Dead Man's Gun
Dead Man's Gun is an American Western anthology television series that aired on Showtime from 1997 to 1999, consisting of two seasons and 44 episodes.[1] The series centers on a cursed revolver, known as the Dead Man's Gun, which travels through the Old West, changing the lives of its successive owners by granting them unforeseen powers while inevitably bringing tragedy and moral reckonings.[2] Each self-contained episode features a new protagonist who acquires the gun, often through dramatic circumstances, and explores themes of fate, redemption, and the cost of power in a mythic frontier setting.[3] Created by Ed Spielman and Howard Spielman, the show was executive produced by Henry Winkler, who also made guest appearances in two episodes.[3] Kris Kristofferson served as the narrator for every episode, providing a gravelly voiceover that ties the anthology together with tales of the gun's dark legend.[4] The production featured a rotating cast of guest stars, including notable actors like John Ritter and John Glover, alongside recurring ensemble members such as Jim Shield who portrayed various characters across the stories.[4] Filmed with a focus on atmospheric visuals and period authenticity, the series drew comparisons to classic Western anthologies while incorporating supernatural elements centered on the revolver, depicted as a finely crafted single-action pistol.[4] Upon release, Dead Man's Gun received mixed to positive reception, earning an IMDb user rating of 6.9 out of 10 based on 383 votes (as of November 2025) for its engaging storytelling and strong guest performances, though some critics noted its formulaic structure.[4] The pilot, originally aired as a TV movie compiling the first three episodes, set the tone for the series' exploration of human frailty amid supernatural curse.[5] Despite its short run, the show has garnered a cult following among Western enthusiasts for its blend of grit, morality plays, and episodic variety.[6]Premise
Overarching Narrative
Dead Man's Gun is an anthology Western television series centered on a cursed revolver originating from the Old West, which initially grants its possessors good fortune, skill, or power before inevitably leading to their downfall and death.[7] The artifact, known for its handsome craftsmanship yet malevolent influence, passes from one owner to another across episodes set in the late 19th century, embodying a supernatural force that amplifies human flaws and desires with disastrous consequences.[8] This overarching narrative establishes a mythic framework, where the gun serves as a narrative device linking disparate stories of ambition, betrayal, and retribution in the American frontier.[9] The continuity of the series is maintained through narration by Kris Kristofferson, who provides a gravelly, ominous voiceover that frames each episode, underscoring the gun's dark legend without direct intervention in the tales and lending an air of inevitability to the proceedings.[7][8] This role highlights the gun's relentless journey, symbolizing how fate exploits human agency.[9] The series culminates in the season 2 finale "A Just Reward," where a twist reveals the gun's original owner to be the Grim Reaper, transforming the artifact from a mere cursed object into a tool of death itself.[10] In this clip-show episode, an outlaw retrieves the gun by killing its recent owners, only to confront the Reaper—disguised as the enigmatic employer Mr. Smith—who reclaims it, affirming the gun's eternal, predestined path.[7] Thematically, the narrative weaves morality, greed, and fate into each owner's arc, often subverting initial triumphs into ironic punishments that expose the perils of unchecked ambition and ethical lapses.[8] Greed drives many to seize the gun's promised advantages, only for fate to deliver doom, reinforcing a moral cautionary tale akin to classic frontier parables but infused with supernatural dread.[7] This structure emphasizes how the revolver acts as a catalyst for personal reckoning, underscoring the inexorable pull of destiny in a lawless world.[9]Episode Structure
Dead Man's Gun utilizes an anthology format, featuring self-contained stories in each episode that revolve around a new owner acquiring the cursed gun, exploring its immediate impact on their life without relying on ongoing plot continuity from prior installments.[7] Episodes generally last 45 minutes, following a consistent structure that begins with an opening narration setting the scene and introducing the protagonist's encounter with the gun, proceeds through the core narrative of temptation and consequence, culminates in a twist ending that underscores the gun's fatal irony, and concludes with a closing narration reflecting on the moral lesson.[11][7] Central to this structure are moral twists, wherein the gun initially bestows an apparent boon—such as power, revenge, or fortune—upon its possessor, only for this "gift" to unravel into tragedy, emphasizing themes of hubris, irony, and inevitable comeuppance.[7] The series' visual and tonal style merges grounded Western realism, evident in authentic period costumes, rugged frontier sets, and everyday Old West scenarios, with understated supernatural elements that heighten the gun's eerie, otherworldly influence.[7]Production
Development
Dead Man's Gun was conceived as an original anthology Western television series for the premium cable network Showtime, created by brothers Ed Spielman and Howard Spielman, who drew inspiration from classic Westerns and supernatural storytelling formats. The series premiered on March 2, 1997, and ran for two seasons comprising a total of 44 episodes, concluding on March 26, 1999.[7][3] Henry Winkler, best known for his role as Arthur "Fonzie" Fonzarelli on the sitcom Happy Days, served as the lead executive producer through his production company, Fair Dinkum Productions. Winkler, who had transitioned into producing after his acting career took off in the 1970s, oversaw the project's creative direction and also made guest appearances in two episodes. Ed Spielman also contributed as an executive producer.[4][12] The series was produced by Alliance Atlantis Communications (later known as Alliance Films), MGM Television, and Sugar Entertainment Ltd., with Larry Sugar listed as a key producer. These companies collaborated to bring the project to fruition, leveraging their expertise in television production for cable networks.[4][12] The development aimed to revive the Western genre by infusing it with horror and supernatural twists in an anthology structure, similar to The Twilight Zone, to appeal to a mature cable audience seeking morally complex tales of fate and irony. Each episode centered on the cursed gun's influence on new characters, narrated by Kris Kristofferson, without crediting a singular creator beyond the core production team.[8][7]Filming
The principal filming for Dead Man's Gun took place in British Columbia, Canada, leveraging the province's diverse natural landscapes and established production infrastructure to depict the American Old West. Key locations included the historic Fort Steele Heritage Town in the East Kootenays, which provided authentic period architecture for town scenes; Vancouver and its surrounding areas for urban and interior setups; Maple Ridge, where the Bordertown western movie set at Golden Eagle Farms served as a primary backlot; and Pitt Meadows for outdoor rural environments.[13][14] This choice of British Columbia was driven by cost efficiencies, including access to local crews and favorable tax incentives introduced during the series' production run. The federal Canadian Film or Video Production Services Tax Credit, enacted in 1997, offered up to 11% on qualified labor expenditures for foreign-controlled productions, while the provincial Film Incentive B.C., effective from 1998, provided up to 20% rebates on eligible labor costs, enabling budget-conscious shooting despite the need for elaborate period costumes, sets, and props.[15][16] The production primarily employed Canadian technicians and crew members through local companies such as Alliance Films and Sugar Entertainment Ltd., which handled much of the logistical execution. Outdoor shoots in 1997 and 1998 capitalized on British Columbia's verdant terrain, creating lush, green backdrops that contrasted with the arid, dusty aesthetics of traditional Westerns and enhanced the series' supernatural undertones.[13] Practical effects were utilized for gunfight sequences and other action elements, integrating seamlessly with the location-based cinematography to maintain a grounded yet eerie visual tone.[4]Cast
Narrator
Kris Kristofferson portrayed the recurring role of the unnamed narrator in Dead Man's Gun, delivering voiceover narration that framed each episode by introducing the cursed revolver and its impact on its owners.[4] His distinctive, gravelly voice provided a somber, reflective tone that unified the anthology format, drawing on his established persona as a rugged Western figure.[17] A Grammy-winning country singer-songwriter with hits like "Me and Bobby McGee" and an acclaimed actor, Kristofferson brought authenticity to the role through his prior Western performances and musical roots in American folklore.[18] Notably, he earned a Golden Globe for his leading performance as rock star John Norman Howard opposite Barbra Streisand in the 1976 remake of A Star Is Born, showcasing his ability to embody complex, world-weary characters.[19] While the narrator's bookend segments featured voiceovers reflecting on the gun's previous owners and its supernatural consequences, Kristofferson did not appear on screen in these portions.[7]Guest Stars
Dead Man's Gun employed an anthology structure that relied on a rotating cast of guest stars to portray the episodic leads, typically the owners of the cursed revolver, allowing the series to showcase a wide range of talent without a fixed ensemble beyond the narrator, though some actors such as Jim Shield and Sarah Strange appeared in multiple episodes in various supporting roles.[4] This approach drew from Western genre veterans like John Glover and Matt Frewer, as well as rising stars such as Brian Austin Green and Sarah Chalke, enhancing the show's appeal through varied performances and character arcs centered on moral reckonings and fateful encounters with the gun.[4] Henry Winkler, who served as executive producer, further amplified the series' star power by guest starring in two episodes, demonstrating his range in dramatic Western roles. In season 1's "The Impostor," Winkler portrayed Leo Sunshine, a struggling salesman who assumes the identity of a deceased marshal after acquiring the gun, leading to a tense exploration of deception and justice. He returned in season 2's "The Hangman," playing Phineas Newman, a reluctant executioner whose possession of the revolver forces a confrontation with his conscience and the town's vigilante impulses.[20][7] The series featured other prominent actors in lead capacities, often highlighting diverse narratives tied to the gun's influence. John Ritter headlined the premiere episode "The Great McDonacle" as Harry McDonacle, an egotistical traveling performer whose hubris unravels after he claims the revolver, delivering a satirical take on fame and downfall. Brian Austin Green took the central role in season 2's "The Judgment of Joe Dean Bonner" as the remorseless outlaw Joe Dean Bonner, whose trial in a mysterious town underscores themes of retribution and inevitability. Sarah Chalke appeared in season 1's "The Bounty Hunter" as Muriel Jakes, the wife of a shopkeeper turned hunter, adding emotional depth to the story of ambition's perils. Andrew Airlie played Sean Hannigan in season 2's "The Good Chef," portraying a principled figure whose artistic integrity is tested by the gun's corrupting presence. These performances exemplified the show's strategy of leveraging recognizable talent to drive standalone tales of greed, redemption, and tragedy.[21][22][23][24]Episodes
Season 1 (1997–1998)
The first season of Dead Man's Gun comprises 22 anthology episodes that aired on Showtime from March 2, 1997, to February 25, 1998, with the premiere three episodes broadcast as a single television movie titled Dead Man's Gun directed by Neill Fearnley, Joseph L. Scanlan, and Brad Turner.[25][26] The season explores the cursed revolver's influence across diverse Western tales, often leading to moral reckonings or tragic twists for its possessors. Production credits varied per episode, with recurring director Brenton Spencer helming five installments and Neill Fearnley directing three, while writers included series creators Howard Spielman and Ed Spielman alongside contributors like Bruce Zimmerman and Gregg Baxter.[27][28] Episode user ratings on IMDb averaged 7.3 out of 10, reflecting solid reception for the format's twist endings.[29] The episodes are listed below, with key plot hooks centered on the gun's transformative—and often fatal—impact.| No. | Title | Air Date | Director | Writer(s) | Key Plot Hook Involving the Gun |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Great McDonacle | March 2, 1997 | Neill Fearnley, Joseph L. Scanlan, Brad Turner | Howard Spielman, Ed Spielman | A traveling showman acquires the gun as a prop, suddenly gaining deadly marksmanship that upends his harmless act.[30][31] |
| 2 | Fool's Gold | March 2, 1997 | Neill Fearnley, Joseph L. Scanlan, Brad Turner | Howard Spielman, Ed Spielman | A scheming prospector sells a bogus mine claim, only for the gun to pass to him via a vengeful twist after the buyer strikes real gold.[30] |
| 3 | My Brother's Keeper | March 2, 1997 | Neill Fearnley, Joseph L. Scanlan, Brad Turner | Howard Spielman, Ed Spielman | Siblings unearth the gun alongside a corpse, granting one unnatural speed in a draw that fractures their bond and invites doom.[30] |
| 4 | The Imposter | July 13, 1997 | Not specified | Not specified | An opportunistic drifter assumes a deceased marshal's identity and claims the gun, but its curse exposes his deceptions in a lawless town.[30] |
| 5 | Buryin' Sam | July 13, 1997 | Not specified | Not specified | Struggling undertakers receive the gun during a business slump, sparking a macabre surge in clients tied to its malevolent pull.[30] |
| 6 | Highwayman | July 16, 1997 | Not specified | Not specified | A greedy innkeeper pilfers from guests and seizes the gun, using it to rob travelers until its power turns the tables on him.[30] |
| 7 | The Bounty Hunter | July 30, 1997 | Not specified | Not specified | A mild-mannered shopkeeper barters for the gun to hunt fugitives, transforming into a relentless killer haunted by its demands.[30] |
| 8 | The Black Widow | August 13, 1997 | Not specified | Not specified | A cunning widow inherits the gun and deploys it to eliminate suitors, but its curse ensnares her in a web of her own making.[30] |
| 9 | The Healer | August 20, 1997 | Not specified | Not specified | A dubious doctor obtains the gun from a patient, unlocking forbidden knowledge that blurs healing and harm.[30] |
| 10 | Medicine Man | September 10, 1997 | Not specified | Not specified | A Native American shaman wields the gun for vengeance against settlers who wronged his people, amplifying ancient grudges.[30] |
| 11 | Next of Kin | October 1, 1997 | Not specified | Not specified | A terminally ill rancher bequeaths the gun to kin, igniting inheritance disputes that the weapon lethally resolves.[30] |
| 12 | Death Warrant | October 15, 1997 | Not specified | Not specified | A brutal bounty hunter armed with the gun slays an innocent, prompting a cycle of retribution that claims his warrant.[30] |
| 13 | Mail Order Bride | October 22, 1997 | Not specified | Not specified | A lonely blacksmith's imported bride arrives with secrets and the gun, derailing his dreams into betrayal.[30] |
| 14 | Fortune Teller | October 29, 1997 | Not specified | Not specified | A carnival seer cons a mark for the gun, gaining eerie visions that foretell her own downfall.[30] |
| 15 | The Mesmerizer | January 7, 1998 | Not specified | Not specified | A hypnotist cures a wanderer and claims the gun, enhancing his influence until it mesmerizes him toward ruin.[30] |
| 16 | Stagecoach | January 14, 1998 | Not specified | Not specified | A driver eyes a passenger's fortune and the gun during a perilous ride, courting disaster on the trail.[30] |
| 17 | The Photographer | January 17, 1998 | Not specified | Not specified | An ambitious shutterbug documents a heist and inherits the gun, capturing images that doom his subjects—and himself.[30] |
| 18 | The Resurrection of Joe Wheeler | January 28, 1998 | Not specified | Not specified | A pacifist avenges his family's murder with the gun's aid, risking resurrection as the very monster he hunts.[32] |
| 19 | The Gambler | February 4, 1998 | Not specified | Not specified | A down-on-his-luck cardsharp finds fortune with the gun at the tables, but its stakes prove eternally high.[30] |
| 20 | The Deserter | February 11, 1998 | Not specified | Not specified | A cowardly soldier deserts with the gun, burdened by its compulsion to confront the battles he fled.[30] |
| 21 | Wages of Sin | February 18, 1998 | Not specified | Not specified | A fraudulent preacher preaches redemption while clutching the gun, collecting "tithes" that invite divine judgment.[30] |
| 22 | Snake Finger | February 25, 1998 | Not specified | Not specified | A master thief cracks safes with the gun's unnatural aid, pursued by a tracker who knows its serpentine curse.[30] |
Season 2 (1998–1999)
Season 2 of Dead Man's Gun premiered on August 7, 1998, and concluded on March 26, 1999, comprising 22 standalone anthology episodes that continued to explore the cursed revolver's influence on new owners in the American Old West.[25] This season maintained the series' core structure of moral tales framed by narration from Kris Kristofferson but intensified supernatural undertones, with the gun's malevolent force more explicitly tied to themes of fate and retribution, culminating in a resolution of the overarching lore.[7] Directed by a rotating team including Larry Sugar, Sturla Gunnarsson, Brenton Spencer, René Bonnière, Kate Jackson, Ken Girotti, and Ken Jubenvill, and written by various contributors under creators Ed Spielman and Howard Spielman, the episodes featured expanded guest casts and heightened dramatic tension compared to the inaugural season.[33] The season's episodes are listed below, with original air dates on Showtime:| No. in season | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Judgement of Joe Dean Bonner | August 7, 1998 |
| 2 | Ties That Bind | August 14, 1998 |
| 3 | Sheep's Clothing | August 21, 1998 |
| 4 | Winner Take All | September 4, 1998 |
| 5 | Sisters of Mercy | September 11, 1998 |
| 6 | Hangman | September 18, 1998 |
| 7 | The Collector | September 25, 1998 |
| 8 | The Trapper | October 2, 1998 |
| 9 | The Mimsers | October 9, 1998 |
| 10 | The Pinkerton | October 30, 1998 |
| 11 | Seven Deadly Sins | November 6, 1998 |
| 12 | The Ripper | November 27, 1998 |
| 13 | The Regulator | January 22, 1999 |
| 14 | The Womanizer | January 29, 1999 |
| 15 | Sleepwalker | February 5, 1999 |
| 16 | Four of a Kind | February 12, 1999 |
| 17 | The Oath | February 19, 1999 |
| 18 | The Good Chef | February 26, 1999 |
| 19 | The Vine | March 5, 1999 |
| 20 | Bad Boys | March 12, 1999 |
| 21 | The Phrenologist | March 19, 1999 |
| 22 | A Just Reward | March 26, 1999 |