User Reviews

Caleb Marr is a man who has come to the inescapable realization that he has failed in all aspects of what it means to succeed or fail in the eyes of society, as he sees these things. His wife never misses an opportunity to reaffirm his total sum as a man is no greater than the meager crops he yields as a "dirt farmer". Any hopes he had to raise a family as a source of pride and joy will never happen either, as his wife saw no pride, no joy..... rather more messes, chores and meals to make with resources they didnt have for themselves, let alone more mouths they would have had to feed. These bitter realizations were too little too late for Caleb. The least he could do is move to Dodge City to see what, if anything might still be salvaged from the life he believes, to that point, he had squandered. Without giving away any of what happens, the story of Caleb is profound as we see it is never too late to "make it count for something". Caleb is a gentleman and a gentle man. He was kind to his beloved dog, called "Dog-Dog-Dog". He found pleasure in time spent with children who needed help with a broken wheel for their little wagon. He defended a lady's honor because it was the right thing to do. He saw the best and the worst in people but never needed a compass to know where true north was as far as right and wrong were concerned. If my review sounds over the top, I can only say I have not done justice to the writer(s) of the teleplay. The actors and dog trainer are superb, as is typical with Gunsmoke. John Dehner was a remarkably gifted and versatile character actor.

In this excellent story we have a couple living on the prairie but having a hard time at things. Caleb and Dorcas Marr are trying to make a meager living out of dry soil. They take their potatoes into town and only get $20 for the entire load. They were wanting much more but settle for the small amount. And from the beginning you can tell that Dorcas is staying with the meek and mild Caleb just because of the marriage.

Meanwhile Marshal Dillon is taking Chad Follet to Hays City to hang. But outside the office Chad's brother Lige is awaiting. He tells the Marshal that he will never let his brother hang and Matt has to beat him up on the street and place him in jail with Lige saying he will kill the Marshal first chance he gets. All this happens in front of Caleb and he feels like he wish he could be someone like Matt Dillon.

Later Caleb tells his wife that he may move into Dodge. She replies that he is a failure here so he will be a failure in Dodge. He goes anyway and is excited to see city life. He goes to the Long Branch and is talking to a saloon girl named Julie when Lige comes in trying to take Julie with him. The meek Caleb stands up to him before Kitty gets involved but the word around town is that Caleb face-downed Lige. Caleb is liking the talk.

The next day Lige comes face to face with Caleb in the street of Dodge where everyone gathers. The crowd thinks that Caleb is going to fight Lige but they are disappointed to find out that Caleb seems afraid and apologizes for his actions. Now he is back feeling like a failure.

Matt returns from Hay City and is talking with Caleb. Lige comes out of the shadows with a gun pointed at the Marshal. With Caleb looking on shots will be fired.

This is an excellent written script. Plenty of action and plenty of fine acting. Actually was very surprised and very entertained at the way the show ended which always makes for good conversation. A fine episode you will enjoy.

PS- You also get a very well trained dog in this episode.

There are a few things happening here that makes me tear up so much. John Dehner with his facial expressions showed alot about the depression he's having to deal with. Because of the lack of respect and affection he's been getting from his wife and others. Also the way the old dog need for affection and a buddy to hang out with. Because I can relate to the two sad souls here...This episode will stay with me awhile.

Many reviewers are praising the dog in this episode. That well trained dog made his "acting" look easy and natural. He is a semi famous old Otterhound who was in many shows. He was in The Beverly Hillbillies, Bonanza (2 times)The Andy Griffith Show ( 4 episodes - Barneys Bloodhound, Jailbreak, Dogs Dogs Dogs, and Mans best Friend), Hazel, Dick Van Dyke, , and many others. He was also in another Gunsmoke episode named "No Hands" starring Strother Martin and Denver Pyle. He was the star of an episode of Bonanza called "Any Friend of Walter's) he was Walter, and "Barneys Bloodhound" named Blue on the Andy Griffith Show.

Every show he was in he was a scene stealer. He deserved a big steak after filming each show and I'm pretty sure he got it. His real name was Pluto and his trainer was the legendary Frank Inn.

By the way, this episode of Gunsmoke "Caleb" was one of my top 10 favorites with the bar raised by John Dehner and ole Pluto who was named "dog, dog, dog " . Also, in my opinion, this was John Dehner's finest hour of his acting career. This episode was very moving and the tears will flow at the end.

I cant say I was as choked up as all these guys but i thought it an excellent episide with outstanding acting. And they didnt rush the telling. It unfolded in a thouhtfilled way. We could see Calebd mind working.

This is one of my favorite Gunsmoke episodes. You really feel for Caleb. He couldn't make it as a farmer, and was unsuccessful as a husband and as a father.The only potatoes he could harvest were too small to earn them much money. His wife actually called him a failure. He loved children, but his wife did not want any. She made it clear that she was glad they never had any. His best friend in the whole world was a big dog. Caleb left his wife and farm for Dodge City to see if a change of scenario might give his life more meaning.He desperately wanted his life to count for something. He was fascinated with the activities of the city. He wanted to somehow be like Marshall Dillon. Some of the people of Dodge received something vicariously when Caleb verbally challenged a rude outlaw, but later felt betrayed when he apologized to the man. They called him a "fraud," reinforcing Caleb's own self-doubts. If it was today Caleb might have sought re-training in a helping profession. In the old west your options were limited.

John Dehner, perhaps the most ubiquitous character actor in radio and television history, is Caleb Marr in this episode of Gunsmoke. Caleb is a very poor, timid dirt farmer who has aspirations of a more meaningful existence. He lives on a farm near Dodge City with his wife Dorcas. Dorcas is resigned to a hard life of mere existence. She has no love for Caleb and sees him as a hopeless loser, but she cannot imagine anything different.

Chad Follet has been convicted of murder and sentenced to hang. Matt Dillon is responsible for transporting Chad to Hays City to be executed. Chad's brother Lige is determined to prevent the execution, and he has threatened to kill the Marshal. When Lige confronts Matt as he and Chad prepare to leave for Hays City, Matt arrests Lige and has Quint lock him in a cell until the next day. Caleb witnesses this confrontation, and develops a deep admiration for Matt's integrity and purpose in life.

After returning to the farm, Caleb has an existential crisis where he faces what he considers a lack of any purpose or meaning to his life. All the while, Dorcas only offers words of discouragement. Caleb decides to leave the farm and explore opportunities in Dodge.

Caleb visits the Long Branch Saloon and becomes engaged in a conversation with one of the saloon girls named Julie. When Lige Follet interrupts their conversation, Caleb stands his ground with the bully, much to the surprise of other saloon patrons. This seemingly minor confrontation sets a series of events in motion that lead to tragedy, heroism, and -- arguably -- triumph.

Dehner, who was a veteran Gunsmoke contributor going back to the days of the radio show, is at his best here. (Incidentally, Dehner was the original Paladin on the radio version of Have Gun - Will Travel.) Caleb's dog, whose name is Dog in the story, was a veteran television animal who appeared in many different shows around the time this episode was made. He also appeared in an earlier Season 9 episode titled "No Hands." He has a small, but important part here.

This episode was written by Paul Savage, who was responsible for several Gunsmoke episodes, as well as many other television scripts over the years. This story is among his best.

I have seen other "depressing" episodes on Gunsmoke, but this might be the saddest of all of them.

I have seen and listened to countless western TB and radio programs with John Dehner and he is always special. But to me this is one of the best. His acting is just superb. He lets you see this man, what's inside of him, what his makeup is. He gives us a window into a man beaten down by life and his wife. It's such an honest portrayal. I've seen it several times and I'm watching it again now because he and the story or so good.

I'm 77 and about 1952 we got a TV in the house; the first TV show I saw was "Kukla, Fran, and Ollie". For some reason, I became interested in all of the supporting actors in addition to the star and watched credits. Soon I knew just about all; one reason was that there were no crowding out the credits at the end of tv shows as now; hard to believe, all credits and the theme played without interruption. In 1963, my family went to Disney in California and returned through Gallup, New Mexico where we spent the night in a motel. That afternoon, I walked around and spotted none other than Jack Elam; he was smoking a cigarette unlike anyone else I have ever seen. It was lit and he cupped it with the lit end near his palm. There was a movie in production which I think was "A Distant Trumpet'"; Bartlett Robinson and others were in the restaurant that night. The next morning after breakfast, my family walked around and came to the pool where we found Mr. Elam and the bad guy in Caleb, Lane Bradford. The two were so engaging and friendly. Mr. Bradford had been in many of the serials of the fifties, in westerns and G-Man shows, so he'd been around about 15 years then. He was a lot of fun and laughed that others came up to him remembering then from their preteen years. He said now they are bigger than he; he was big enough. I was about 6-1 in those days and he and Mr. Elam had about an inch on me and Mr. Bradford was quite formidable. They were actors like Denver Pyle, very professional and very believable in every role, often better at their trade than the stars of a production. When Mr. Bradford menaced John Dehner, I still remember he's not really that mean, but he plays a mean guy on TV. I have to salute John Dehner also, one of the best of the best for the same reason.

John Dehner plays Caleb, the sad creepy guy whose wife thinks he is a big loser. Caleb runs away from home because his farm has failed for years, and his wife won't let him forget that their life sucks.

Caleb goes to Dodge hoping to find inspiration to succeed. He finds it in Matt Dillon. When Caleb sees him beat up a couple of drunks, Caleb realizes that Dillon is a powerful man who is respected and admired. That is who Caleb wants to be. Caleb wants his life to count for something. Caleb wants his wife and his dog to admire him.

But while Caleb is in Dodge, sucking down suds at the Longbranch Saloon, he gets the hots for a sweet saloon girl played by Dorothy Green. She sees that Caleb is down and out, but she feels compassion for him. Lane Bradford, who played a bully/thug /gunfighter/henchman in dozens of TV shows, also has the hots for Dorothy. Bradford tries to scare Caleb off, but Caleb stands up to him in the saloon. Caleb thinks he is a big winner now. Caleb does not realize that he has sealed his own fate, and only has hours to live.

After Caleb stands up to Bradford, Bradford decides to kill him. Bradford also hates Matt Dillon, and wants him dead too. Bradford is lying in ambush for Dillon when Dillon arrives in town. By coincidence, Caleb is also waiting for Dillon so he can talk to him. As Caleb talks to Dillon about the meaning of life, Bradford sees it as a lucky opportunity to kill them both.

Bradford aims for Dillon first, but Caleb sees Bradford first, and jumps in front of Dillon as Bradford fires. Caleb saves Dillon's life, and Dillon guns Bradford down. Dorothy and many others come running out of the Longbranch Salloon after hearing the gun shots. She holds Caleb to her busom as he dies in her arms and says "Caleb not a loser now." Dorothy cries and hugs him, and his loyal dog that followed Caleb from home lays down next to his master.

I really enjoyed Dorothy Green's acting sweet and compassionate acting. She played a tough saloon gal to most of the Longbranch customers, but she was very tender and compassionate towards Caleb. Her character had levels of depth, and she felt like a real person who would have been nice to know. Caleb was lucky to have met her.

The scene between John Dehner and Ann Loos early on in the show is remarkable, since it rings utterly true. It paints a very realistic portrait of the emotional void between a sad, downtrodden couple of the era...hopeless, depressed, resigned to an essentially useless existence at the young (by today's standards) age of 43. So John Dehner's decision to simply leave his home and take his chances in Dodge is a compelling basis for the plot.

I frankly get a bit tired of so many guest performances by Dehner, a solid and effective actor who, however, often has a slight whiff of theatrical "ham" to his performances; just a little of it creeps into this show.

When "Dog" entered the cabin early in the show, we pretty much knew what kind of ending we were in for and...sure enough...we got it. Still, the interaction of Dehner, Julie, and Lige (and "Dog, dog, dog..) was very well plotted and directed by Mssrs. Savage, and Harris.

A solid show. LR.

This episode has excellent acting, writing and storyline. The words fit the action and the actors, especially John Dehner, seem they are actually saying the lines as true thoughts not just words on a paper script. Probably one of the best episodes of Gunsmoke in it's 20+ year run. A must see for anyone who really appreciates quality! So often actors just recite the lines like rote as if to say , well I've done my job so pay me. Not so in this case. As a person who enjoys quality work, I wish that my work was of this quality. I hope to have achieved it once or twice in my many, many years of community theater.