User Reviews

If you only know Burt Reynolds from his later work - Smoky and the Bandit maybe, or Evening Shade, you are in for a treat with this Gunsmoke episode. He's a man's man, as they used to say, tough and brave, but also respectful to the ladies. He and the lady in this episode made a great pair and the chemistry between them is evident. But what lady wouldn't have chemistry with Burt? That slow smile that starts with his mouth but then spreads to his eyes ... his sex appeal is so evident here. But also - the guy could act! I always felt that Burt was really just playing Burt in all his roles but that was probably because he seemed to portray the roles so effortlessly.

I grew up being familiar with the color episodes of Gunsmoke. I knew Burt was in older episodes of the show but I had not seen any of them until recently. I'm even more of a Burt fan now than I was before.

A must see episode for al Burt fans!

It can be said accurately that Burt Reynolds' tenure on Gunsmoke as Quint Asper made him a star. In The Renegades, Reynolds shows he's developed the chops, style, personality, and delivery to be one. Reynolds takes the lead here and plays it extremely well, and it's evident that he was well on his way to bigger and better things.

Reynolds fell into stride on Gunsmoke with ease, his easy-going, natural ability in front of the camera was a great fit for the series and here we see a perfect example of what made him so popular. This episode is one of a handful of eps that were a direct stepping stone to his subsequent success as a film star.

Several characteristics stand out, but the one I noticed most prominently was his sly smile. Quint Asper didn't flash a toothy grin, his Mona Lisa smile was gradual and subtle, and was absolutely perfect for the character. Quint was smooth and cool.

The makeup of his character is also on display as he deals with the prejudice he encountered so often on the series. Audrey Dalton's Lavinia Pate was openly bigoted and contemptuous, and although Quint had to deal with his share of bigots her attitude was particularly stinging. Quint wasn't being prodded by mealy-mouthed cowboys or townspeople, this time it was coming from a beautiful woman and it wasn't easy to take. But he took it, responding candidly to her prejudiced comments, but not overdoing it, then proving himself through his actions. In this manner he changed Lavinia's attitudes and perceptions gradually and completely, and she emerges as totally transformed by episode's end.

Reynolds was also emerging as a ladies man, and with good reason, his sex appeal was very high and the showrunners were taking advantage of it. This episode and Crooked Mile from the following year are two such examples.

Reynolds athletic abilities were also on display as he did some impressive stunt work, when he leapt over one horse and clotheslined one of the renegades (Don "Red" Barry) from the saddle as he was riding away with Lavinia.

As to the cast, it's stellar. Audrey Dalton makes her only appearance in the series, and was fantastic in the role of prejudiced Lavinia Pate. Ben Wright appeared as Col. Pate in one of his 11 episodes of the series, and was always an excellent cast member. Edward Faulkner appeared as a Sergeant under Col. Pate's command, and was best known as one of John Wayne's regular players. Bob Steele and Don "Red" Barry were mostly known for their early roles in Republic Studios' westerns.

But a quick nod to Jack Lambert, who was severely underrated and under appreciated, and was one of my favorite heavies along with with Bob Wilke and George Keymas. The man was exceptionally good at what he did, and he always elevated any show he appeared in. As usual he played the dastardly Brice to the hilt. In an interesting turn, his demise was not shown onscreen as normal.

All in all, an exceptionally good episode with a great cast, showcasing Burt Reynolds' emergence as a star.

Comanches are raiding the areas around Dodge City to take whatever they can and sell it to "White Renegades." The Comanches want money for buying guns, and the renegades take advantage of the opportunities the situation presents. Colonel Pate at Fort Dodge mistakenly decides to go after the Comanches, but Quint Asper - who is half Comanche, of course - tries to tell the Colonel the Army should go after the renegades instead. Quint tries to convince the Colonel if the renegades are stopped, the Comanches will have no buyers for their loot and will stop the raids.

The Colonel offers Quint a job scouting for the Calvary, but Quint is not interested in pursuing the Comanches. The Colonel is convinced stopping the Comanches is the proper course of action.

Meanwhile, the Colonel's daughter Lavinia is visiting from Dallas. The Colonel introduces her to Quint, but Lavinia is none too impressed with a man that is "half Indian."

It just so happens that Quint agrees to ride shotgun on the stagecoach that is transporting Lavinia. Three of the renegades ambush the stage. When they realize there is a woman on board, they recognize an opportunity to capture her and either hold her for ransom, sell her in Mexico, or both.

Quint manages to escape with Lavinia, and he kills one of the renegades during the escape. Once the surviving renegades report back to a man named Trask at the main camp, the entire gang sets out in pursuit of Quint and Lavinia.

Quint shrewdly disguises himself and Lavinia as Comanches. The story evolves into a situation where Quint and Lavinia are trying to elude capture by the renegades, Matt and Chester are trying to find the stagecoach survivors, and the Calvary is attempting to stop the Comanches. Everything converges into one somewhat climatic scene.

The real story in this episode is the transformation of Lavinia from someone who despises Quint to someone who cares for him. It is never made clear whether Lavinia can only appreciate Quint's humanity, or if she has learned to set aside her prejudices.

This is the second episode of the series that puts Burt Reynolds in the lead role, with the first being the earlier season 8 episode where we first meet Quint. The difference here is this is the first episode where the idea of the Quint Asper character as a potential romantic lead is presented.

Audrey Dalton is excellent in the Lavinia role, and the rest of the supporting cast is particularly good. The John Meston script is solid, although predictable, and unexpectedly genteel compared to some of his other stories.