Synopsis
Includes:
Gunsmoke: Big Girl Lost (1957)
Gunsmoke: Wrong Man (1957)
Gunsmoke: Bloody Hands (1957)
Gunsmoke: Cain (1957)
Gunsmoke: The Bureaucrat (1957)
Gunsmoke: Skid Row (1957)
Gunsmoke: Sweet and Sour (1957)
Gunsmoke: Liar from Blackhawk (1957)
Gunsmoke: Jealousy (1957)
Gunsmoke: Cheap Labor (1957)
Gunsmoke: Moon (1957)
Gunsmoke: What the Whiskey Drummer Heard (1957)
Gunsmoke: The Man Who Would Be Marshal (1957)
Gunsmoke: Daddy-O (1957)
Gunsmoke: Uncle Oliver (1957)
Gunsmoke: The Photographer (1957)
Gunsmoke: Chester's Murder (1957)
Gunsmoke: Last Fling (1957)
Gunsmoke: Who Lives by the Sword (1967)
Gunsmoke: Big Girl Lost
Saloon girl Laura Simmons (Gloria McGhee) asks Matt (James Arness) not to reveal her whereabouts to her fiance Philip Locke (Michael Pate), who has just arrived in town. But Philip arms himself with a shotgun and threatens violence if Laura doesn't immediately materialize. Convinced that Laura is not responsible for her current "disgraceful" state and that she wants to be "saved", Philip seems dangerously inclined to kill anyone who tells him otherwise. This episode is based on the Gunsmoke radio broadcast of December 19, 1953. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
Gunsmoke: Wrong Man
Riding into town with a corpse in the back of his wagon, Sam Rickers (Don Keefer) claims to have killed fugitive outlaw Bob Hulbert, and demands the $1000 reward. When Matt (James Arness) examines the body, he notices two things: the dead man was shot in the back--and he doesn't look anything like Hulbert. Facing a murder charge, Sam insists that he shot in self defense, and his wife Letty (Catherine McLeod) backs him up. The plot thickens when a man named Caitlin (Robert Griffin) confronts Dillon, telling him that the picture on Hulbert's wanted poster is actually someone else. The fact that guest stars Don Keefer and Catherine McLeod were married in real life adds an extra dimension to the startling finale of this episode, which is based on the Gunsmoke radio broadcast of November 13, 1954. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
Gunsmoke: Bloody Hands
After a bloody shootout in which three members of an outlaw gang are killed, Marshall Matt Dillon (James Arness) brings in the sole surviving outlaw, Jack Brand (Lawrence Dobkin), who claims that Matt never gave the others a chance. When he is forced to shoot Brand as well, Matt is confronted by the dead man's friend Stanger (Russell Johnson), who accuses the marshal of being a sadist who enjoys killing. Worried that there is some truth in this, Matt turns in his badge, vowing to spend the rest of his life fishing. No one is happier about Matt's "retirement" than Kitty (Amanda Blake). . .until circumstances tragically alter the situation. This episode is based on a classic Gunsmoke radio broadcast, originally heard April 2, 1955. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
Gunsmoke: Cain
Gentle, soft-spoken Cain Vestal (Harry Bartell) is told by Doc (Milburn Stone) and several other physicians that he is dying of consumption. En route to Arizona where he intends to end his days, Cain stops over at Dodge City--then confuses everyone by buying a six-gun and asking Chester (Dennis Weaver) to teach him how to shoot. It turns out that Cain plans to kill a local bigwig named Joel Adams (Mark Roberts), and he has no qualms about revealing those plans to Matt (Dennis Weaver). . .but refuses to explain why he wants to kill a man who claims never to have seen Cain before in his life. This episode is adapted from the Gunsmoke radio broadcast of October 3, 1952. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
Gunsmoke: The Bureaucrat
John Hoyt guest stars as Rex Proctor, a politically ambitious Washington bureaucrat. Arriving in Dodge City, Proctor insists that Marshall Matt Dillon (James Arness) is all wrong in his approach to law and order. Using his political clout, Proctor takes over as the town's peacekeeper, imposing innumerable "Eastern" rules and regulations that are totally out of place in the Wild West. Despite Matt's protest, Proctor refuses to listen to reason--and his stubbornness may cost him his life. This episode is based on the Gunsmoke radio broadcast of January 29, 1956. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
Gunsmoke: Skid Row
Prim and proper Ann Cabot (Susan Morrow) arrives in Dodge in hopes of being reunited with her fiance Jack Shomer (played by future director Joseph Sargent). Though Matt tries to hide the truth from Ann, she soon learns that Jack has become a self-pitying alcoholic, who insists that he is no good to anyone. A chance for redemption comes when Ann is accosted by town bully Hank Groat (Guinn Williams)...but a happy ending may not be in the cards, no matter how much Matt hopes that things will turn out for the best. This episode is adapted from the Gunsmoke radio broadcast of April 9, 1955. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
Gunsmoke: Sweet and Sour
Much against her better judgment, Kitty (Amanda Barnes) hires dewey-eyed Rene Decker (Karen Sharpe) to work at the Long Branch. Matt (William Conrad) is rather touched by Rene's naivete, and is certain that Kitty will be able to keep the girl on the straight and narrow. What Matt doesn't realize--until it is too late--is that Kitty is a conniving coquette who loves watching men fight over her affections...and isn't all that terribly concerned if one of those fights has fatal consequences. This episode is based on the Gunsmoke radio broadcast of August 5, 1956. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
Gunsmoke: Liar from Blackhawk
A decidedly pre-Dukes of Hazzard Denver Pyle appears in this episode as Hank Shinn, who swaggers around Dodge City bragging about his skills as a gunfighter. To "prove" his speed with a six-shooter, Hank provokes a duel with a drunken man and kills him. Though disgusted by Hank's actions, Matt can do nothing, since technically he was defending himself. But Sam's comeuppance finally arrives in the former of professional gunslinger Al James (John Doucette) who never speaks when shooting will do. This episode is adapted from the Gunsmoke radio broadcast of May 21, 1955. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
Gunsmoke: Jealousy
Marshal Matt Dillon (James Arness) is delighted when his old friend Cam Durbin (a pre-MaverickJack Kelly) arrives in Dodge City accompanied by his pretty young wife Tilda (Joan Tetzel). Having been hired to run the faro table at a local saloon, Cam hires Lonnie Pyke (Thann Wyenn) as his dealer--not realizing that Lonnie has a long-standing grudge against Matt. Before long, Lonnie has managed to turn Cam against Matt by claiming that the Marshal is having an affair with Tilda--and it looks like a bloody showdown is inevitable. Based upon a radio broadcast first heard on June 4, 1955, this is the final episode of Gunsmoke's second season on TV. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
Gunsmoke: Cheap Labor
Fos Capper (Andrew Duggan) wants to marry Flora Stancil (Peggy Webber), but her brutish brother Ben (Robert F. Simon) refuses to give permission: after all, if Flora leaves home, who could Ben find to do all his chores for free? So determined is Ben to break up his sister's romance that he tries to provoke Capper into a gunfight. Knowing Ben's reputation as a dirty fighter, Matt (James Arness) tries to intervene, but things take a surprising turn just before fadeout time. This episode is based on the Gunsmoke radio broadcast of June 17, 1956. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
Gunsmoke: Moon
Crooked gambler Vint Brent (Phillip Pine) sizes up gullible Charlie Brewer (Stafford Repp) as his next patsy. Not long afterward, Brewer turns up dead, and his friend Jack Salter (Thomas Palmer) accuses Brent of murder. Though it looks like an open-and-shut case, Matt Dillon (James Arness) suspects that the truth is still "out there." This episode is adapted from the Gunsmoke radio broadcast of May 11, 1956. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
Gunsmoke: What the Whiskey Drummer Heard
Whiskey salesman Wilbur Hawkins (Vic Perrin) tells Matt (James Arness) that someone is gunning for him--and not long afterward, Matt is wounded by a mysterious assailant. Hoping to flush out his would-be killer, Matt asks his friends to spread the word that he has died from his wound. Before long, a punk named Tom Roberts is going around town bragging about shooting Matt down--but can he be believed? More a mystery story than a western yarn, this episode is adapted from the Gunsmoke radio broadcast of April 17, 1954. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
Gunsmoke: The Man Who Would Be Marshal
Former Army officer Emmett Egan (Herbert Rudley) arrives in Dodge City, in hopes of eventually replacing Matt Dillon (James Arness) as the marshal. Hoping to prove to Egan that his job is no bed of roses, Matt allows him to spend a week following him around as he carries out his duties. But Egan is not satisfied with just being an observer, and he insists on showing off his peacekeeping skills--with disastrous consequences. Featured in the cast as Clarise is country music legend June Carter Cash, here billed under her maiden name. This episode is based on the Gunsmoke radio broadcast of March 18, 1956. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
Gunsmoke: Daddy-O
John Dehner makes one of his frequent Gunsmoke guest appearances in this episode, based on a radio broadcast first heard on June 10, 1956. On this occasion, Dehner is cast as Wayne Russell, the father of Long Branch proprietor Kitty Russell (Amanda Blake). Insisting that the saloon business is no place for a lady, Wayne offers to take Kitty back to New Orleans and treat her in a proper manner. In fact, Wayne is so anxious to have Kitty live with him that he offers her a partnership in his freight business--but there's a string or two attached. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
Gunsmoke: Uncle Oliver
Grizzled sodbuster Oliver Stang (Earle Hodgins) arrives in Dodge City with his dimwitted nephew Viney (Paul Wexler), who expresses a desire to become a lawman. When Uncle Oliver offers Viney's services as a deputy to Marshal Matt Dillon (James Arness), Matt tells him that he's satisfied with his current deputy Chester (Dennis Weaver). A few days later, Viney approaches Matt and insists that he doesn't want to be a lawman after all--but when Chester is ambushed and shot down in an alley, Matt suspects that Viney pulled the trigger. This episode is adapted from the Gunsmoke radio broadcast of July 9, 1955. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
Gunsmoke: The Photographer
Travelling photographer Professor Jacoby (Sebastian Cabot) is treated like a celebrity during his visit to Dodge City, with the locals showing up in droves to have their pictures taken. What Marshal Matt Dillon (James Arness) doesn't realize (at least not at first) is that Jacoby is a ruthless self-promoter, determined to make himself nationally famous with his "wild west" pictures--even if it means provoking a gunfight in which an innocent man is killed. But the Professor gets his just desserts at the hands of some Indians who take violent offense at his photographic intrusions. This episode is based on the Gunsmoke radio broadcast of May 6, 1956. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
Gunsmoke: Chester's Murder
After arguing with gambler Ned Pickard (Tom Pickard) over a girl named Nita Tucker (Peggie Castle), Chester (Dennis Weaver) must take Ned into custody and escort him to jail. En route, Ned ends up shot to death in an alley--and the townsfolk suspect that Chester has committed murder. Though he wants to do everything he can to help prove Chester's innocence, Marshal Matt Dillon (Dennis Weaver) may be forced to honor the letter of the law instead. This episode is adapted from the Gunsmoke radio broadcast of January 15, 1955. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
Gunsmoke: Last Fling
Old codgers Peavy (Florenz Ames) and Rives (Frank DeKova) breeze into Dodge City for "one last fling." This less-than-dynamic duo causes more trouble than they're worth, and when Peevy makes a clumsy pass at Kitty (Amanda Barnes), she threatens to kill him if he ever comes near her again. Not long afterward, Peevy is shot, placing Matt Dillon in the awkward position of possibly having to arrest Kitty--but the real violence has yet to begin. This episode is adapted from the Gunsmoke radio broadcast of February 20, 1954. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
Gunsmoke: Who Lives by the Sword
Gunslinger Joe Delk (Harold J. Stone) has managed to avoid arrest by forcing his victims to draw first, then killing them in "self defense." When Delk shoots down the Baxter boys, who didn't have an enemy in the world, the people of Dodge City demand that Marshal Matt Dillon (James Arness) do something. Since he cannot legally arrest Delk, Matt figures out a way to expose the swaggering gunman as a coward--without even lifting his own six-shooter. This episode is based on the Gunsmoke radio broadcast of February 26, 1956. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
