Gunsmoke (TV Series) Doc's Reward (1957) User Reviews

They saved money on actors in this episode

[kfo9494 · 8/10 · 22 June 2013]

In an episode that has a very limited cast, this show begins as Doc Adams is riding along the road to attend to an injured man when he is stopped by a stranger. The stranger, who turns out later to be Myles Brandel (Jack Lord), stops Doc and tells him to turn back. When Doc refuses, Myles shoots Doc's horse and then Doc shoots and kills Myles with his shotgun.

Soon a man rides into town named Nat Brandel (Jack Lord), the brother of the man that Doc killed, and is out to kill Doc Adams. It was only then that we learn the named of the man that Doc killed and the fact that there was a reward for killing him. Nat believes his brother was shot for the reward money.

An interesting episode that shows a different side of Doc than what we are all use to seeing. With the small cast and well written script this episode turned out rather nice showing. Amanda Blake is a knock out in this show. Good watch.

Another look at the soul of a pioneer doctor

[AlsExGal · 8/10 · 26 July 2022]

Doc Adams is riding out to tend to a very sick man, but along the way he encounters a stranger who insists Doc must turn around and go back to Dodge or else he'll kill his horse so he can go no further. Doc says if he does that he'll shoot the man. The man does shoot the horse and Doc does shoot the man dead. He then goes on to the sick man's house, but he dies anyways.

There was no witness to what happened, just the aftermath and the dead man's body. Doc tells Matt how everything happened and said it was not self defense and wondered if he would be tried for murder. Matt says he would never arrest Doc, that what he did actually was in defense of another - the sick man he was trying to save. The problem is, word gets around Dodge City as to what Doc did and now people treat him differently because they feel that Dillon is bending the law for doc. I found this odd since the people of Dodge City know Doc's dedication to medicine and healing, and yet you'd think Doc shot a long standing member of the community for snoring the way they give him the cold shoulder.

But among the stares there is one particularly troubling one. A stranger is following Doc around and won't state his business in town.

It's one of the few Gunsmokes where you really get inside Doc's head. He really is a man of peace and healing, and even a killing he had to do in defense of that healing is something that eats at him.

Don't Mess with Doc's Horse!

[wdavidreynolds · 7/10 · 21 January 2022]

Doc Adams is on his way to tend to Cam Seaton, a man who was injured when he was kicked in the chest by his horse. During the trip, Doc is stopped by a man on horseback. The rider tells Doc to turn back, but Doc refuses. The stranger shoots Doc's horse to prevent him from making it to the injured man, and Doc fatally shoots the man with his shotgun.

Matt Dillon and Chester Goode find Doc's buggy turned over and the dead stranger lying nearby. They ride on to Cam Seaton's house where they find Doc. By the time Doc made it to Seaton, the injured man was beyond help and soon died from his injury.

Doc tells Matt he killed the stranger when the man shot his horse, an act that could be considered murder. Matt does not think Doc's actions warrant arrest. Some of the Dodge City residents disagree.

A stranger soon arrives in Dodge and begins stalking Doc. At Matt's request, Kitty Russell performs some investigative work at the Long Branch Saloon and learns the stranger is named Nate Brandell, and his brother Myles is the man Doc killed. She also learned Myles had a bounty on his head for a crime in Colorado. Nate thinks Doc killed his brother for the bounty money, and Nate wants revenge.

Jack Lord plays both Brandell brothers in this story. This is Lord's only appearance in the series, and it is excellent. Lord can be seen in various roles in several different television shows -- many of those westerns -- in the 1950s and 1960s. He starred as the lead character in the series Stoney Burke during its single season. That series also starred Warren Oates, an occasional Gunsmoke guest and featured Buck Taylor, who would later join the Gunsmoke cast as the character Newly O'Brien, in a few episodes. Lord would later play the iconic character Steve McGarrett in the series Hawaii Five-O.

Longtime Gunsmoke viewers know that Doc killed a few people during the twenty-year history of the series. While Doc's reaction to Myles Brandell shooting his horse is surprising, it is justified under the circumstances. It does not make sense that anyone would think Doc should be prosecuted. (Plus, how did the Dodge City people learn the details of the shooting? Myles Brandell was a stranger to the people of Dodge, and the incident occurred far from the town with no witnesses.)

Before Stoney

[darbski · 10/10 · 9 August 2017]

Yeah, before Stoney Burke, that is. About 1964-5, Jack Lord got his first T.V. series, about a rodeo rider and his adventures. As I remember it.. Okay, I don't remember it, really. One thing I do know is that this episode highlights his acting, and it was good. So was the story, and how nobody with any brains sets a man afoot on the prairie. Shooting a man's horse is exactly the same thing as stealin' it. Threaten a man and then pull a gun? That's killin' grounds. The guy got justice right there. The rest of the story covers the horse opera that went after. Pretty good, and Amanda Blake (Kitty) had a good part, she was a Babe (R.I.P.Amanda). Doc may have been a cantankerous ol scudder, but he knew right and wrong, and lived his code. Great job, Doc.

No Charge for the Sage Advice

[dougdoepke · 22 July 2007]

Rather surprising incident begins this well-acted and well-executed entry. Doc sets out to help sick man but encounters trouble along the way. As an impartial upholder of the law, Matt gets accused of favoritism towards his friend Doc as a result, for which he is in fact guilty. But is his partiality based on friendship or on the strength of character that Doc definitely possesses. This 30 minutes is a reminder of just what fine actors Stone, Arness and Weaver are. Their chemistry here is simply superb. The wind-up packs considerable punch, though the mood music is a bit much-- the emotions don't need underscoring. Jack Lord is featured in an early dual role and acquits himself well, though I kept expecting him to say,"Book 'em, Dano."

Stoney Burke and Steve McGarrett ride again

[LukeCoolHand · 9/10 · 27 October 2021]

My TV station is now showing four 30 minute episodes in a row in the morning from the 50's. The 3 before this one were very poor. Thank goodness this one was good enough to compensate for those 3 stinkers before this one. Good to see another reviewer remembers Jack Lord from Stoney Burke as most people remember him only from Hawaii 5- 0. Never saw Doc kill somebody before this one.

Upon second viewing I have decided that this is in the top 20 of Gunsmoke episodes. Jack Lord really shows his acting chops in the last 3 minutes, 5 years before Stoney Burke and 11 tears before Hawaii Five - 0. And the last scene with Doc really shows why he became one of the most beloved characters in television.

Predictable Except Beginning

[jamdifo · 6/10 · 6 February 2013]

The episode starts off surprisingly and shockingly as Doc has his 1st confirmed kill in the Gunsmoke series. Doc, as he conveys exceptionally well, is very bothered by having to kill someone, even though he was justified.

What I didn't buy, was how the townspeople acted. He's the only Doc in Dodge and he has helped countless people there. How could the townspeople look down on him? So what if he got special treatment, he's the only Doc in town and within 500 miles (as stated in a previous episode). Besides, he has a reputation for helping anyone and doing everything he can. There should have been a whole lot more standing next to Doc other than Dillon and Chester. Do the townspeople really think Doc would shoot someone without cause? I think not.

I loved Dillon's line when Doc said he should arrest him "Doc, the day I have to arrest you is the day I quit". I guess Dillon never arrested Doc as the show lasted 20 years.

Jack Lord, before he was McGarrett, plays a dual role, only difference was sideburns. The story is predictable the rest of the way and there's no suspense doc is giving the reward money to the brother.

Another highlight of the episode was seeing Miss kitty in the bathtub. Very attractive woman back in the day.