Gun the Man Down is a 1956 western film distributed through United Artists and starring James Arness and Angie Dickinson in her first leading role. The movie was produced by John Wayne and his brother Robert E. Morrison for Waynes company Batjac Productions and was the second theatrical feature directed by Andrew V. McLaglen, but his first of many westerns.
Gun the Man Down remains arguably most notable for containing actress Angie Dickinsons first starring role. She would go on to star in successful films such as Rio Bravo opposite John Wayne and Dean Martin, Oceans Eleven with Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin, Captain Newman, M.D. opposite Gregory Peck, The Killers in which shes slapped in the face by villain Ronald Reagan and Point Blank, both opposite Lee Marvin, and The Chase with Marlon Brando and Robert Redford.James Arness was later recommended by Gun the Man Down producer John Wayne for the role of Marshal Matt Dillon in the television version of Gunsmoke, a part Arness played for the next twenty years. Wayne introduced the series in a film clip shown immediately before the initial episode while dressed in cowboy garb and speaking directly to the camera. Arness had earlier portrayed the Frankensteinlike carrot monster glimpsed in the conclusion of Howard Hawks 1951 version of The Thing. Arness brother was actor Peter Graves. ........
Source: Wikipedia