A couple of drunk cowboys ride into Dodge City shooting their guns in the air and intent on blowing off some steam. Matt Dillon confronts them and tells them they cannot wantonly fire their guns in town, and if they are going to spend time in Dodge, they must behave themselves. The two strangers are belligerent, and the Marshal takes the gun away from one. The other draws on Matt, and Dillon fatally shoots him. (Note the way Matt twirls his pistol before holstering it.)
Zack, the surviving cowboy, tells the Marshal the man he killed is Ned Bulow. He and Ned are part of a group of trailhands that are camped with a herd outside Dodge. Zack informs Matt that Howard Bulow, Ned's brother, is with the group and will want to avenge his brother's death. Howard is ruthless and will ambush the Marshal given the chance.
Marshal Dillon takes the cowboy's warning to heart and begins carefully watching any strangers he sees in Dodge. Eventually, Howard identifies himself and promises to kill the Marshal. Matt responds by jailing the threatening individual.
Jacklin, the trail boss, soon shows up in the Marshal's office and demands Matt release Bulow. Initially, Matt refuses, but when Jacklin leaves and returns with additional trailhands, Matt chooses to release Bulow to avoid additional death and destruction in the town. A freed Bulow means Matt will have to go back to watching his back.
Another outstanding guest cast graces this story. Mort Mills portrays Howard Bulow. This is the second Gunsmoke role for Mills, who can be seen in numerous dramas and westerns over his extensive acting career. He would return for another four episodes in the Gunsmoke series.
Lawrence Dobkin was not only a prolific character actor, he did his share of directing, including episodes of The Rifleman, 77 Sunset Strip, The Andy Griffith Show, Emergency!, Barnaby Jones, plus many others. Dobkin frequently played various characters in Gunsmoke radio broadcasts. In this story, he plays Jacklin, the trail boss. He played the same character in the radio broadcast of the episode.
Maurice Manson makes his second and final Gunsmoke appearance in this story as Riesling. He had previously appeared in the "Reunion '78" episode earlier in the season.
This is another Sam Peckinpah screenplay for a John Meston story that was originally broadcast on the radio. As usual, Peckinpah adds his own touches. He adds a few notable scenes where Chester Goode reveals some facts about his childhood, his technique for making coffee, and his opinion of sassafras root. Peckinpah removes the Kitty Russell character from the story and has Chester replace the role she plays in the original story.
The famous writer/director also adds his unique touch in a scene in the jail where Bulow, Matt, and Chester engage in a conversation. Matt asks Bulow what he hopes to accomplish by killing him (the Marshal). Bulow responds that he will get immense pleasure from killing Matt. Chester asks Bulow if he has ever heard of leaving vengeance to the Lord. Bulow responds by asking Chester if he has ever heard of "an eye for an eye." It is a small scene, but it is pure Peckinpah.
The Riesling character is more of a pest in the screenplay, too.
Matt Dillon's paranoia and lack of confidence do not come across in the radio broadcast as they do on the screen. James Arness was never the greatest actor, but in these early episodes he is often stiff and lacks the range of a more experienced actor. However, he properly conveys the wariness and apprehension this story requires.
Meston's story highlights an air of condescension on behalf of the Jacklin character toward Kansans. Jacklin and his men are all from Texas, and Jacklin makes it quite clear he does not care to be in Kansas. He especially resents the fact that the Marshal is holding a Texan in a Kansas jail.
The Peckinpah treatment is a splendid example of taking a routine story about vengeance and elevating it. I think Peckinpah wrote eleven Gunsmoke screenplays, and they all have their own distinctive characteristics that make them desired viewing for fans of both the Gunsmoke series and the writer/director.
Zack, the surviving cowboy, tells the Marshal the man he killed is Ned Bulow. He and Ned are part of a group of trailhands that are camped with a herd outside Dodge. Zack informs Matt that Howard Bulow, Ned's brother, is with the group and will want to avenge his brother's death. Howard is ruthless and will ambush the Marshal given the chance.
Marshal Dillon takes the cowboy's warning to heart and begins carefully watching any strangers he sees in Dodge. Eventually, Howard identifies himself and promises to kill the Marshal. Matt responds by jailing the threatening individual.
Jacklin, the trail boss, soon shows up in the Marshal's office and demands Matt release Bulow. Initially, Matt refuses, but when Jacklin leaves and returns with additional trailhands, Matt chooses to release Bulow to avoid additional death and destruction in the town. A freed Bulow means Matt will have to go back to watching his back.
Another outstanding guest cast graces this story. Mort Mills portrays Howard Bulow. This is the second Gunsmoke role for Mills, who can be seen in numerous dramas and westerns over his extensive acting career. He would return for another four episodes in the Gunsmoke series.
Lawrence Dobkin was not only a prolific character actor, he did his share of directing, including episodes of The Rifleman, 77 Sunset Strip, The Andy Griffith Show, Emergency!, Barnaby Jones, plus many others. Dobkin frequently played various characters in Gunsmoke radio broadcasts. In this story, he plays Jacklin, the trail boss. He played the same character in the radio broadcast of the episode.
Maurice Manson makes his second and final Gunsmoke appearance in this story as Riesling. He had previously appeared in the "Reunion '78" episode earlier in the season.
This is another Sam Peckinpah screenplay for a John Meston story that was originally broadcast on the radio. As usual, Peckinpah adds his own touches. He adds a few notable scenes where Chester Goode reveals some facts about his childhood, his technique for making coffee, and his opinion of sassafras root. Peckinpah removes the Kitty Russell character from the story and has Chester replace the role she plays in the original story.
The famous writer/director also adds his unique touch in a scene in the jail where Bulow, Matt, and Chester engage in a conversation. Matt asks Bulow what he hopes to accomplish by killing him (the Marshal). Bulow responds that he will get immense pleasure from killing Matt. Chester asks Bulow if he has ever heard of leaving vengeance to the Lord. Bulow responds by asking Chester if he has ever heard of "an eye for an eye." It is a small scene, but it is pure Peckinpah.
The Riesling character is more of a pest in the screenplay, too.
Matt Dillon's paranoia and lack of confidence do not come across in the radio broadcast as they do on the screen. James Arness was never the greatest actor, but in these early episodes he is often stiff and lacks the range of a more experienced actor. However, he properly conveys the wariness and apprehension this story requires.
Meston's story highlights an air of condescension on behalf of the Jacklin character toward Kansans. Jacklin and his men are all from Texas, and Jacklin makes it quite clear he does not care to be in Kansas. He especially resents the fact that the Marshal is holding a Texan in a Kansas jail.
The Peckinpah treatment is a splendid example of taking a routine story about vengeance and elevating it. I think Peckinpah wrote eleven Gunsmoke screenplays, and they all have their own distinctive characteristics that make them desired viewing for fans of both the Gunsmoke series and the writer/director.
