As Matt takes a convicted man to Hays City for hanging, Matt and the prisoner are waylaid, the prisoner lynched, and Matt is framed for the killing, then arrested by a sergeant with a grudge... Read allAs Matt takes a convicted man to Hays City for hanging, Matt and the prisoner are waylaid, the prisoner lynched, and Matt is framed for the killing, then arrested by a sergeant with a grudge against him.As Matt takes a convicted man to Hays City for hanging, Matt and the prisoner are waylaid, the prisoner lynched, and Matt is framed for the killing, then arrested by a sergeant with a grudge against him.
Photos
Elisha Cook Jr.
- George
- (as Elisha Cook)
Robert Anderson
- Burke
- (uncredited)
John Breen
- Townsman
- (uncredited)
Loren Brown
- Barfly
- (uncredited)
Albert Cavens
- Barfly
- (uncredited)
Ross Dollarhide
- Trooper
- (uncredited)
Rudy Doucette
- Barfly
- (uncredited)
Jaye Durkus
- Trooper
- (uncredited)
Clegg Hoyt
- Stableman
- (uncredited)
- Director
- Writers
- John Meston(uncredited)
- John Mantley
- Norman MacDonnell(uncredited)
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaFred McDougall was a longtime extra on the series. Here he has a bigger role than usual as Trooper Kelly and even gets to say a line: ''He ain't in here Sergeant''.
- GoofsAs seen in the doorway leading to the cells, the new cell that appeared on the left a couple episodes ago is back to being just a wall.
- SoundtracksThe Old Gray Mare
(uncredited)
Traditional Folk song
Saloon music
Featured review
Intense episode that loses dramatic focus in the final scenes.
Much great dramatic TV here...an episode that seems like a real epic, packed into 50 minutes. Excellent direction and cinematography, and the CAST is one of the biggest and most entertaining in Gunsmoke history. I wish the two good guys that George rounds up in the final saloon scenes had received screen credit, as well as the guy that Scott Marlowe insults and fights in the earlier scenes.
I hate to be too picky, but I also wish the make-up dept. Could come up with fake mustaches that aren't so obviously fake (Harold Stone and Robert Culp).
BUT those are minor issues; the episode is VERY impressive..hard-hitting, gritty, unyielding in its portrayal of the dark, dangerous, sinister men that surround Matt Dillon on a daily basis. And after his harrowing encounter with the gang of thugs, Matt arrives in the town (is it Hays City?) and meets a charming, curious little busy-body named George..a friend in need who helps Matt deal with his desperate situation. Elisha Cook, Jr really delivers in this role; he's really quite amazing to watch..a real old pro.
BUT...the pace and tension slacken in these final scenes; there's too much time spent with Matt, George and their hard-boiled eggs...very whimsical, I realize (complete with the chirpy music cues that seem WAY out of place in this dark drama)...but the PACE suffers, as we watch too-lengthy scenes with Culp, Goober, and Conrad sitting around the saloon drinking and laughing, etc. I kept WAITING for something to happen to maintain the story's great pace and tension, which slackens up JUST when the script really needs to tighten the screws (eg: it took FOREVER for the cavalry officer outside to walk into the saloon to see what was happening, RIGHT at the moment when we were losing the intensity of the final encounter; bad editing decision..but then, there wasn't much of interest going on INSIDE the saloon.
The final action was OK (a too-obvious stunt double for Culp; I bet he could have done the fight himself), and a "what-ever-happened-to-Sgt. Ed Asner?" finale (I would have liked to have seen a reconciliation of sorts between him and Matt) definitely detract from the effectiveness of the ending.
I also would liked to have seen a much stronger resolution with the two guys that George brought in..they were the ones who REALLY saved the day, by pushing back against Asner and allowing Matt to make his case to the witnesses.
These crucial final scenes needed more thought and some re-writing, and they really affect the overall show in a negative way. Too bad, since the rest of the episode is so strong. LR.
I hate to be too picky, but I also wish the make-up dept. Could come up with fake mustaches that aren't so obviously fake (Harold Stone and Robert Culp).
BUT those are minor issues; the episode is VERY impressive..hard-hitting, gritty, unyielding in its portrayal of the dark, dangerous, sinister men that surround Matt Dillon on a daily basis. And after his harrowing encounter with the gang of thugs, Matt arrives in the town (is it Hays City?) and meets a charming, curious little busy-body named George..a friend in need who helps Matt deal with his desperate situation. Elisha Cook, Jr really delivers in this role; he's really quite amazing to watch..a real old pro.
BUT...the pace and tension slacken in these final scenes; there's too much time spent with Matt, George and their hard-boiled eggs...very whimsical, I realize (complete with the chirpy music cues that seem WAY out of place in this dark drama)...but the PACE suffers, as we watch too-lengthy scenes with Culp, Goober, and Conrad sitting around the saloon drinking and laughing, etc. I kept WAITING for something to happen to maintain the story's great pace and tension, which slackens up JUST when the script really needs to tighten the screws (eg: it took FOREVER for the cavalry officer outside to walk into the saloon to see what was happening, RIGHT at the moment when we were losing the intensity of the final encounter; bad editing decision..but then, there wasn't much of interest going on INSIDE the saloon.
The final action was OK (a too-obvious stunt double for Culp; I bet he could have done the fight himself), and a "what-ever-happened-to-Sgt. Ed Asner?" finale (I would have liked to have seen a reconciliation of sorts between him and Matt) definitely detract from the effectiveness of the ending.
I also would liked to have seen a much stronger resolution with the two guys that George brought in..they were the ones who REALLY saved the day, by pushing back against Asner and allowing Matt to make his case to the witnesses.
These crucial final scenes needed more thought and some re-writing, and they really affect the overall show in a negative way. Too bad, since the rest of the episode is so strong. LR.
helpful•35
- lrrap
- May 2, 2021
Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Language
- Filming locations
- Stage 3, CBS Studio Center - 4024 Radford Avenue, Studio City, Los Angeles, California, USA(Dodge City Western Street)
- Production companies
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
- Runtime1 hour
- Color
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 1.33 : 1
- 4:3
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