Matt Dillon and Chester Goode are on their way back to Dodge City when they see a cloud of dust in the distance. Matt assumes it is a rancher named Granby who lives nearby. Granby is rumored to be a wealthy, miserly sort since he lives on the prairie far away from anyone.
When Matt and Chester ride within sight of the cloud of dust, they see a younger man driving several horses. They introduce themselves, but Matt becomes suspicious because the horses are branded with Granby's brand, the man is riding a U. S. Army horse, and the man exhibits a tentative, aloof personality.
The man claims he found the horses wandering on the prairie, and he knows nothing about anyone named Granby. The Marshal forces the young man to accompany them back to Granby's ranch. They find Granby inside his ransacked house beaten to death.
Marshal Dillon arrests the mysterious man, who says his name is Joe Trimble. Trimble is jailed in Dodge where he awaits his trial for murder despite the lack of anything but circumstantial evidence of Trimble's guilt.
Major Banker from the U. S. Army arrives in Dodge looking for Joe Trimble, who is a deserter. The Major wants Matt to release Trimble into his custody, but the Marshal refuses. He intends to take Trimble to Hays City to stand trial for murder.
Brian G. Hutton shines in the role of Joe Trimble. This is the only Gunsmoke appearance for the actor. Hutton's acting career was short-lived, although it did include several notable performances. Hutton often played villainous characters, and his nonchalant, smirking style was effective in those roles. By the mid-1960s, Hutton chose to eschew acting and turned to directing films. He directed several notable films over the next few years, including Kelly's Heroes starring Clint Eastwood, and X, Y and Zee and Night Watch starring Elizabeth Taylor. Hutton then claimed he lost his enthusiasm for making films or acting. He left show business for a few years but was asked to replace Roman Polanski as the director of the film The First Deadly Sin starring Frank Sinatra in 1980. He directed one more film before quitting show business permanently.
"Custer" is a compelling tale with some plot elements that should be surprising, but the execution of the story gives away too much. The opening scene where Trimble is shown at Granby's house breaking into a strong box only to find it empty should have never been included. The scene leaves no doubt about Trimble's guilt for the viewer, which is information no one involved in the story has. Additionally, the title of the episode gives away the karmic resolution. This is particularly odd, since the title is only a reference to an historical figure and an event that has not occurred yet during the time the story is set.
It should be noted that the Matt Dillon character makes some comments about General Custer that would have almost certainly not been widespread opinions about the man at the time. Although history has not been especially kind to Custer's legacy, he was well regarded during his military career and even viewed as a hero following his death.
When Matt and Chester ride within sight of the cloud of dust, they see a younger man driving several horses. They introduce themselves, but Matt becomes suspicious because the horses are branded with Granby's brand, the man is riding a U. S. Army horse, and the man exhibits a tentative, aloof personality.
The man claims he found the horses wandering on the prairie, and he knows nothing about anyone named Granby. The Marshal forces the young man to accompany them back to Granby's ranch. They find Granby inside his ransacked house beaten to death.
Marshal Dillon arrests the mysterious man, who says his name is Joe Trimble. Trimble is jailed in Dodge where he awaits his trial for murder despite the lack of anything but circumstantial evidence of Trimble's guilt.
Major Banker from the U. S. Army arrives in Dodge looking for Joe Trimble, who is a deserter. The Major wants Matt to release Trimble into his custody, but the Marshal refuses. He intends to take Trimble to Hays City to stand trial for murder.
Brian G. Hutton shines in the role of Joe Trimble. This is the only Gunsmoke appearance for the actor. Hutton's acting career was short-lived, although it did include several notable performances. Hutton often played villainous characters, and his nonchalant, smirking style was effective in those roles. By the mid-1960s, Hutton chose to eschew acting and turned to directing films. He directed several notable films over the next few years, including Kelly's Heroes starring Clint Eastwood, and X, Y and Zee and Night Watch starring Elizabeth Taylor. Hutton then claimed he lost his enthusiasm for making films or acting. He left show business for a few years but was asked to replace Roman Polanski as the director of the film The First Deadly Sin starring Frank Sinatra in 1980. He directed one more film before quitting show business permanently.
"Custer" is a compelling tale with some plot elements that should be surprising, but the execution of the story gives away too much. The opening scene where Trimble is shown at Granby's house breaking into a strong box only to find it empty should have never been included. The scene leaves no doubt about Trimble's guilt for the viewer, which is information no one involved in the story has. Additionally, the title of the episode gives away the karmic resolution. This is particularly odd, since the title is only a reference to an historical figure and an event that has not occurred yet during the time the story is set.
It should be noted that the Matt Dillon character makes some comments about General Custer that would have almost certainly not been widespread opinions about the man at the time. Although history has not been especially kind to Custer's legacy, he was well regarded during his military career and even viewed as a hero following his death.
