User Reviews

Matt Dillon is severely injured in an exchange of gunfire with an outlaw he was pursuing. The outlaw is killed in the fight. Fortunately for the Marshal, an Indian "hide hunter" finds Matt and nurses his wounds.

Back in Dodge City, Festus Haggen is the acting Deputy U. S. Marshal while Matt is away. An enterprising businessman named Sam Wall has formed Ford County Cattleman's Cooperative with a group of Dodge newcomers, including a man named Eriksson who acts as Wall's muscle. This rogue organization seeks to profit from the seasonal groups of drovers that bring cattle into the town for sale.

When a couple on their way to California arrive in Dodge with Marshal Dillon's horse and a story of burying a big man they found dead in the canyons outside the town, the townspeople conclude Matt is dead. This gives Wall and his "Cooperative" the opportunity to seize control of the town and further impose their Draconian measures to control access to the grazing lands the drovers use around Dodge City.

This story provides one of the more compelling tales of Season 13. I recommend reading reviewer grizzledgeezer's take on this episode for a better thematic analysis.

The guest stars in this episode are up to the typically excellent Gunsmoke standards. John Dehner makes one of his many Gunsmoke appearances as the mastermind Sam Wall. Gunnar Hellstrom directed over thirty episodes of Gunsmoke, all during the time the show appeared in color, but this is the only episode where he is among the cast members. Hellstrom fills the role of Eriksson with the appropriate level of ambitious nastiness.

There are a number of minor characters in the episode, including a group of men from Texas, one of whom is mistaken for a cattle rustler and arrested. The group is led by man named Fry, who is played by Gregg Palmer. Palmer was a frequent Gunsmoke guest. Steve Raines is another actor that fits in that same category of frequents guests. In this episode he appears in one scene as a drover Eriksson shakes down.

Another highlight of this episode is all the Dodge City regulars that appear. Ted Jordan as Nathan Burke, Woody Chambliss as Lathrop, James Nusser as Louie Pheeters, Hank Patterson as Hank, and Kelton Garwood as Percy Crump all have small roles in the story.

In many Gunsmoke episodes of this period, it is rare to see the entire starring cast featured prominently. It is more common for the focus to be on one or two of the stars while the others are either completely absent or only seen briefly. However, this episode features everyone as substantial characters in the story: Kitty Russell, Doc Adams, Festus Haggen, and even Newly O'Brien and Sam Noonan provide vital plot elements.

As this episode follows a few that were arguably not up to the usual standards for the series, it is nice to see an episode that is thought-provoking, full of action, well written, and superbly directed and acted.

This episode begins as Matt is chasing an outlaw in the outback of Dodge. The outlaw shoots Matt in the shoulder as Matt returns gunfire that kills the outlaw. Matt falls from his horse but happens to be rescued by an Indian that witnessed the entire event.

Soon some travelers bring Marshal Dillon's horse into Dodge. They tell everyone that they buried a man and brought the horse back with them. Now everyone in Dodge believes that Marshal Dillon was the one buried and Festus sets out to make sure.

While Festus is away, the Cattleman's Association run by Sam Wall (John Dehner) wants more control over rustlers. So they form their own safety committee and begin running the town. With Marshal Dillon possibly dead they want their own justice in the town of Dodge.

When Festus finds Matt some of the Cattlemen try to stop the Marshal's return. There will be a shootout in the streets of Dodge between the Cattlemen and the returning lawmen.

John Dehner, as the man behind the scenes, does a great job of playing the role. He controls all the action but has this silent, meek demeanor that makes his role stand out. A good show that keeps the interest of viewers the entire time.

One of the most-common themes of Western films and TV shows -- both kiddie and adult -- is defending one's property and way of life against the "evil agro-capitalists" -- the people who drive off the "little fellers" so they can control the land and its potential wealth.

The other reviewer doesn't get the point. This episode isn't about cattle rustling. It's about an attempt by business interests (in this case, the Cattlemen's Copper-ative (as Festus mangles it)) to gain control of the grazing lands outside Dodge.

These lands are owned by the government, and herders can generally use them at no cost, while passing through. Matt, as US Marshall Field, is in charge of administering this resource. With him dead, and the town riled up about rustlers and the breakdown in law 'n order, John Dehner and his buddy Gunnar Hellstrom, can gain control of the land, and profit by charging for grazing that used to be free. (After gouging one herder, who threatens to go through Abilene next year, Hellstrom says he doesn't care. This is typical of American business, worrying about today's profits without regard for long-term viability.)

This is a fine episode. Not only does it make its political and economic points plainly (giving Milburn Stone a great chance to lecture the town folk on their responsibilities), but there's a dozen corpses at the end, a high count even for "Gunsmoke". Whether you prefer social commentary or violent shoot-outs, there's a lot to like in this episode.

Strongly recommended.