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Gunsmoke actor James Arness brought joy to audiences around the world with his portrayal of U.S. Marshal Matt Dillon. However, he was also a bright beam of light for the cast and crew that worked with him for many hours. In fact, many of them became like a family away from home. Arness made a point of making the same familiar faces feel special while filming the made-for-tv Gunsmoke movies.

James Arness returned for 5 ‘Gunsmoke’ movies L-r: James Arness as Matt Dillon and Amy Stoch as Beth Readon | CBS via Getty Images

Arness was one of the original Gunsmoke cast members, which also included Amanda Blake as Miss Kitty Russell, Milburn Stone as Doc Adams, and Dennis Weaver as Chester Goode. They started working together from the very first episode that aired in 1955 based on the radio show until its final episode hit television screens in 1975. CBS suddenly canceled the show,...

Gunsmoke aired on the television network CBS for 20 seasons between 1955 and 1975. However, the cancelation surprised the cast and crew, who didn’t see it coming. An entire 12 years later, Gunsmoke returned in the form of movies made for television. This decision revived the beloved Western series for five films. Here’s a look at the IMDb ratings from worst to best.

5. ‘Gunsmoke: Return to Dodge’ (1987) L-r: James Arness as Matt Dillon and Amanda Blake as Kitty Russell | CBS

Gunsmoke: Return to Dodge was the first of the made-for-tv movies, but it’s also the worst-rated with a 6.9 audience score.

It saw James Arness and Amanda Blake reprise their roles of U.S. Marshal Matt Dillon and Miss Kitty Russell. Return to Dodge is a continuation of season 14 episode 17 – “Mannon.” It isn’t the fans’ favorite, but they still enjoyed it as a reunion film after so many years. Unfortunately, it...

Long-running television shows frequently have to roll with the punches and figure out ways to keep audiences wanting to tune in. Gunsmoke made Ken Curtis’ Festus Haggen a series regular to replace Dennis Weaver’s beloved Chester Goode after he left to pursue other acting opportunities. However, Curtis refused to return for the first made-for-tv Gunsmoke movie after its 20-season run because of a couple of serious disagreements with a producer.

‘Gunsmoke: Return to Dodge’ reintroduced audiences to Dodge City Ken Curtis as Festus Haggen | CBS via Getty Images

Gunsmoke met its end on CBS in 1975 after a surprise cancelation that the cast and crew didn’t see coming. The network returned the world back to Dodge City in 1987 with the first made-for-tv movie for the series subtitled Return to Dodge. U.S. Marshal Matt Dillon actor James Arness and Miss Kitty Russell star Amanda Blake both came back.

The...

To Save and Project: The 12th MoMA International Festival of Film Preservation opens tonight with the North American premiere of a new restoration of Allan Dwan's The Iron Mask (1929). We'll be gathering notes on the series as it runs through November 22. Highlights include The Cave of the Silken Web, a silent film shot in 1927 in Shanghai by Dan Duyu, Henry Hathaway's To the Last Man (1933) featuring Randolph Scott and Shirley Temple, Luigi Comencini's La Ragazza di Bube (Bebo’s Girl, 1964) with Claudia Cardinale and George Chakiris, Canadian animation and more. » - David Hudson...

To Save and Project: The 12th MoMA International Festival of Film Preservation opens tonight with the North American premiere of a new restoration of Allan Dwan's The Iron Mask (1929). We'll be gathering notes on the series as it runs through November 22. Highlights include The Cave of the Silken Web, a silent film shot in 1927 in Shanghai by Dan Duyu, Henry Hathaway's To the Last Man (1933) featuring Randolph Scott and Shirley Temple, Luigi Comencini's La Ragazza di Bube (Bebo’s Girl, 1964) with Claudia Cardinale and George Chakiris, Canadian animation and more. » - David Hudson...

Earlier this month the psychological horror anthology Sanitarium premiered during the Miami International Film Festival.

Directed by Bryan Ramirez, Kerry Valderrama and Bryan Ortiz, Sanitarium consists of three segments based on the particular patients of a mental institution that's being overseen by the sinister Dr. Stenson (Malcolm McDowell), who acts as the navigator through each chilling story.

With elements from "The Twilight Zone," "Alfred Hitchcock Presents," "Creepshow," and "Tales from the Crypt," Sanitarium explores the different narratives of the insane patients and the tales which led to their crazed states of minds. These accounts reflect hallucinations, imaginary voices and altered realities and include themes of the paranormal, the unexplainable and the mystical.

Sanitarium also stars Robert Englund, John Glover, Lou Diamond Phillips, Lacey Chabert, Chris Mulkey and David Mazouz. Recently Dread Central chatted with the directing trio behind the film for Indie Horror Month, who touch upon what inspired them...