Gunsmoke: The Sixteenth Season DVD Review

Gunsmoke continues its lengthy run with this sixteenth season and although westerns still aren’t really my thing, the episode plots were relatively interesting to go along with a respectable ensemble cast.

 

 

Gunsmoke: The Sixteenth Season
(1970-71)

Genre(s): Western, Adventure       
Paramount | NR – 1216 min. – $49.98 | December 10, 2019

Date Published: 12/11/2019 | Author: The Movieman

SEASON INFO: Writer(s): Norman MacDonnell & John Meston (radio program), Charles Marquis Warren (developed by) Cast: James Arness, Milburn Stone, Amanda Blake, Ken Curtis, Buck Taylor DISC INFO: Features: Featurette, Gallery Slip Cover: No Digital Copy: No Formats Included: DVD Number of Discs: 6 Audio: English (Dolby Digital 1.0) Video: Full Frame 1.33 Subtitles: English SDH Region(s): 1

 

SEASON SYNOPSIS

Marshal Matt Dillon (JAMES ARNESS) faces multiple challenges in this season. Wily junk dealer Dirty Sally pays her first visit to Dodge; crazed “Jaeket,” obsessed with his ex-wife, assaults Featus (KEN CURTIS); female physician “Sam McTavish, M.D.” tests Doc’s (MILBURN STONE) dominance; and against the backdrop of spectacular scenery in Taos, New Mexico and the snow-covered Black Hills in Custer, South Dakota, Dillon pursues crafty quarry “Chato,” and holds off marauding Indians intent on capturing a “Snow Train.”

 

SPECIAL FEATURES – 1.75/5

The 6-disc set is housed in a standard clear DVD case. Features include Ben and Beckey Talk Gunsmoke: Season 16 interview/history lesson, a Photo Gallery and Episodic Previews for all episodes.

 

VIDEO – 4.75/5, AUDIO – 3.5/5

Paramount releases Gunsmoke: The Sixteenth Season onto DVD presented in its originally televised 1.33 full frame aspect ratio which has been restored and remastered, and frankly each episode does look fantastic. Colors are rather bright especially set against the more naturalistic locales (same for the costumes), detail was relatively sharp for standard def and outside of some really minor specs, is a rather clean looking transfer. Each episode comes with a standard Dolby Digital Mono track which I did find a little strong and had to adjust the volume down. This might be a show better suited to watch using the television’s internal speakers. (Both copied from my Gunsmoke: Season 15`review)

OVERALL – 2.5/5

Gunsmoke continues its lengthy run with this sixteenth season and although westerns still aren’t really my thing, the episode plots were relatively interesting to go along with a respectable ensemble cast. This DVD set includes some okay features but the video and, to a degree, audio were both well done.