# Bat Masterson (1958)

> A fictionalized account of real-life marshal, gambler and dandy Bat Masterson, played by Gene Barry, as he keeps the peace in the American West.

Canonical page: https://ember.film/tv/12948

## Facts

- Seasons: 3
- Episodes: 108
- Episode runtime: 30 min
- Status: Ended
- Genres: western, drama
- Network: NBC
- Cast: Gene Barry, Harry Dean Stanton, Gene Nelson, Kent Taylor, John Larch, Ray Danton, Cliff Edwards, Edward Platt
- TMDB rating: 7.3/10
- IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0052445/

## Ember's analysis

- Pacing: brisk
- Intensity: mild
- Complexity: simple
- Violence: mild
- Tone: breezy, sardonic, heroic, nostalgic, brisk

## Synopsis

Bat Masterson (1958-1961) is an American Western series created for NBC, produced by Ziv Television Productions. Gene Barry plays the title character, a fictionalized version of the real-life frontier marshal, gambler and dandy who moves through the lawless towns of the 19th century American West. Each half hour episode is a self-contained case of the week, with Masterson facing down outlaws, card sharks and corrupt men while keeping his tailored wardrobe and easy charm intact. Across three seasons and 108 episodes, the show builds its appeal on the contrast between the refined gambler and the hard edged frontier he polices. Its tone is brisk, sardonic and quietly heroic, with stock frontier saloons, dusty main streets and tense showdowns shot in black and white. Fans of Wyatt Earp, Gunsmoke and Maverick will find the same classic western pleasures here: moral clarity, memorable guest villains and a lead who wins through wit as often as through his gun. It is a fine example of early television western craftsmanship.

## Shows like Bat Masterson

- [The Rebel (1959)](https://ember.film/tv/12903)
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- [Rawhide (1959)](https://ember.film/tv/10187)
- [Gunsmoke (1955)](https://ember.film/tv/3534)
- [Have Gun, Will Travel (1957)](https://ember.film/tv/10215)

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