I teach film/video editing at NYU, and I'm writing to ask, did you know that American Cinema Editors (A.C.E.) which is a California trade union for film editors, has created an instructional video using a scene from a Gunsmoke episode? The video is titled, "Film Editing: Interpretation and Values," more commonly known as "the Gunsmoke reel" by those of us who use it in the classroom.. The scene is one in which Matt confronts a nasty named Ben Siple and beats him to a pulp.. Siple's sidekick, identified only as "that Texan" by Chester, is played by Jack Klugman. It's a marvelous tool for introductory editing courses because it shows each of the full-length selected takes used to edit the sequence, and then shows three different versions of the scene as cut by three different editors.I'm hoping you can tell me the title of the episode from which this scene was taken, and how I might find it -- or any other Gunsmoke episode -- in its full length version.My students were not born until long after Gunsmoke's days were over, but we have had some excellent discussions.sparked by this video. Any help you can give me in tracking down the source is greatly appreciated. Julie Sloane Adjunct Instructor, Undergraduate Dept. of Film js60@nyu.edu">js60@nyu.edu --------------------------------- Julie, CBS is considering placing all the Gunsmoke stuff on DVD. There is a radio version of the same show available from TradeMarksNet.com in mpeg. Does the "Gunsmoke reel" still exist? Bob --------------------------------- From: Julie Sloane To: Bob@GunsmokeNet.com Date: Wed, 12 Sep 2001 21:45:34 -0400 Subject: "Gunsmoke Reel" from ACE X-Accept-Language: en Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Disposition: inline Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit X-UIDL: QUL!!!bK"!B,2"!J+K!! Dear Bob, Someone from the A.C.E. has responded to my request for a copy of their video. Apparently it is not presently available, but will be so "in a few weeks." I'll let you know when I hear anything further. I pray you had no family or friends who were here in NYC at this appalling time. Sincerely, --Julie ---------------------------------------- Dear Bob, Thanks for the prompt reply. I haven't yet listened to the radio broadcast but I'm going to do that later this evening. I actually remember hearing Gunsmoke on the radio when I was child, so I'm looking forward to it. It turns out, as you suggested, that Columbia House offers the whole series on video. "Buffalo Man" is in Volume Two, and I decided to sign up for the series so that I could get Volume One at a discount. Thanks! The link to America Cinema Editors is as follows: www.ace-filmeditors.org After you open the site, click on 'Education,' and the tape is mentioned in paragraph 2. ("Film Editing: Interpretation and Values.") I've made two phone calls and one e-mail to A.C.E. since Friday, but they haven't responded, so I don't know the price. The scene where the Marshal beats Anderson down is brutal, as you say. It is interesting that you recall this as his death. My impression is that he only gets knocked out. But it is the death of his reputation, and perhaps of his will. Please do send the links you mentioned to Anderson's history with Gunsmoke. I was also strongly affected by the series as a child, not least because watching it was what we would now call "quality time" with my father. Today it seems almost like a foreign film. We have moved so far, culturally and politically, from the unconditional acceptance of and admiration for a character like the Marshal (though I admit to a wistful feeling for the relative simplicity of his choices)that my students always squirm a little when I play the tape. I suspect it's not so much that my students are embarrassed by Matt, Doc, Chester and Kitty, as that they prefer their heroes to wear different clothes and fight for larger stakes...they want more sophisticated, contemporary-looking violence. I don't see much difference in the stories we tell now, but we suppress -- at least on the surface -- our admiration for the actions our heroes are forced to commit in the name of justice. Perhaps that's why the very hominess of Gunsmoke still appeals to me. Ah, well, this could become a long discussion, and outside my area of expertise. After I've watched the new tapes I ordered I may have clearer thoughts! Glad you're a prof, too. Teaching has always been my salvation when editing jobs dried up, and I've come to prefer it, actually. So many wonderful ideas these students have for films -- things Hollywood would never make, more's the pity. Thanks again. If I get through to A.C.E. I'll inform you of what I learn. --Julie