I love watching and re-watching these old 30 minute black and white Gunsmoke episodes. But this episode, in my opinion, shows the occasional "two faced" two sides of Matt Dillon. In some episodes he lets some known criminals loose or escape; justifiably in my opinion. At other times he has the same justification but he insists he "has a job to do". In at least a couple of episodes it results in innocent men being hanged. In this episode he has a known horse thief in tow and he lets him go. He has known him for years and is well aware of his reputation as a horse thief. In the meantime the young man man tries to get back his stolen horse, stolen by the same man that Matt knows as a horse thief. He gets his horse back and there are certainly complications, but at the end of the episode I thought Matt was going to put him in jail. He didn't but I'm sure he wanted to. I'm not sure whether this is technically a spoiler but I checked the box regardless.
7 Reviews
Outwitted
wdavidreynolds15 December 2021
Dutch George is a man Matt Dillon knew as a kid. He lived for a time in the town where Matt grew up. George is a notorious horse thief, but he is extremely careful and clever. Everyone knows what he does, but he has never been successfully prosecuted. He and his men steal horses in Kansas and exchange them with another group of thieves in Colorado. The horses stolen in Colorado are sold in Kansas and vice versa.
About ten miles outside Dodge City, George spots a beautiful bay horse. He discovers the horse is owned by a young man named Jimmy McQueen who is camping nearby. George sneaks into the camp, but McQueen is aware of his presence and draws a gun on the intruder. At first, McQueen is understandably suspicious, but he soon begins to let down his guard. When he turns his back on George, the horse thief knocks him out and steals the horse.
George rides the horse into Dodge and leaves it at Moss Grimmick's stables to be shod. McQueen walks to Dodge and tells Marshal Dillon about the theft. Based on the kid's description, Matt realizes George is the thief. The Marshal finally has the evidence he needs to apprehend George. Matt, Chester Goode, and McQueen go in pursuit of George, but Matt will soon learn McQueen has ideas of his own.
Robert Middleton perfectly portrays the Dutch George character in his second Gunsmoke appearance. His deceptive, smile and jovial demeanor belies his criminal activity. In fact, he is so likable that many others choose to befriend him, despite his chosen profession.
Tom Pittman plays Jimmy McQueen in this story. Pittman was an up-and-coming talent when he made this and his one other Gunsmoke appearance in Season 3. Unfortunately, he was killed shortly following his second series guest role in a horrible traffic accident when he was only 26 years old.
This story features an unusually clever script for writer John Dunkel. It is not often that Matt Dillon is outwitted as he is in this episode. The performances by Middleton and Pittman help make this episode stand out.
About ten miles outside Dodge City, George spots a beautiful bay horse. He discovers the horse is owned by a young man named Jimmy McQueen who is camping nearby. George sneaks into the camp, but McQueen is aware of his presence and draws a gun on the intruder. At first, McQueen is understandably suspicious, but he soon begins to let down his guard. When he turns his back on George, the horse thief knocks him out and steals the horse.
George rides the horse into Dodge and leaves it at Moss Grimmick's stables to be shod. McQueen walks to Dodge and tells Marshal Dillon about the theft. Based on the kid's description, Matt realizes George is the thief. The Marshal finally has the evidence he needs to apprehend George. Matt, Chester Goode, and McQueen go in pursuit of George, but Matt will soon learn McQueen has ideas of his own.
Robert Middleton perfectly portrays the Dutch George character in his second Gunsmoke appearance. His deceptive, smile and jovial demeanor belies his criminal activity. In fact, he is so likable that many others choose to befriend him, despite his chosen profession.
Tom Pittman plays Jimmy McQueen in this story. Pittman was an up-and-coming talent when he made this and his one other Gunsmoke appearance in Season 3. Unfortunately, he was killed shortly following his second series guest role in a horrible traffic accident when he was only 26 years old.
This story features an unusually clever script for writer John Dunkel. It is not often that Matt Dillon is outwitted as he is in this episode. The performances by Middleton and Pittman help make this episode stand out.
For old times' sake
kfo949416 May 2013
An old friend of Matt, Dutch George, comes to Dodge for a visit riding a Bay Horse. But this is not the usual friend that a lawman would have, this man is a known horse thief but he has been able to skirt the law since he usually gets other people to do the dirty work. And like so many times in the past the Bay Horse he is riding is stolen.
Right before getting into Dodge Dutch George robbed some naive looking kid of the horse and thirty dollars. Since Dutch has done this many times he knows the green cowboy will not pursue the matter until he has the horse safely out of town.
Sure enough the next morning after Dutch leaves Dodge, the young cowboy named Jimmy McQueen comes to the Marshal's office to talk with Matt. When Jimmy describes the horse Matt knows that it was Dutch George. So off goes Matt, Chester and Jimmy to find Dutch and the horse.
But along the way they will find out that Jimmy McQueen is not as green as he looks. In fact Matt should have known not to trust a stranger.
This was a entertaining story with a coy twist in the plot. Tom Pittman that played young Jimmy McQueen appeared to be on a road of stardom until his untimely death in an automobile accident two years later at age 26. Robert Middleton deliverers another fine performance as the sly Dutch George that seems to evade the law around every turn. After a few shows that was not up to par, it was nice to return to the roots of westerns and watch this fine show.
Right before getting into Dodge Dutch George robbed some naive looking kid of the horse and thirty dollars. Since Dutch has done this many times he knows the green cowboy will not pursue the matter until he has the horse safely out of town.
Sure enough the next morning after Dutch leaves Dodge, the young cowboy named Jimmy McQueen comes to the Marshal's office to talk with Matt. When Jimmy describes the horse Matt knows that it was Dutch George. So off goes Matt, Chester and Jimmy to find Dutch and the horse.
But along the way they will find out that Jimmy McQueen is not as green as he looks. In fact Matt should have known not to trust a stranger.
This was a entertaining story with a coy twist in the plot. Tom Pittman that played young Jimmy McQueen appeared to be on a road of stardom until his untimely death in an automobile accident two years later at age 26. Robert Middleton deliverers another fine performance as the sly Dutch George that seems to evade the law around every turn. After a few shows that was not up to par, it was nice to return to the roots of westerns and watch this fine show.
Never Trust a Stranger
dougdoepke3 September 2007
The story develops nicely and in unexpected directions, definitely one of John Dunkel's better screenplays. Slickster Dutch George (that fine actor Robert Middleton) turns up in the middle of the prairie and steals a horse from scrawny, boyish-looking MCQueen (Tom Pittman, in a sly performance). Turns out that George is an old friend of Matt's who knows George's reputation as a skilled horse thief. McQueen comes to Dillon for help and together they ride to where George is camped with his gang and a stolen herd. But before they reach there, McQueen vows personal vengeance on George and drives off Matt's and Chester's horses. Perhaps the kid is not as helpless as he appears. Excellently ironical ending, unusual for the series.
One real drawback-- the continuity of scenes at the camp is simply awful. The first shot is of California's scrubby hills, segue to a stock shot of sheer rock faces that have Arizona written all over them, and transition a moment later to a badly done sound stage shot, all within the span of maybe ten seconds. Rarely-- and it's a good thing-- was editing of an episode this egregiously clumsy.
One real drawback-- the continuity of scenes at the camp is simply awful. The first shot is of California's scrubby hills, segue to a stock shot of sheer rock faces that have Arizona written all over them, and transition a moment later to a badly done sound stage shot, all within the span of maybe ten seconds. Rarely-- and it's a good thing-- was editing of an episode this egregiously clumsy.
Marshall Dillon Bends the Law a Little
csmith-996152 May 2021
I really enjoy the early half hour episodes although this one seemed a bit rushed at the end. And, as another viewer said , our beloved Marshall seems to have bent the law just a bit at the end of the episode. Reminded me of the episode " Never Pester Chester" where ALMOST killing Chester by dragging him behind a horse wasn't a crime IF Chester survived the ordeal. Of course this was the 1870s and who knows how specific the laws were. All in all another great watch. What else is new?
He Had A Reputation For Being The Slipperiest Horse-Thief West Of The Mississippi
StrictlyConfidential15 June 2020
(*Dutch George quote*) - Let that be a lesson to you, boy.... Don't never trust no stranger."
Meet Dutch George. He's the "hee-haw" happiest horse-thief that you are ever gonna encounter in the Wild, Wild West.
In this rough'n'rugged episode of TV's "Gunsmoke" - Marshal, Matt Dillon quickly realizes that he has his hands full when it comes to dealing with Dutch George and Jim McQueen, and the whole sticky matter of legitimate horse ownership.
All-in-all - This entertaining episode from 1956 was certainly worth a view.
Meet Dutch George. He's the "hee-haw" happiest horse-thief that you are ever gonna encounter in the Wild, Wild West.
In this rough'n'rugged episode of TV's "Gunsmoke" - Marshal, Matt Dillon quickly realizes that he has his hands full when it comes to dealing with Dutch George and Jim McQueen, and the whole sticky matter of legitimate horse ownership.
All-in-all - This entertaining episode from 1956 was certainly worth a view.
McQueen..
bahiachristina5 February 2023
Interesting, but typically not as in depth as the older episodes. A famous horse thief appears on the scene by applying his trade to a young man found out on the plains. He manages to steal the horse and disable the young man but not completely ridding him. Dillion is aware of who and what the villain is and allows the angry young man to accompany him and Chester in pursuit of the thief! After a few instances with the young man and a tribe of Indians, they were able to rescue the stolen horse, and the thief was relieved of his stolen heard.. not arrested, but set out walking away. Now the only thing I really wanted to present here, was the irony involving the McQueen name. Tom Pitts played Jimmy McQueen and how they gave that name to a character who resembles and sounds like Steve himself is quite a coincidence! If you agree, I'm at waynesbaitshop gmail.
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