Wanted: GUNSMOKE (CBS/1955-1975) (1 Viewer)

[JohnHopper]

Well, let’s continue our exploration of Gunsmoke! I come out of The Long Branch and walk down the streets of Dodge City and my next stop is… season 18 and as Matt Dillon used to say to his opponents: “Hold it right there”.

GUNSMOKE • SEASON 18 (1972-1973) (24 episodes • 50 mins • color)
It’s the return of the traditional showdown title sequence—that used to be stopped from season 14—but it is the old footage from season 12 that is placed at the end of the opening credits to introduce actor James Arness who looses his picture medallion credits. As usual, the orchestration of the theme music is renewed. The titles are modified: first the opening credits logo is bolder like the end titles one and the episode title shows up at the start of Act I and its color varies: white, yellow, blue, red, green. This is the season that features a future movie star who only works as a supporting actor: Harrison Ford in “The Sodbusters” and “Whelan’s Men”. For the record, “Quiet Day in Dodge” is actor James Arness’ favorite episode.

Find the usual directors like former Gunsmoke producer Philip Leacock, the McEveety brothers (Bernard and Vincent), Herb Wallerstein and two Wild Wild West artisans: Swedish-born actor Gunnar Hellström and Irving J. Moore. Four newcomers pop-up: Robert Butler, writer Paul F. Edwards, Swedish-born actor Alf Kjellin, producer Arnold Laven from The Rifleman and The Big Valley. Director Robert Totten works as an actor: see “Talbot”.

Judge Brooker returns just once in “Quiet Day in Dodge”. As in the previous season, find again a two-part episode: “The River”. The new character of bank manager Mister Dofeny (actor Charles Macaulay) appears twice: “Milligan” and “Talbot”.

As in the previous season, you find seven composers: newcomers as Academy Winner Elmer Bernstein (see The Magnificent Seven), Bruce Broughton, Jerrold Immel, Martin L. Klein and the usual people as Leon Klatzkin, Johnny Parker, Richard Shores. For the anecdote, composer Martin L. Klein used to work as a music supervisor during the fourth season of The Wild Wild West.

PRODUCTION TEAM
producer: Leonard Katzman
executive producer: John Mantley
associate producer: Ron Honthaner
executive story consultant: Jack Miller
assistant story consultant: Paul F. Edwards
directors of photography: Monroe Askins and William K. Jurgensen

Cinematographer Monroe Askins is replaced once by William K. Jurgensen in “Eleven Dollars”. This is the last season under the visual guidance of Monroe Askins (see his wonderful input on “Patricia”) who started from season 13, meaning working during six seasons.

CAST OF CHARACTERS
Regular cast: James Arness (Matt Dillon), Ken Curtis (Festus), Milburn Stone (Doc), Amanda Blake (Kitty), Buck Taylor (Newly).

Supporting cast: Glenn Strange (Bartender/Fiddle player “Sam” Noonan), Ted Jordan (Freight agent “Nathan” Burke), Woodrow Chambliss (Woody Lathrop).

For the anecdote, the character of Nathan Burke has a longer haircut.

As usual, the strength of season 18 is the colorful guest actors that add weight to the story: see John Anderson, Jim Davis, Joseph Campanella, Alex Cord, Richard Dreyfuss, Ike Eisenmann (2), Jack Elam, Gene Evans, Harrison Ford (2), Steve Forrest, Anne Francis, Victor French, Mariette Hartley, Earl Holliman, Richard Kiley, Linda Marsh, Harry Morgan, Tim O’Connor, Susan Oliver, James Olson, Brock Peters, Slim Pickens, Robert Pine, Denver Pyle, Tom Skerritt, William Smith, Paul Stevens, Michael Strong, Don Stroud, William Windom, Morgan Woodward, Anthony Zerbe.

THE DVD SET
The prints are restored and look wonderful. In each episode and at the end of the first set of end credits, a voice-over announcer introduces the next week trailer. It features separated from the episodes and unrestored next week trailers and, also, English subtitles. As in the previous season set, you find a bonus: a 19 minutes discussion called Ben and Beckey Talk Gunsmoke: Season 18 in which the two hosts highlight a selection of season 18 episodes with specific guest actors. New extras are added: an audio commentary for “Quiet Day in Dodge” by actor James Arness and a photo gallery.

The titles are modified: first the opening credits logo is bolder like the end titles one.

Cinematographer Monroe Askins is replaced once by William K. Jurgensen in “Eleven Dollars”.

Find the seven composers credits like The Magnificent Seven.

 

[JohnHopper]

¶​

¶ Next on Gunsmoke season 18, the reviews of the first disc and starting on Monday 1!​

¶ Load your guns and be ready!​

¶​

​

 

[JohnHopper]

GUNSMOKE SEASON 18

Episode #1
“The River, Part I”
written by Jack Miller
directed by Herb Wallerstein
music by John Parker
guests: Jack Elam, Miriam Colon, Slim Pickens, Patti Cohoon, Clay O’Brien, Roger Torrey, Jerry Gatlin, Boyd ‘Red’ Morgan, Pete Kellett, Jack Perkins, Lloyd Nelson, Don Megowan, Gene Tyburn, Chanin Hale, Pete Logan, Ron Manning, Dan Flynn

Up in the mountains, Matt Dillon is handcuffed to a prisoner named Stinson (actor Ron Manning) and runs away from hill bank robbers led by crazy Charlie Utter (actor Slim Pickens). Stinson gets shot by Utter, Dillon releases him and continues to flee with a saddlebag filled with $24,000 of stolen money and eventually jumps into the river. Later on, Dillon is rescued by two runaway orphan kids running a stolen raft. They reach the small trappers town of Jacob’s Crossing. While Dillon is on an errand, Tuttle (actor Clay O’Brien) and Hannah Kincaid (actress Patti Cohoon) lie to him and go explore the sleazy town filled with gamblers and hookers. On his way to be punished by the mob of Scottish-American trappers, French thief Pierre (actor Jack Elam) is salvaged at the last minute by Dillon who fights Finn MacCool (actor Roger Torrey) and destroys the cheap casino of Paulette Duvalier (actress Miriam Colon) and reveals the con game of the Kincaid kids. The team resumes to the raft where they meet Pierre and his wife Paulette and escapes from the fury of Charlie Utter’s gang! To be concluded next week.

It’s a fancy solo Dillon assignement, a colorful and light hill bandits case about a chase to catch Dillon, a good raft-oriented adventure between Mark Twain’s The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn and Otto Preminger’s The River With No Return (1954) with a naturalistic seventies look a la Centennial (1978) that is shot partly with the help of a helicopter. In a way, it plays like the previous season two-parter “Waste” because of the kids and the bandits. The first sequence that opens the episode is shot thanks to a helicopter and it gives the scenery a motion picture scope and it is followed by the credits for the four production members. Executive story consultant Jack Miller writes that crazy story. For the anecdote, actor Lloyd Nelson is a Gunsmoke script supervisor from season 16.

Returning guest actors: Jack Elam (the season 17 “P.S. Murry Christmas”), Miriam Colon (the season 16 “Chato”), Slim Pickens (the season 16 “The Scavengers”), Patti Cohoon (the season 17 “P.S. Murry Christmas”), Roger Torrey (the season 10 “He Who Steals”), Boyd ‘Red’ Morgan (the season 17 “My Brother’s Keeper”), Pete Kellett (the season 17 “The Bullet”), Jack Perkins (the season 17 “One for the Road”), Lloyd Nelson (the season 17 “Alias Festus Haggin”), Don Megowan (the season 17 “Waste”), Gene Tyburn (the season 17 “Tara”), Chanin Hale (the season 16 “Lavery”), Dan Flynn (the season 17 “No Tomorrow”).

 

[JohnHopper]

GUNSMOKE SEASON 18

Episode #1
“The River, Part I”
written by Jack Miller
directed by Herb Wallerstein
music by John Parker
guests: Jack Elam, Miriam Colon, Slim Pickens, Patti Cohoon, Clay O’Brien, Roger Torrey, Jerry Gatlin, Boyd ‘Red’ Morgan, Pete Kellett, Jack Perkins, Lloyd Nelson, Don Megowan, Gene Tyburn, Chanin Hale, Pete Logan, Ron Manning, Dan Flynn

Up in the mountains, Matt Dillon is handcuffed to a prisoner named Stinson (actor Ron Manning) and runs away from hill bank robbers led by crazy Charlie Utter (actor Slim Pickens). Stinson gets shot by Utter, Dillon releases him and continues to flee with a saddlebag filled with $24,000 of stolen money and eventually jumps into the river. Later on, Dillon is rescued by two runaway orphan kids running a stolen raft. They reach the small trappers town of Jacob’s Crossing. While Dillon is on an errand, Tuttle (actor Clay O’Brien) and Hannah Kincaid (actress Patti Cohoon) lie to him and go explore the sleazy town filled with gamblers and hookers. On his way to be punished by the mob of Scottish-American trappers, French thief Pierre (actor Jack Elam) is salvaged at the last minute by Dillon who fights Finn MacCool (actor Roger Torrey) and destroys the cheap casino of Paulette Duvalier (actress Miriam Colon) and reveals the con game of the Kincaid kids. The team resumes to the raft where they meet Pierre and his wife Paulette and escapes from the fury of Charlie Utter’s gang! To be concluded next week.

It’s a fancy solo Dillon assignement, a colorful and light hill bandits case about a chase to catch Dillon, a good raft-oriented adventure between Mark Twain’s The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn and Otto Preminger’s The River With No Return (1954) with a naturalistic seventies look a la Centennial (1978) that is shot partly with the help of a helicopter. In a way, it plays like the previous season two-parter “Waste” because of the kids and the bandits. The first sequence that opens the episode is shot thanks to a helicopter and it gives the scenery a motion picture scope and it is followed by the credits for the four production members. Executive story consultant Jack Miller writes that crazy story. For the anecdote, actor Lloyd Nelson is a Gunsmoke script supervisor from season 16.

Returning guest actors: Jack Elam (the season 17 “P.S. Murry Christmas”), Miriam Colon (the season 16 “Chato”), Slim Pickens (the season 16 “The Scavengers”), Patti Cohoon (the season 17 “P.S. Murry Christmas”), Roger Torrey (the season 10 “He Who Steals”), Boyd ‘Red’ Morgan (the season 17 “My Brother’s Keeper”), Pete Kellett (the season 17 “The Bullet”), Jack Perkins (the season 17 “One for the Road”), Lloyd Nelson (the season 17 “Alias Festus Haggin”), Don Megowan (the season 17 “Waste”), Gene Tyburn (the season 17 “Tara”), Chanin Hale (the season 16 “Lavery”), Dan Flynn (the season 17 “No Tomorrow”).

Pictures of Charlie Utter (actor Slim Pickens).

 

[JohnHopper]

GUNSMOKE SEASON 18

Episode #2
“The River, Part II”
written by Jack Miller
directed by Herb Wallerstein
music by John Parker
guests: same cast as Part II

The episode starts with a trailer entitled The Story Thus Far from Part I that lasts 5 minutes 35 secondes. Tuttle gets shot by Charlie Utter and Paulette cures him. Dillon heads to Piery Hill. Meanwhile the gang of Utter rides fast to get Dillon! Pierre fails to steal the saddlebag of Dillon. Later on, the team faces the rapids and an ambush set by the gang!

By contrast and as in “Waste, Part II”, the second part is weaker and it emphasizes on the impossible team (Dillon, the lying kids and the thieves couple) but salvaged by the unexpected happy twist. Above all, it’s a kiddie adventure a la Mark Twain’s The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. Casting-wise, the one thing wrong is actress Miriam Colon playing a French woman. As usual, the cast of bandit characters is good: Charlie Utter (actor Slim Pickens), Poe (actor Gene Tyburn), Lapin (actor Jerry Gatlin), Suggs (actor Boyd ‘Red’ Morgan), Hodad (actor Pete Kellett). The episode ends with the cast credits during the epilogue.

 

[Neil Brock]

I have 2 questions for Gunsmoke experts.
1 - Who was tougher and more of help to Matt, Festus or Chester?
2 - Was Miss Kitty the first hooker/madame as a regular cast member in TV history? Also, was her profession ever mentioned? I believe it was on the radio version.

 

[JohnHopper]

I have 2 questions for Gunsmoke experts.
1 - Who was tougher and more of help to Matt, Festus or Chester?
2 - Was Miss Kitty the first hooker/madame as a regular cast member in TV history? Also, was her profession ever mentioned? I believe it was on the radio version.

1 - During Mantley's regime (season 10 to 20), it's Festus only even tough I never found him that tough.​

2 - During Mantley's regime (season 10 to 20), she mentions her profession.​

 

[JohnHopper]

GUNSMOKE SEASON 18

Episode #3
“Bohannan”
written by William Kelley
directed by Alf Kjellin
music by John Parker
guests: Richard Kiley, Linda Marsh, Vincent Van Patten, Ed Bakey, Helen Kleeb, Regis Cordic

At night and in the middle of the streets of Spearville, faith healer Brother Bohannan (actor Richard Kiley) succeeds in curing two citizens. Later on at Dodge City, Doc examines the legs of disabled teenager Heck Walden (actor Vincent Van Patten) when her mother Lydia (actor Linda Marsh) cries. Heck meets Bohannan who hires him to spread his posters and heads to the Long Branch where he faces the hostility of Doc. Heck sees Bohannan as a surrogate father. At night, Bohannan cures the broken arm of Burke while Lydia begs him to heal her son but he refuses. Doc worries about the fate of Heck and complains to Dillon. At night, Doc brings back two “cured” Spearville citizens and accuses Bohannan of cheating …

It’s an adequate drunk charlatan using religion entry that is actually about a surrogate father and a man capable of making people forget their pain that is well-served by the inspired performance of actor Richard Kiley. It makes a good thematic companion piece to the season 14 “The Miracle Man”. One funny scene to notice: Festus bumps into Bohannan, drinking behind his wagon and breaking his bottle. The episode title is displayed in yellow.

Returning guest actors: Richard Kiley (the season 17 “Lynott”), Linda Marsh (the season 17 “Hidalgo”), Ed Bakey (the season 14 “The Night Riders”), Helen Kleeb (the season 10 “Doctor’s Wife”).

 

[Jeff Flugel]

Pictures of Charlie Utter (actor Slim Pickens).
View attachment 73513

Nice reviews and screencaps, John! Just as a point of interest - "Charlie Utter" was the name of one of the main "good guy" characters on HBO's revisionist western Deadwood (and was played by Dayton Callie). Deadwood's Charlie Utter was apparently based on a real person, a close friend of Wild Bill Hickok's. Slim Pickens seems to be playing a far different sort of character, but I wouldn't be surprised if the writer of "The River" two-parter took the name from the history books. They had to be running out of ideas for character names by season 18...

 

[JohnHopper]

GUNSMOKE SEASON 18

Episode #4
“The Judgement”
written by Shimon Wincelberg
directed by Philip Leacock
music by Leon Klatzkin
guests: Ramon Bieri, Tim O’Connor, Mariette Hartley, Katherine Helmond, Richard Kelton, William Windom, Jon Locke, Charles Wagenheim, Melissa Gilbert

At a remote distance, a rider named Musgrove (actor Ramon Bieri) stares at a woman named Ena Spratt (actress Katherine Helmond) feeding the pigs at her farm. She steps into her miserable home and asks her no-good sleeping and drunk husband Ira (actor William Windom) to fix the pen when he slaps her. Ex-convict Musgrove fixes it, enters the home and orders Ira to get dressed to be killed because he has to pay the tab for a past deed. At the Long Branch, Gideon (actor Tim O’Connor) announces to the crowd of customers he just got a boy delivered by Doc and celebrate that event. Dillon is out of town. Out of the blue and in the middle of the street, Musgrove fires at Ira and makes his hat fall when, at the marshal’s office, Newly reacts and rushes to the scene but Musgrove shoots Festus by accident and also Newly by self defense. Ira runs aways. Wounded Musgrove goes to the telegraph’s office and sabotages the equipment. At his home, Gideon resumes to the bedroom of his wife Fiona (actress Mariette Hartley) and sees his new born son when his brother Ab Craddock (actor Richard Kelton) leaves the place. Musgrove threatens the townspeople to get the head of Ira. Gideon pinpoints Ira in the barn and helps him to hide. Musgrove stops at the ranch and threatens Gideon and uses him as a hostage against Ira but Craddock decides to form a search mob to locate Ira. Wounded Newly rides to the town of Lawrence to inform Dillon …

It’s an engrossing mad revengist entry that includes a group of manhunters and a dubious wife with a moral dilemma. Actor Ramon Bieri plays again a convict as in the season 17 “Phœnix”.

Actress Melissa Gilbert plays the young daughter of Ira Spratt and is known for the western family series Little House on the Prairie (1974).

Returning guest actors: Ramon Bieri (the season 17 “Phœnix” and “Alias Festus Haggin”), Tim O’Connor (the season 16 “The Witness”), Mariette Hartley (the season 17 “Phœnix”), Richard Kelton (the season 17 “The Legend”), William Windom (the season 8 “False Front”), Jon Locke (the season 1 “Kite’s Reward”).

 

[bmasters9]

Unboxing on CBS' Gunsmoke all-in-one (remarkably expansive, 143 discs; also a very sturdy box to hold everything, according to this reviewer)

 

[Jeff Flugel]

Unboxing on CBS' Gunsmoke all-in-one (remarkably expansive, 143 discs; also a very sturdy box to hold everything, according to this reviewer)

That is one BIG box!

 

[bmasters9]

That is one BIG box!

And there have been bigger releases than that, according to him-- one being a Star Trek release that had somewhat over 200 discs (all the series, at the very least [outside of the animated series] and the feature films; that's just what I heard in this clip [I might be incorrect]).

 

[justarandomstan]

Just a quick heads up for all of you still on the fence about the complete series set - Deep Discount has it for just under $170 right now. If that ain't a bargain, I don't know what is.

 

[JohnHopper]

¶​

¶ Next on Gunsmoke season 18, the reviews of the second disc and starting on Monday 8!​

¶ Load your guns and be ready!​

¶​

​

 

[Flashgear]

I have a great history book recounting the fascinating epic of the nomination races and the ensuing Federal Election of 1960 where JFK won a very narrow victory over Richard Nixon...one of the chapters is entitled: "Matt Dillon ain't popular for nothing!"...describing an incident in a Los Angeles hotel room in July at the Democratic National Convention, where LBJ (House speaker and future president Lyndon Baines Johnson for you young'uns), while simultaneously trying to propel his own bid for the nomination for president, and still being wooed by the Kennedy camp to consider accepting the vice-presidency on a JFK led ticket, described himself as having the swagger of someone akin to Marshall Matt Dillon of Gunsmoke, saying "Matt Dillon ain't popular for nothing!"...LBJ was a tall and powerfully built man, though not as tall as James Arness, but he felt that he needed to hold onto his "swagger" at the convention, in order to hold his delegates onside...denying the rumors of negotiations with the Kennedy camp for a prospective JFK-LBJ ticket...LBJ ultimately did, of course, accept the vice-presidency...and his deft political instincts and already powerful deep south connections were truly instrumental in young JFK's ascendancy to the presidency on November 7, 1960...Gunsmoke was the number one show in the ratings coming out of season 5 and going into season 6 that fall...

 

[JohnHopper]

GUNSMOKE SEASON 18

Episode #5
“The Drummer”
written by Richard Fielder
directed by Bernard McEveety
music by John Parker
guests: Victor French, Fionnula Flanagan, Bruce Glover, Kiel Martin, Brandon Cruz, Herb Armstrong, Paul Sorensen

A rider named Daniel Shay (actor Victor French) stops his horse at the Long Branch, steps into the place and starts a fancy salesman speech to force Miss Kitty into buying an item: a rat trap. Out of the blue, a stampede occurs and a child Cheyenne named Jimmy Morgan (actor Brandon Cruz) steals the horse of Shay when he has an accident against the wagon of Newly. Shay has a sudden flashback of memory about the war and fears the Indians stabs him. At the medical’s office, Doc examines the boy when her mother dressmaker Sarah Morgan (actress Fionnula Flanagan) appears and explains the leg issue of her child comes from the Indian war. Coming out the Long Branch to get a cheap room and after customer Enoch Brandt (actor Bruce Glover) asks Sam his name, Shay bumps into Sarah Morgan again and goofs about her half breed child. Shay buys himself a brand new horse and offers Jimmy his previous horse as a present and a way to be forgiven. Later on, wealthy rancher Enoch Brandt blackmails Shay and turns him into a slave in order to pay his bloody past … Shay revolts and goes mad …

It’s a good troubled and shocked war veteran working as a traveling salesman episode: the guest character is treated as a haunted guilty man with two identities (Sergeant Major Patrick Gargan and Daniel Shay) who faces two antagonists (Sarah Morgan and a former soldier turned bitter rancher Enoch Brandt) who remind him his deed at the Rock Creek Massacre. In a way, actor Victor French plays the opposite side of his season 13 character (Sergeant Tim Spear) from “Major Glory”. As in previous episodes (see the season 16 “The Noose” and “Mirage”, the season 15 “Stryker”, the season 14 “Lyle’s Kid”, to name a few), the guest characters (Daniel Shay and Sarah Morgan) undergo a series of shocking flashes of memory and the film editor cuts fast the footages to make it subliminal and it includes echoed music.

Returning guest actors: Victor French (the season 17 “Trafton” and “Blind Man’s Buff”), Bruce Glover (the season 15 “Coreyville”).

 

[JohnHopper]

GUNSMOKE SEASON 18

Episode #5
“The Drummer”
written by Richard Fielder
directed by Bernard McEveety
music by John Parker
guests: Victor French, Fionnula Flanagan, Bruce Glover, Kiel Martin, Brandon Cruz, Herb Armstrong, Paul Sorensen

A rider named Daniel Shay (actor Victor French) stops his horse at the Long Branch, steps into the place and starts a fancy salesman speech to force Miss Kitty into buying an item: a rat trap. Out of the blue, a stampede occurs and a child Cheyenne named Jimmy Morgan (actor Brandon Cruz) steals the horse of Shay when he has an accident against the wagon of Newly. Shay has a sudden flashback of memory about the war and fears the Indians stabs him. At the medical’s office, Doc examines the boy when her mother dressmaker Sarah Morgan (actress Fionnula Flanagan) appears and explains the leg issue of her child comes from the Indian war. Coming out the Long Branch to get a cheap room and after customer Enoch Brandt (actor Bruce Glover) asks Sam his name, Shay bumps into Sarah Morgan again and goofs about her half breed child. Shay buys himself a brand new horse and offers Jimmy his previous horse as a present and a way to be forgiven. Later on, wealthy rancher Enoch Brandt blackmails Shay and turns him into a slave in order to pay his bloody past … Shay revolts and goes mad …

It’s a good troubled and shocked war veteran working as a traveling salesman episode: the guest character is treated as a haunted guilty man with two identities (Sergeant Major Patrick Gargan and Daniel Shay) who faces two antagonists (Sarah Morgan and a former soldier turned bitter rancher Enoch Brandt) who remind him his deed at the Rock Creek Massacre. In a way, actor Victor French plays the opposite side of his season 13 character (Sergeant Tim Spear) from “Major Glory”. As in previous episodes (see the season 16 “The Noose” and “Mirage”, the season 15 “Stryker”, the season 14 “Lyle’s Kid”, to name a few), the guest characters (Daniel Shay and Sarah Morgan) undergo a series of shocking flashes of memory and the film editor cuts fast the footages to make it subliminal and it includes echoed music.

Returning guest actors: Victor French (the season 17 “Trafton” and “Blind Man’s Buff”), Bruce Glover (the season 15 “Coreyville”).

Pictures of Daniel Shay (actor Victor French).

 

[JohnHopper]

GUNSMOKE SEASON 18

Episode #6
“Sarah”
written by Calvin Clements, Sr.
directed by Gunnar Hellström
music by Jerrold Immel
guests: Anne Francis, Anthony Caruso, Jonathan Lippe, Mike Lane, Rex Holman, George Keymas, John Orchard, Kay E. Kuter, Larry Duran, Ronold Manning, Alberto Piña

In the wilderness, Dillon rides his horse and stops to notice tracks. Dillon crosses the desert mountains and stops again but at a very small Mexican town composed of three building—armed with his pistol—to pick up robber Vesco (actor Larry Duran). Dillon faces the criminal who runs and ends up dead. Shots from a winchester are fired and Dillon comes close to the house when he violently encounters the shooter: Sarah (actress Anne Francis) that happens to be an old acquaintance. Sarah runs a rustic cantina. Later on, the gang of Pappy Quinn (actor (Anthony Caruso) shows us and orders drinks but Sarah asks Dillon to stay in his room. The Quinn’s harasses Sarah so she tells them she’s got married to outlaw Dakota Charlie. Dillon agrees to be her husband to salvage her business. The gang celebrates the wedding but things turn bad when Dillon fights Digby (actor Mike Lane), one of the sons. Pappy offers Dillon to participate in a gold robbery but he refuses cold. The next day, he pretends to agree with the deal and rides with Sonny to a meeting with bandit schemer Warren (actor Kay E. Kuter). The gang of Deering stops at Sarah’s cantina and informs Pappy that Dakota Charlie died two weeks ago. Sarah is in big trouble!

It’s both a good solo Dillon outing in Mexico and a mean bandit entry in which we discover his former girlfriend and learn some background stories about Dillon. The amusing detail is to witness Dillon posing as an outlaw (see the season 13 “The Wreckers” as a reference) and pretends to have a score to settle with Newly! The rough leaning reminds the good old days of season 13 before the anti-violence campaign on television. The episode title is displayed in yellow. Note that part of Dillon’s fistfight is edited in slow motion. This is the first score written by the future prolific Gunsmoke composer Jerrold Immel. As usual, the cast of bandit characters is good: Pappy Quinn (Anthony Caruso) and his sons Sonny (Jonathan Lippe), Digby (Mike Lane), Ed (Rex Holman), Taylor (John Orchard) combined with the Deering’s gang: leader Deering (George Keymas), Warren (Kay E. Kuter), Engels (Ronald Manning). For the anecdote, John Orchard is a British actor.

Returning guest actors: Anthony Caruso (the season 17 “Lynott”), Jonathan Lippe (the season 17 “The Bullet”), Rex Holman (the season 17 “Waste”), George Keymas (the season 11 “Honor Before Justice”), Ron Manning (the season 18 “The River”).

 

[Dan McW]

I finished Gunsmoke season 20 the other day. I can't believe I've watched all 635 episodes. What a great, great series and what memories it's made over this last decade-plus watching it on DVD. And season 20 closed out with some great episodes, including my favorite of the season: the two-part "Island in the Desert" featuring a great, serious Festus performance and an incredible guest-star turn by Strother Martin. I usually don't watch a series again once I finish it on DVD, but I have a strong feeling I'll be breaking out that season-one set before long and returning to Dodge City for another 20-season run.