Twelve years after gunslinger Will Mannon is sent to prison, he is parolled. He has sworn to revenge himself by killing Matt Dillon and the judge who sent him there. Fellow prisoner, and old friend of Dillon's, Jake Flagg, tries to convince the warden to temporarily release him so he can warn Dillon, but is refused. Flagg breaks out and is being hunted for the murder of the warden. Dillon, hearing of this, sets off to track his old friend down. In the meantime, Mannon shows up in Dodge and begins terrorizing Miss Kitty. This is the first of five TV-movies recalling the later escapades of Matt Dillon after retiring as the marshal of Dodge City, Kansas. Earl Holliman is excellent (as usual) as Jake Flagg, as is Steve Forrest in reprising his role from the original 1975 episode. This is a very good story and there are several flashbacks from the original episode interspersed throughout. Thanks to director Vincent McEveety, the film retains the same cinematic "feel" of the original episode. It's a "must see" for any die-hard "Gunsmoke" fans.
15 Reviews
Great reunion movie!
memery-127 November 2009
This was far better than I was expecting; a solid reunion movie although only a handful of cast members returned. In a sense, this is kind of a "Wrath of Khan" for "Gunsmoke." Returning foe Mannon (expertly played by Steve Forrest) heads into Dodge to wreak vengeance on Matt and Kitty. There are quite a few flashback scenes, but they further the plot. Although James Arness looks a little odd at times (why did they color his hair??), he's still the same Matt Dillon we last saw in the mid 70s. The real scene stealer is Forrest with his blue-eyed glare and gruesome demeanor. Earl Holliman also gives a great performance as Jake Flagg, loyal friend to Matt (although it's never explained why he's in prison). Even the most casual "Gunsmoke" fan will be be impressed.
The Wrath Of Matt Dillon
bkoganbing16 October 2017
This last Gunsmoke movie returns to Dodge City where Matt Dillon has to face once again someone from his past when he was marshal there. Steve Forrest who is one sick puppy of a villain has been released from prison and is looking for Dillon whom he shot before, but who was caught anyway.
This film with flashback scenes from a Gunsmoke episode from 1969 gives us the background of the story. Obviously someone was inspired by the Star Trek film The Wrath Of Khan.
For good measure the blame is thrown on another old time convict Earl Holliman when Forrest shoots the warden after his release. James Arness is trailing him for most of the film with the non-help of shavetail army lieutenant Ken Olandt who has his orders to bring Holliman in. Olandt is quite good in his role, brave and loyal, but a bit of a jerk.
James Arness looking craggy which befits his role as the retired marshal. The flashback sequences give a real time feel to this film because it is real time.
The confrontation scene is well staged and unforgettable. In fact both of them, the one with Holliman and Arness standing off some bounty hunters and the one with Forrest. The one with Holliman is borrowed straight out of Ride The High Country.
One very fitting coda to the life and career of Matt Dillon.
This film with flashback scenes from a Gunsmoke episode from 1969 gives us the background of the story. Obviously someone was inspired by the Star Trek film The Wrath Of Khan.
For good measure the blame is thrown on another old time convict Earl Holliman when Forrest shoots the warden after his release. James Arness is trailing him for most of the film with the non-help of shavetail army lieutenant Ken Olandt who has his orders to bring Holliman in. Olandt is quite good in his role, brave and loyal, but a bit of a jerk.
James Arness looking craggy which befits his role as the retired marshal. The flashback sequences give a real time feel to this film because it is real time.
The confrontation scene is well staged and unforgettable. In fact both of them, the one with Holliman and Arness standing off some bounty hunters and the one with Forrest. The one with Holliman is borrowed straight out of Ride The High Country.
One very fitting coda to the life and career of Matt Dillon.
Nicely Done!!
AbeStreet25 November 2002
As only a casual fan of the original series I may not be able to compare and contrast this movie as well as some others but the producers of this tv film seem to have covered all their bases.
First of all the story was very well done. By basing the movie on one of the original tv shows the viewers were given a sense of continuity that some movies that are based on previous tv shows don't have. Also, the story itself, while not all that original, was well written and suspenseful. Out of the 5 GUNSMOKE movies that were made I felt that this one was the best.
Secondly, this movie did a fine job of bringing back the original cast members. Amanda Blake as "Kitty" and Buck Taylor as "Newly O'brien" helped to give this movie an authentic feel. Having said that it would have been nice if Dennis Weaver as "Chester" and or Ken Curtis as "Festus", both served as deputy under Marshall Dillon, had made an appearance in the movie.
Lastly, while the movie overall was a good one it seemed to me that James Arness portrayed Matt Dillon less like the character in the original series and more like the mountain man character of "Zeb Macahon" in his other western series HOW THE WEST WAS WON. Still this movie is a good view and those who like James Arness or GUNSMOKE will appreciate it.
First of all the story was very well done. By basing the movie on one of the original tv shows the viewers were given a sense of continuity that some movies that are based on previous tv shows don't have. Also, the story itself, while not all that original, was well written and suspenseful. Out of the 5 GUNSMOKE movies that were made I felt that this one was the best.
Secondly, this movie did a fine job of bringing back the original cast members. Amanda Blake as "Kitty" and Buck Taylor as "Newly O'brien" helped to give this movie an authentic feel. Having said that it would have been nice if Dennis Weaver as "Chester" and or Ken Curtis as "Festus", both served as deputy under Marshall Dillon, had made an appearance in the movie.
Lastly, while the movie overall was a good one it seemed to me that James Arness portrayed Matt Dillon less like the character in the original series and more like the mountain man character of "Zeb Macahon" in his other western series HOW THE WEST WAS WON. Still this movie is a good view and those who like James Arness or GUNSMOKE will appreciate it.
It could have been much,much more
dubchi18 September 2005
It was interesting to see another Gunsmoke chapter.However,with a few changes this could have been a joy to watch.The storyline itself is very good.The poor set lighting (particularly on night and interior shots) is way too dark and makes viewing a chore.The Long Branch scenes really suffer due to this problem.In 20 years of the TV series the production quality was excellent.This made for TV movie looks amateurish due to the dim lighting. James Arness needed drastic makeup help.He looked like someone out of a horror film rather than the clean cut Matt Dillon we knew for 20 years.The Dillon character would not have changed his grooming habits at his age. With better lighting,makeup and camera angles Amanda Blake would have benefited as well. Where the production really missed was in casting.The character Earl Holiman played (Matt's friend) should have been cast with Ken Curtis as Fester Haggen.This would have made the entire story and movie more satisfying.That character's motivation would have been stronger and we the audience deserved as many familiar Gunsmoke regulars as were still living (if Curtis absolutely refused to appear then Dennis Weaver as Chester Goode should have been cast as the friend.Why were Ted Jordan and Tom Brown excluded also?) Steve Forrest as Mannon did the best acting whether in flashback or present.He was a real scene stealer. I agree with the IMDb review that Miss Kitty deserved more than she got at the end from Matt in the final scene. This could have been a much.much better movie.Why wasn't it?
For fans of Gunsmoke
michaelRokeefe26 August 2021
Warning: Spoilers
Based on original characters from the famous TV show. Matt Dillon (James Arness) is now a mountain man; Miss Kitty (Amanda Blake) has left and returned to Dodge from New Orleans, and former gunsmith and deputy, Newly (Buck Taylor) is now wearing the U. S. Marshall's badge. A former gunslinger (Steve Forrest) has been released from prison after twelve years and is on a quest to revenge himself by killing Dillon and the judge that put him there. He returns to Dodge and terrorizes Miss Kitty trying to force Matt to return for a finale shootout.
Also in the cast: Earl Hollliman, Patrice Martinez, Tantoo Cardinal, Mickey Jones and Fran Ryan.
Also in the cast: Earl Hollliman, Patrice Martinez, Tantoo Cardinal, Mickey Jones and Fran Ryan.
Best TV "reunion" movie ever.
caricatures21 June 2006
Gunsmoke cast regulars James Arness (Matt Dillon), Amanda Blake (Kitty) and Buck Taylor (Newly) reunite for a pretty good old fashioned western. The plot involves the release from prison of Matt's most deadly foe, Steve Forrest, reprising his role as Will Mannon, bent on revenge. Another Gunsmoke alumni is along for the ride, Earl Holliman, who does a good turn as Jake Flagg. According to reports, Ken Curtis held out for too much money and subsequently did not reprise his role as Festus, what remains of his part is filled in by character actor Mickey Jones as Oakum. Too bad, it would have been great to see him don the spurs one more time. Milburn Stone (Doc) who appears along with Festus in flashbacks, had passed away by the time this film was made. There are several minor plot holes, chief among them is that in the episode, "Mannon" the title character was killed at the end, apparently while the end credits rolled, Doc discovered that he was still alive, saved him and he was then sent to prison. All in all, this film holds true to the legacy of the great, classic TV series.
"Matt Dillon & Kitty Dillon"
mjl5291 June 2011
Warning: Spoilers
"Gunsmoke" was one of my favorite westerns growing up, I was very excited when the 1987 reunion movie "Return to Gunsmoke" was made.
Unfortunately I wished they had brought back all or most of the regulars that were still living. Ken Curtis, Burt Reynolds, Dennis Weaver, and Roger Ewing were in this if they only had a cameo appearance. Another reviewer wrote that James Arness acted more like his "Zeb Macahan" character than "Matt Dillon", and the ex-Marshal would have definitely "NOT" became a mountain man?? They should have open the movie with Matt & Kitty married and living peacefully on a ranch, with Matt a rancher/cattle buyer.
Newly O'Brien as the new doctor of Dodge,since "Milburn Stone" (God Bless Him)"Doc Adams" has passed away. In the original series Newly was being trained by "Doc" in many of the latter year episodes.
The Marshal should have been Claude Atkins, Glen Corbett, or even Alex Cord,they looked the part of a Lawman. "Mannon" character was superb, for him to be released from prison and go after Matt & Kitty. This would have turned by rating of 6 to a 10!!
Unfortunately I wished they had brought back all or most of the regulars that were still living. Ken Curtis, Burt Reynolds, Dennis Weaver, and Roger Ewing were in this if they only had a cameo appearance. Another reviewer wrote that James Arness acted more like his "Zeb Macahan" character than "Matt Dillon", and the ex-Marshal would have definitely "NOT" became a mountain man?? They should have open the movie with Matt & Kitty married and living peacefully on a ranch, with Matt a rancher/cattle buyer.
Newly O'Brien as the new doctor of Dodge,since "Milburn Stone" (God Bless Him)"Doc Adams" has passed away. In the original series Newly was being trained by "Doc" in many of the latter year episodes.
The Marshal should have been Claude Atkins, Glen Corbett, or even Alex Cord,they looked the part of a Lawman. "Mannon" character was superb, for him to be released from prison and go after Matt & Kitty. This would have turned by rating of 6 to a 10!!
Loved it!
Johnny_Hing6 July 2011
Warning: Spoilers
Okay, there were a few shortcomings as others have pointed out. It would have been nice had a few more of the old cast regulars joined in this reunion (Ken Curtis, Dennis Weaver, Roger Ewing, Burt Reynolds...) But they didn't, for whatever reason, so what can be done? However, the movie did provide flashbacks to the original Mannon episode, which aired in 1969. So we got to see many of the regulars in that way.
I had actually forgotten that Amanda Blake was in this movie until watching it again yesterday on streaming video. So, seeing her was more than enough. I recall that she had contracted cancer some years earlier which required oral surgery. So, if her speech sounds a bit slurred, that is why. In the flashbacks, she looks lovely, and a good 20 years younger. However, in the movie, it is repeatedly mentioned that only 12 years have passed since Mannon terrorized Dodge. 12 years wouldn't age someone that much. I was kind of surprised to learn that she was only 58 when this movie was shot. She looked a good 8 to 10 years older. My apologies for saying that, but again, perhaps it had to do with the major health issues which she was forced to suffer through.
The only other problem I had (and it was a minor one) was that in the original Mannon episode, Steve Forrest's character was apparently killed by Matt in a shootout. Yet here he is being released from a 12 year prison stint to hunt Matt down for revenge. No doubt the viewer is expected to assume that Mannon was only wounded and did not die. However, since flashbacks were being employed to tell other aspects of the story, perhaps a timely flashback, even a make-shift one, (with Mannon being carried off to Doc Adam's office?) could have sufficiently addressed this confusing situation.
Having said that, I absolutely LOVED this movie!!! I grew up watching Gunsmoke with my Dad, as a young kid in the 50's and 60's. It was my all-time favorite show. Thus, there was naturally some excitement to observe how Matt's character had evolved since the show ended some 12 or 13 years earlier. I was not disappointed. The writing was excellent, the directing right-on. The action began from the get-go, and it didn't skip a beat. There were a few tragic plot twists (Holliman's character being accused of murder), and some clever one-liners by Matt ("you could put his brains in a teacup"), while describing someone's IQ. You've got your trademark scummy, bushwhacking saddle-tramps. And you've got your peaceful, friendly Native American women, who by the way, are rather easy on the eyes.
If not for a couple of minor flaws as mentioned above, I would give this 10 stars. For any Gunsmoke fan out there, I highly recommend this movie. James Arness recently left us, but his legacy lives on. RIP, Marshall Matt Dillon.
I had actually forgotten that Amanda Blake was in this movie until watching it again yesterday on streaming video. So, seeing her was more than enough. I recall that she had contracted cancer some years earlier which required oral surgery. So, if her speech sounds a bit slurred, that is why. In the flashbacks, she looks lovely, and a good 20 years younger. However, in the movie, it is repeatedly mentioned that only 12 years have passed since Mannon terrorized Dodge. 12 years wouldn't age someone that much. I was kind of surprised to learn that she was only 58 when this movie was shot. She looked a good 8 to 10 years older. My apologies for saying that, but again, perhaps it had to do with the major health issues which she was forced to suffer through.
The only other problem I had (and it was a minor one) was that in the original Mannon episode, Steve Forrest's character was apparently killed by Matt in a shootout. Yet here he is being released from a 12 year prison stint to hunt Matt down for revenge. No doubt the viewer is expected to assume that Mannon was only wounded and did not die. However, since flashbacks were being employed to tell other aspects of the story, perhaps a timely flashback, even a make-shift one, (with Mannon being carried off to Doc Adam's office?) could have sufficiently addressed this confusing situation.
Having said that, I absolutely LOVED this movie!!! I grew up watching Gunsmoke with my Dad, as a young kid in the 50's and 60's. It was my all-time favorite show. Thus, there was naturally some excitement to observe how Matt's character had evolved since the show ended some 12 or 13 years earlier. I was not disappointed. The writing was excellent, the directing right-on. The action began from the get-go, and it didn't skip a beat. There were a few tragic plot twists (Holliman's character being accused of murder), and some clever one-liners by Matt ("you could put his brains in a teacup"), while describing someone's IQ. You've got your trademark scummy, bushwhacking saddle-tramps. And you've got your peaceful, friendly Native American women, who by the way, are rather easy on the eyes.
If not for a couple of minor flaws as mentioned above, I would give this 10 stars. For any Gunsmoke fan out there, I highly recommend this movie. James Arness recently left us, but his legacy lives on. RIP, Marshall Matt Dillon.
Not true to the original
tvnutt7 September 2005
While it's a joy to see Matt and Kitty back together, this movie sorely lacked any hint of the Gunsmoke magic. In a nutshell, Matt Dillon is now a mountain man, Kitty has left Dodge and Newly O'Brian the former gunsmith and deputy is now marshal.
Will Mannon, the evil gunslinger who appeared in a self-titled episode of Gunsmoke, is released from prison to kill Matt and the judge who put Mannon in prison. Another prisoner, Jake Flagg, who is an old friend of Matt's, breaks out of prison by using the warden as hostage. Flagg needs to warn Matt about Mannon. The gunslinger shoots the warden and Flagg is now wanted by a young, overzealous deputy and some bounty hunters. Several of the unscrupulous bounty hunters actually stab Dillon who is found and taken back to Dodge where he awakens to find Miss Kitty. Matt tries to help protect Flagg meanwhile Mannon returns to Dodge where he torments Miss Kitty as he did in the original episode. Back then he had raped Kitty and beat her, something Matt did not know.
Okay, inconsistencies. First, but this is my opinion, Matt would not have become a Mountain Man. It's just not him(maybe they got him confused with his Zeb Macahan character from How the West Was Won). Second, Kitty explains why she left Dodge. It's a flashback from the episode "The Badge" where Matt is shot and Kitty just can't handle seeing him hurt anymore. Any fan of the show would know that this episode(don't know when it aired but certainly not in the last year of the show) ends with Matt meeting Kitty and sort of convincing her to come back, which she does. The movie made it sound like she never came back. Amanda Blake left the show in 1974. There are reports she claims she was sick and tired of the character and the commute(she was living in AZ at the time). Others question that producer John Mantley fired her for money reasons. They allegedly did not get along at all. Third, in the episode Mannon, he is apparently shot dead from how the episode ends but I guess it could have been interpreted as him possibly surviving.
Those are disappointments show-wise. Other ones that made fans cringe are James Arnesses' hair and make-up, absolutely scary. Kitty looked her age and did not look bad at all. Amanda Blake had contracted AIDS and she later died from the disease 2 years after this film. Ken Curtis did not return, he reportedly wanted more money than Blake. Finally, Matt and Kitty never kiss at the end, they never even get together. She see's him through a window and sheds a tear as he goes back to his lonely life. Reportedly, the original script had Matt walk into the hotel where Kitty was(and you could use your imagination). There were too many Flashbacks which took away from developing the plot to this movie. They actually show one Flashback twice.
John Mantley produced the movie and I was surprised someone with such a grasp on GS let this be the end product.
Also, the cover art for the movie on this website only show's James Arness. There is another version which has a small picture of Kitty on it.
Otherwise, it's fun to see M&K back together.
Will Mannon, the evil gunslinger who appeared in a self-titled episode of Gunsmoke, is released from prison to kill Matt and the judge who put Mannon in prison. Another prisoner, Jake Flagg, who is an old friend of Matt's, breaks out of prison by using the warden as hostage. Flagg needs to warn Matt about Mannon. The gunslinger shoots the warden and Flagg is now wanted by a young, overzealous deputy and some bounty hunters. Several of the unscrupulous bounty hunters actually stab Dillon who is found and taken back to Dodge where he awakens to find Miss Kitty. Matt tries to help protect Flagg meanwhile Mannon returns to Dodge where he torments Miss Kitty as he did in the original episode. Back then he had raped Kitty and beat her, something Matt did not know.
Okay, inconsistencies. First, but this is my opinion, Matt would not have become a Mountain Man. It's just not him(maybe they got him confused with his Zeb Macahan character from How the West Was Won). Second, Kitty explains why she left Dodge. It's a flashback from the episode "The Badge" where Matt is shot and Kitty just can't handle seeing him hurt anymore. Any fan of the show would know that this episode(don't know when it aired but certainly not in the last year of the show) ends with Matt meeting Kitty and sort of convincing her to come back, which she does. The movie made it sound like she never came back. Amanda Blake left the show in 1974. There are reports she claims she was sick and tired of the character and the commute(she was living in AZ at the time). Others question that producer John Mantley fired her for money reasons. They allegedly did not get along at all. Third, in the episode Mannon, he is apparently shot dead from how the episode ends but I guess it could have been interpreted as him possibly surviving.
Those are disappointments show-wise. Other ones that made fans cringe are James Arnesses' hair and make-up, absolutely scary. Kitty looked her age and did not look bad at all. Amanda Blake had contracted AIDS and she later died from the disease 2 years after this film. Ken Curtis did not return, he reportedly wanted more money than Blake. Finally, Matt and Kitty never kiss at the end, they never even get together. She see's him through a window and sheds a tear as he goes back to his lonely life. Reportedly, the original script had Matt walk into the hotel where Kitty was(and you could use your imagination). There were too many Flashbacks which took away from developing the plot to this movie. They actually show one Flashback twice.
John Mantley produced the movie and I was surprised someone with such a grasp on GS let this be the end product.
Also, the cover art for the movie on this website only show's James Arness. There is another version which has a small picture of Kitty on it.
Otherwise, it's fun to see M&K back together.
Loved it despite some shortcomings...
brooksie1-992-1167694 May 2014
I'm rating this a "10" if only because my wife and I are die-hard fans of Gunsmoke. Yes, there were areas & scenes that could have been better thought out to provide more logical continuity; yes, it would have been wonderful to have the other series characters return if only for cameos; yes, Kitty & Matt were looking older and the makeup could gave been kinder, but hey, if you're a true Gunsmoke fan, none of this matters a whit.
My wife and I have enjoyably spent the last several months watching the original shows on YouTube and seeing all of the main characters age as 20 seasons roll through. How great is it to be able to enjoy Gunsmoke all over again after watching the originals from the age of 9 onward? The original opening scene with Matt walking Boot Hill accompanied by a monologue narrative was well done, something that added to the appreciation of that week's episode. By the end of the series with the anti-violence agenda it was blunted with Matt standing on Front Street with none of the expected catharsis of the gunfight we had come to know over the years. We will likely watch many of the old episodes again once we've finished the 5 movies!
We don't know what happened with any overtures to dear Ken "Festus" Curtis or Dennis Weaver's "Chester". Indeed, it was sad to see Amanda Blake suffering the vagaries of declining health but wonderful to see her nonetheless; and James Arness looking older than the 12 year interval since the series ended so unkindly. It was a damn shame Milburn Stone had passed away; his portrayal of "Doc Adams" is indelibly etched in the memories I embrace of "Gunsmoke" through the years. Nothing else in TV holds a candle to the best western series ever offered.
Steve Forrest was excellent in this movie. His characterization gives the viewer chills with his cold-hearted evil portrayal of Mannon.
I could go on with this but let me spare you the agony if you've been kind enough to have read this far! I've given this reunion movie a "10" if for no other reason than we thoroughly enjoyed the reunion of actors who, for us, became their characters; characters we came to love and care about over the years. Thanks to the internet resources we get to enjoy it all over again and there's not a moment we regret in watching the 600+ episodes and movies!
My wife and I have enjoyably spent the last several months watching the original shows on YouTube and seeing all of the main characters age as 20 seasons roll through. How great is it to be able to enjoy Gunsmoke all over again after watching the originals from the age of 9 onward? The original opening scene with Matt walking Boot Hill accompanied by a monologue narrative was well done, something that added to the appreciation of that week's episode. By the end of the series with the anti-violence agenda it was blunted with Matt standing on Front Street with none of the expected catharsis of the gunfight we had come to know over the years. We will likely watch many of the old episodes again once we've finished the 5 movies!
We don't know what happened with any overtures to dear Ken "Festus" Curtis or Dennis Weaver's "Chester". Indeed, it was sad to see Amanda Blake suffering the vagaries of declining health but wonderful to see her nonetheless; and James Arness looking older than the 12 year interval since the series ended so unkindly. It was a damn shame Milburn Stone had passed away; his portrayal of "Doc Adams" is indelibly etched in the memories I embrace of "Gunsmoke" through the years. Nothing else in TV holds a candle to the best western series ever offered.
Steve Forrest was excellent in this movie. His characterization gives the viewer chills with his cold-hearted evil portrayal of Mannon.
I could go on with this but let me spare you the agony if you've been kind enough to have read this far! I've given this reunion movie a "10" if for no other reason than we thoroughly enjoyed the reunion of actors who, for us, became their characters; characters we came to love and care about over the years. Thanks to the internet resources we get to enjoy it all over again and there's not a moment we regret in watching the 600+ episodes and movies!
It looks like Gunsmoke -- but it ain't Gunsmoke.
grizzledgeezer11 September 2015
Yesterday was the 60th anniversary of the premiere of "Gunsmoke", so I watched "Return to Dodge". Is this TV movie as bad as some people say it is? No. It's worse.
The story can be briefly summarized as "A lot of people are out to kill Matt, and a few to help him." That's it.
"Kill Matt" was not an uncommon story line, and several excellent episodes were built around it ("The Jailer", "Matt Dillon Must Die"). These episodes worked, because they had dramatic elements that took the story beyond whether Matt would live or die. This is important, students, because... "We know Matt isn't going to die!"
"Return to Dodge" has all the dramatic punch of a thrice-used tea-bag. In addition to the requisite clips from series episodes, most of the story has people running around and shooting at each other, and little else.
It only gets involving in the last five minutes, when Matt has his final confrontation with Will Mannon, in which Kitty plays an important role. (Kitty never took **** from anybody, while remaining "feminine".) It's the only satisfying part of the story, and you have to wait one hour and 55 minutes for it to arrive.
Attention must be paid to the horrible makeup and costuming. Kitty often looks as if she just crept out of the crypt. And it seems some unattractive animal attached itself to Matt's head and died there. * (He wears his hat through most of the second half, likely after seeing a rough cut of the first half.)
I don't understand reviewers' objections to Matt being a trapper. He's fundamentally a loner, unable to commit himself to close relationships -- especially with women.
Ken Curtis didn't appear in "Return to Dodge", supposedly because he was offered less than Amanda Blake. This is probably true, but I wouldn't be surprised if he'd read the script (little more than a rehash of "Mannon") and decided to avoid contact with this turkey.
Given that the production team (including a writer and director who'd worked many years on the series) presumably had more than a decade to work on this story, its abject failure is startling.
* Mountain men, plainsmen, etc, often wore their hair long. Matt's "do" bears zero resemblance to how such long hair actually looked (qv, Custer and Hickok).
The story can be briefly summarized as "A lot of people are out to kill Matt, and a few to help him." That's it.
"Kill Matt" was not an uncommon story line, and several excellent episodes were built around it ("The Jailer", "Matt Dillon Must Die"). These episodes worked, because they had dramatic elements that took the story beyond whether Matt would live or die. This is important, students, because... "We know Matt isn't going to die!"
"Return to Dodge" has all the dramatic punch of a thrice-used tea-bag. In addition to the requisite clips from series episodes, most of the story has people running around and shooting at each other, and little else.
It only gets involving in the last five minutes, when Matt has his final confrontation with Will Mannon, in which Kitty plays an important role. (Kitty never took **** from anybody, while remaining "feminine".) It's the only satisfying part of the story, and you have to wait one hour and 55 minutes for it to arrive.
Attention must be paid to the horrible makeup and costuming. Kitty often looks as if she just crept out of the crypt. And it seems some unattractive animal attached itself to Matt's head and died there. * (He wears his hat through most of the second half, likely after seeing a rough cut of the first half.)
I don't understand reviewers' objections to Matt being a trapper. He's fundamentally a loner, unable to commit himself to close relationships -- especially with women.
Ken Curtis didn't appear in "Return to Dodge", supposedly because he was offered less than Amanda Blake. This is probably true, but I wouldn't be surprised if he'd read the script (little more than a rehash of "Mannon") and decided to avoid contact with this turkey.
Given that the production team (including a writer and director who'd worked many years on the series) presumably had more than a decade to work on this story, its abject failure is startling.
* Mountain men, plainsmen, etc, often wore their hair long. Matt's "do" bears zero resemblance to how such long hair actually looked (qv, Custer and Hickok).
Matt and Kitty's Final good-bye
volwolf21 July 2007
I agree with others who have said the Earl Holliman character just didn't fit with the rest of the movie. As for Matt's mountain man look, I think there are many episodes in the series that suggest that if he hadn't become a U.S. marshal, he would have become a mountain man / trapper. But for any Gunsmoke fan, I think it was very special seeing Matt and Kitty back together one last time. Since Kitty wasn't in the last season of the regular TV series, this episode provided some closure to one of the longest screen romances of all time. I think the final scene with Matt and Kitty stayed true to the tone set by the TV series.
GuMsmoke
alfredpr-696117 April 2019
The cast looks like melting wax figures at Madame Tussauds' Gunsmoke wing. James Arness looks especially bad, he looks like a reconstructed head from a closed casket funeral with CPR dummy hair while Amanda Blake looks like a well used sex doll with love mouth.
Earl Holliman is the youngster of the group and he held up better.
I jumped off this gut wagon 1/4 way thru, I'd rather remember Gunsmoke for the glory it was back in the 70's. Gunsmoke was always formulaic but this mess was ultra predictable. Watching the aged and rickety Matt punch it out was ridiculous.
I jumped off this gut wagon 1/4 way thru, I'd rather remember Gunsmoke for the glory it was back in the 70's. Gunsmoke was always formulaic but this mess was ultra predictable. Watching the aged and rickety Matt punch it out was ridiculous.
Wrong
murcool16 April 2024
Warning: Spoilers
OK..i grew up on Gunsmoke. My dad watched it from day one.. my husband also watched it ...still watches it on MeTv. And bings watches it on YouTube, and paramount ( I could almist star in every episode myself BUT..In both the episodes that Steven played the villain he was killed. So how did he come back to life??? And the flashback sences of Miss Kitty leaving were NOT from when she left for good.. other then that it was pretty good show. Just writers should have made Steve a different villain that Matt and Miss Kitty delt with off camera. Seeing as that changed the man character name anyway. I am sure there were alot of evil men that came to dodge. And it would have been just as good if not better.
See also
Awards | FAQ | User Ratings | External Reviews | Metacritic Reviews
