FULL Interview! 🤠🤠 James Arness Shares his Life
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 31 พ.ค. 2023
- Henry Colman conducted the interview on August 16, 2002 in Los Angeles, CA.
In his two-and-a-half-hour Archive 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.
Courtesy of the Television Academy Foundation.
James Arness was, and remains today a national treasure.
I totally agree with you 💯%❤
He was my hero! I thought he was so cool!
I enjoy the reruns of Gunsmoke today just as much as I did when it first aired in the 1950s. It remains, by far, the best written made for TV western of all times.
I am 85 years old and watch Gunsmoke everyday. Love the entire cast.
It is a shame we no longer have programs like that.
agree
I still watch it to this day every afternoon , watched it growing up every week, love that show especially once Festus came on
I have also watched Gunsmoke since it's beginning, in 1955 and still do everyday along with other favorites, Gunsmoke is my favorites ❤ of all
@@MrJujubean?? G⁷😅
@@MrJujubean)³y32tyy46😊😢😊😊😊😊😊b and
Gunsmoke was and still is one of the best top 10 shows ever! James Arness killed it as Matt Dillon because I don't think anybody else could do the character any more justice. He was and still is the best man for the roll he played. Thanks for the memories.
For 79, he is very very sharp and just amazing
His recall was good...but he spoke rather slowly, perhaps he had suffered a stroke.
Gunsmoke was the greated TV western of all time. We remember your military service, too, Mr. Arness.
I have loved Matt Dillon all my life.still watch it everyday. Im 74 now and still love it
I’m 74 also and me too!
@@Byrddog17😮
59 here and Gunsmoke was the only reason I had a TV the last twenty years, watched since I was a youngster.
Me too. Always loved it especially the good moral code and compassion for people
I’m 76 and still watch Gunsmoke on cable rerun. My favorite character was Doc Adams.
I am 77 years and I always watched Gunsmoke as a kid and continue to watch it today in reruns. I always loved the stories and the actors!
I’m 77….you too!!! Oct. 13 bday. didn’t have a tv so I went next door to watch it.
What a great show!!!! There wasn’t a episode that I didn’t like. Legendary James Arness. Reruns keep them coming. Can you imagine the money 💰 they made. He looks so handsome still. ❤
What a great guy
I watch Gunsmoke almost every day. It was a great cast. Several famous movie stars came through Gunsmoke. The greatest western of all time.
Are you referring to Burt Reynolds? He played a blacksmith for a couple of years.
What a wonderfully gracious person, not a bad thing to say about anyone.
I wish he had been a little more candid...Amanda Blake had several issues, and could be unreliable sometimes.
Who doesn't love Gunsmoke, and Matt Dillon.
I’m 72 years old , I watch Gun smoke everyday. As my Dad did when he was living. I love you, Dillion. Lol.
This guy was a legend. Before Steven Segal, Chuck Norris, etc., there was James Arness as Matt Dillon: The original badass.
Lol....agree....watching him backhand slap the BS outta some jerk was awesome..!
I grew up watching Gunsmoke. One of the best shows on TV. James Arness was the perfect Matt Dillion. The entire cast was spectacular. I’m from the Midwest and James is definitely from here. What a decent man.
All I can say, is gunsmoke was a part of my life growing up thank God for Gunsmoke and James Arness, and the rest of the crew wouldn’t have made it without it👍
Great guy😂
God had nothing to do with this show ! Y do people do this by thanking god ? I don’t approve of this use of gods name !
I didn't realize until I was walking my dog one afternoon....Jim Arness lived on the same street and on the same block as I did. He used to walk his little white minature poodle too. My goodness....I had no idea how tall he was.
He's a total gentleman. What a great interview with a great man. I'm glad I found this channel. 😊
Glad you enjoyed it!
My all time favorite TV western. The golden age of television.
James Arness rode in a rodeo in Missouri when I was a teenager. As he rode by us my father yelled, “Hey, Jim!”. , not Marshall, or Matt. Mr. Arness swiveled quickly to spot who was calling his name. We were thrilled
Fantastic!
He’s 79 yrs old here in 2002. He died 2011 age 88. Comes from good, healthy, midwestern stock. He’s one of the good guys.
Thank you!
His brother Pete made a decent career for himself on TV, for many years. They looked very much like brothers, right?
Amen to that...he is so honest & straightforward ...!
U
One of my happiest memories is of my mom watching Gunsmoke whenever it came on. So, when the TV show Gunsmoke is mentioned it just makes my day. I was a kid many years ago, and now I am 69 years old. I miss my mom, but have this beautiful memory of her in my heart always. Thank you
I also have watched Gunsmoke most of my life! I’m 70. Not only me, but my brother, who’s 72 and my parents! Also, my wife loved Gunsmoke. It was her favorite western. She watched it until she died and I watch it almost every day now. So there ! And Jim Arness and the rest of the cast, just simply the best. Thank you Matt !
This is a Great interview and should be saved in the archives of Great TV westerns.
I remember his wife said once that he absolutely loved being Matt Dillon! He’d Adlib a lot you could tell he’s so natural. He also loved to eat even on set he’d eat his food then start on others plates precious huh so beloved ❤🙏🏻
I love listening to him. Reminds me of the early days when he'd come over and see my father, his Army buddy. We were also neighbors, he was in Brentwood, CA near Veterans hospital he used with dad, and dad lived in Santa Monica and then Malibu and hung out as a Lifeguard on beaches chasing girls. Lee Marvin asked him to become an actor in Westerns as he had THAT LOOK but, he started selling meat. History. Mr. Arness went on to act. . They both loved the beach and boats. I have my dad's boat now 1959 Bell Boy. Just sits. They fought at Anzio, Italy. against Nazi SS officers who had a machine gun. and fired on his team. They mangled his right foot badly and he was in physical therapy for months I believe in Germany? He came home and started his path to GUNSMOKE 1955-1975. My favorite episode and most say, it THE BEST Episode ever with GARY BUSEY. "HORSE BUSTERS". 1974. Great guy. A NATURAL. He really could handle horses too. Oklahoma boy. Mr. Arness watched The Wizard of Oz with us in 1964 in Malibu, California PCH. That is a day I will never forget. Years later when older I'd watch TV and GUNSMOKE would come on, and I had bragging right with neighbor kids. lol Thank you MARSHAL DILLON - Rest In Peace Sir. Bless you for Eternity
Thank you for sharing!
My two favorites James Arness and John Wayne. I’m 76 and it is fresh in my mind even today.
I didn’t like John Wayne in the same way I did Arness ! ❤️🐰🐇🐦🔥💀☠️⚡️🪽🐲🐉🎶😍🥰😘🌈❤️🩵💚🧡💛💜💙🤩🥳
Im 55 yrs old and i DVR and watch Gunsmoke everyday and i think ive just about seen every single episode and i absolutely never tire watching this epic western even though ive seen almost every single episode i will watch them over n over again!! I absolutely loved this man and every main character on this show also and i do not ever in my lifetime anyway ever think this absolutely awesome western will ever ever die!! God Bless Gunsmoke and God Bless You Mr Arness for giving us so extremely much love and joy for so many decades and you still and always will be so loved and you will continue to give so many so much joy especially through all of us able to continue to watch and love and enjoy you in your epic role as the infamous Matt Dillion on our beloved Gunsmoke...We have always loved you dearly...God Bless You For My Continued Years Of Joy Of Avidly Watching You In Gunsmoke!! You were an absolutely amazing and wonderful man and actor...💞🥰💖💞
I’m still watching Gunsmoke even to this day. ❤
Dude was a stud and lived a helluva a life
I too am 71 and always enjoyed watching “ GunSmoke” when I was young and enjoy watching the series to this day( 2024)
Does anybody else notice the big bruise on his right cheek?! What happened? He’s touching it right before they started asking him questions at the beginning. I LOVE this interview!! I LOVE this guy, a lot of details I never knew! I grew up watching his show! I’m 70! They will never be able to make another show like Gunsmoke ever again!! It was a classic!
Not a bruise
There has never been a better show like Gunsmoke
It is still missed
He was one of the greatest actors ever.
Im 78 and i watch "Gun Smoke at least once a day. I love all the characters.
Never be another Matt Dillon!
Watching Gunsmoke reruns today. My husband became ill and this is what he remembered and chooses to watch today and I have to admit I really have gotten into also.
The greatest western ever. There were many in the early t.v. days like Sugarfoot, the Lawman, Cheyenne, Rawhide, Wagon Train and others, but this one show with great actors, great stories and great theme song really brought you back to the Old West. Arness and his brother Peter Graves, both wonderful actors.
Gunsmoke and The Rifleman.
Peter Graves in Mission Impossible, too.
Trying to find the words, my fiancé loved Gunsmoke, he once said to me, Festus character brought out good moral themes. He only watched the old shows and never current tv shows. Great interview.
I watch 2 episodes of Gunsmoke last night. It takes me back to my childhood days.
Matt Dillon the epitome of a man!!!! All of us woman wanted one just like him. Rough, big, PROTECTOR, few words but when he spoke YOU LISTENED OR ELSE. Just an absolute joy to still watch Gunsmoke EVERYDAY.
I was definitely born in the wrong era. ❤
I tell people today.... What we need is a few Matt Dillions.
Just didn't care for any Westerns but My late husband Loved them all.
😅
I ALSO WATCH NEARLY EVERY DAY. IS HE STILL WITH US?
I love Gunsmoke yrs ago and now. Matt Dillion is my hero . Thx for this.
My favorite show as a kid was gunsmoke and now as a senior, it is still my favorite show. I always say movie stars will never really die. They will live on forever for generations thank you. James❤
James Arness seemed like such a down to earth and regular guy. I truly believe that one of the keys to the success of Gunsmoke was, as Arness said, "we all got along throughout the years as if we were a family". This is unlike some actors who have such huge egos and are so full of themselves that others hate to work with or to even be around them.
I am so glad I came across this.Thank you, and the internet.
Mr Arness; I just wanted to tell you that I still love every one of your shows from GUNSMOKE AND GUNSMOKE WAS ALSO ONE OF MY FATHER'S FAVORITE SHOWS! THANK YOU FOR ALL THOSE GREAT SHOWS.
When I was younger, we moored our sailboat not to far from Mr. Arnes' sailboat "Seasmoke". It was abeautiful boat with a navy blue hull. I understood the bunks were extra long to accommodate his height. 11:33
I’ve watched James Arness since I was a kid I’m 75 now and I’m still watching his movies and Gunsmoke today every day. Always loved his messages if you really listen to him you can tell he was a Christian man he loved our Lord. R.I.P. Jim know you’re with our Lord in Heaven now. You are missed see you one day in Heaven. 🙏🙌💯🥹
Ripsee uin haven I'm going there too that's thelsn I'm in hank you Jesus and likeminded people over youtoo.allf yo...... farmers daughter sends early gat I'm gonna look it up when did y change his name to Matt. He's handsome even very much older rip......... love.... was invisible heart..... Jesud............
What language are you using?@@shelbywoods2723
I also still watch Gunsmoke and have no intention of stop watching! I wish they would bring back or make new Westerns? I am 75 years old, no foul language or nudity.
I love watching him ❤
Still watching it these days.
What a wonderful man. I remember seeing his brother (Peter Graves) in a gift shop at the LAX airport many years ago. Very handsome guy - and I didn't want to bother him......fond memory!
Always loved to watch Mr Arness in anything he played in .
Enjoyed the first 7 seasons of Gunsmoke with (Matt, Miss Kitty, Chester & Doc) wasn’t the same after Chester left. Still watch it today! 😊
Great interview! LOTS OF GOOD STUFF AND JAMES ARNESS LOOKS GREAT.
Awww…he was such a Wonderful man❤️! He seems like he was very nice & mannerable. Not an ounce of arrogance! I’ve always admired him so much. I still Love him on Gunsmoke💕💕💕
When I was about 10 in 1967, I was in the airport in Colorado Springs and noticed a guy checking in and it was Festus! I was such a shy kid and my aunt dug an envelope out of her purse and convinced me to ask him for an autograph! I still have it in my scrapbook and I’m 65 years old now! 💗
What a great memory to have!
My favorite show love it I still watch everyday
I'm 75 & still watch it❤
I had such a crush on him when he played Uncle Zeb. Always saving the day at the last minute!! Miss those days and shows!
I loved Gunsmoke and still watch it.
"Chato" is my favorite episode of the ones I've seen. Great to hear that it was one of Jim's favorites.
Loved this man ,I gtew up watching Gunsmoke,I am ,74 years old now and still watch the reruns loved each one of the players.
Burt Reynolds wrote the forward for Jim's autobiography.
Great man!💜
A real Gentleman!( Mr. Arness)..
Interviewer was patient & had pertinent questions..Enjoyed it much!..a great time & show in TV history..
Writers' strike, network TV, who cares? Not me. I can get on TH-cam and watch wonderful programs like this interview. Well done beloved actor James Arness.
TH-cam is where it's at :)
I enjoyed most episodes...all except those that K. Hits wrote...her shows ended WRONG...made us cry...anyone else feel like this ?...
Typo ...Katherine HITE , was the name...
Matt Dillon was a truly great TV character. There were many westerns on TV back in that time. They were all good but GS was the best.
We. as a family, always listened to Gunsmoke on radio, which was the most realistic drama on radio, and we never missed it. It was so strange, when they began on TV and I saw Matt Dillon, he looked exactly as i had pictured him in my mind when listening on the radio show!! It was amazing casting to have James Arness in that role..the transition was PERFECT!!! In the midst of so many Westerns, Gunsmoke was always the best...and we all waited for the time when Matt and Miss Kitty would get into the full blown romance, but Matt held true to his convictions, he didn't want to leave behind a widow with children, never knowing when his life would end in such a dangerous job. Never forget Matt describing his job(on radio) ....being a lawman.."..it makes a man watchful..and..a little lonely" I tear up as i write that, of all the characters on TV, for over 70 years, Matt Dillon was the best!!!
Still love his voice! He looks wonderful!
Such a great guy!!!
He was born in May 1923 he is 100 yrs old this is awesome
I just got the whole 20year collection of Gun Smoke . I watch several episodes every day. I enjoy watching all of them. Great series.
❤❤❤love the show, I bought the entire Box Set plus the movies, watch them daily 🎉🎉
Now theres a guy that portrayed a real man!
Wonderful interview! I greatly enjoyed hearing from one of my favorite actors! You asked questions and follow-up questions that I would have asked! Bravo
James is an American Icon, you think of the west, Marshall Dillion comes to mind even though it was a completely fictional character. My favorite episode is “ Comanches is soft” with Festus & Quint.
Still watching Gunsmoke six days a week! ☺
One of the classic good and decent guys of show business. Matt Dillon and Zeb Macahan are two of my all-time favorite characters.
This is one very fine interview of Arness. The first nine years of Gunsmoke are my favorites. After Dennis Weaver left it was never the same...and bringing in those non-actors doing the same lines every week drove me nuts...Festus, Newly @ Louis. Arness and Doc (Chester too) carried the series @ it would have flopped had Arness ever quit it...and Chester was as important to the show as Matt.
Thanks for basically a good, lengthy interview. Matt, Chester, Sam the bartender and old Hank the stableman are my favorites.
Dennis Weaver went on to a solid career, starring in that great movie directed by Spielberg, where Dennis is chased by a maniac in a large 16-wheeler truck!...After that, he had a successful series as a rogue country cop, riding a horse, in NYC--"McCloud"..My then young wife had a crush on him at that time period. He actually was a handsome guy, but his Chester character did not feature his good looks...his later McCloud series definitely showcased his suave good looks. He was, BTW, a life-long vegetarian!
@@curbozerboomer1773can't give enough credit to Dennis Weavers performance as Chester. Greatest Ever! But then Doc wasn't even a performance..Doc (and that constant toothpick) was Doc.
My Dad was paired up with JA at Fort Snelling when they were both inducted. They were the first two in the alphabet, so were paired up for the duration of basic training. Dad liked him, but they ended up in different units.
Thanks for sharing!
He truly is a legend, in and out of the tv screen. Thank you James Arness for the good work during your passing for this world.
I’ve seen other actors that when they’re giving interviews they were arrogant, and didn’t really give credit to the other actors, but this is a really articulate and full of integrity and honesty. I remember I had the biggest crush on him as a little girl and wish that I had had a dad like that. I named my daughter after Miss Kitty I hope this interview will be in the archives. I would probably love to watch it again, even though the end interviewer is a little dry.
Gunsmoke had one of the best cast of characters on television,the way they played off of each other was so much like friends in real life. Loved it growing up and still enjoy it so much today.
This interview is "great"! It is 2023 and I'm 82 so in order to watch any of the Gunsmoke shows, I purchased the 5 movies and, I believe, starting with season 12 or 13, the DVDx. This series of Westerns are my favorite shows to view. As a PS, I also purchased the three seasons of How the West Was Won, also very good shows. Finally, until this interview, I did not know about Jim's detective shows. JMS
Down to Earth interview.
Wonderful memories and interview❤
From the time I was a little girl and no different today at 70, I ❤️Gunsmoke and especially the original characters. I own an original James Arness autographed 500 series photo and badge. I have #19.
What a treasure to have!
Thanks for this video. I always enjoyed watching his Series.
Glad you enjoyed it
My dad loved to watch Gunsmoke so as a child we watched it with him and that's how I started liking the show
I always loved mat doc fetus miss kitty ❤❤
77 year old grandma. Used to watch it with my dad
Loved Gunsmoke. What a class human being
I lived in Jetmore. Not far from Dodge. I have been to Dodge Long Branch etc. I love the show
Long, but fabulous great interview, with a great humble man.. A Fabulous* Legendary* Actor*.. My favorite Gunsmoke* episodes are the 1/2 hour long ones.. Which are the ones where "James Arnes" is seen more in throughout the series.."May he always R.I.P.*💯💖💞✝️🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🎥🎬🎶👍👌☮️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️💎💎💎💎💎💎✝️🇺🇸⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐🥇
James Arness gave an absolutely terrifying performance as the monster in the original 1951 version of " *The Thing* from another world."
My mom really liked James Arness... Gunsmoke is still on TV MeTV...watch it every day
I watched Gunsmoke when I younger ,and now watch the reruns I'm a John Wane fan to and Clint Eastwood fan ,see what you started thank you God Bless !!!!!!!!!😊
Great actor and great man! Rest easy, sir.
I watch Gunsmoke everyday. Ive been noticing when Matt and Miss Kitty was both real young. I dont think Festus was even on it then. Also noticed how much bigger Miss Kitties hair got later on in the episodes. I love Matt Kitty Festus .
Watching Gunsmoke every chance I get! On Season 11 right now. Love all the characters! Used to sit down with Babe Ruth bar and watch when I was 10 years old. I see much more in it now at 70 years old. There is much adventure, comedy, love in the series. Also lessons to be learned of honesty and loving friendships!
I remember seeing some of the episodes in the 60’s and always loved them. Then, when the box dvd set was available, I bought it. It’s a great collection. Absolutely love it. It’s worth it’s price in gold, as the saying goes.
agree!