to the role of Doc Adams in episode 12, "The Bullet".
See also: List of Gunsmoke (TV series) episodes.
Due to the institution of the Prime Time Access Rule earlier in 1971, Gunsmoke moved back one half hour to 8:00-9:00 pm (EST) Mondays on CBS.
The seventeenth season was released on DVD by Paramount Home Entertainment on December 10, 2019.
Gunsmoke season 17 reached #4 in the Nielsen ratings.