Note: The title of this episode according to most sources is "A Game of Death... An Act of Love: Part 2," but the title on the screen at the beginning of the episode is "A Game of Death... An Act of Love: The Conclusion."
The second part of this episode deals primarily with the trial of the Comanches who are being tried for the murder of Lavinia Sanderson. Mrs. Sanderson was the wife of a man named Bear Sanderson, a wealthy rancher who settled in the Dodge City area in his younger years. Sanderson is highly respected by the Kansas citizens. Since Sanderson is convinced the Comanches in custody are responsible for his wife's death, he wants to kill them. Many of the residents of the area share Sanderson's bloodlust.
Matt Dillon has asked an attorney named Cicero Wolfe to defend the men that were arrested when they were found with Sanderson's gold watch and some jewelry that had belonged to Lavinia. Wolfe was initially reluctant to take the case because he is harboring a secret that was revealed near the end of Part One. Wolfe is half Cherokee.
Wolfe is a shrewd, highly intelligent lawyer, and he discovers evidence along the way that will have a profound impact on the outcome of the trial. Bear and Lavinia Sanderson's daughter, Cora, initially pleads with Wolfe to take the case, but her attitude changes to resentment when she realizes the attorney will do everything possible to see that his clients are freed.
In addition to the cast members mentioned in the review entry for Part One, Michael Learned makes an appearance in Part Two as a key witness for the Defense, a sassy prostitute named May Lassiter. Learned's last -- and only other -- appearance in a Gunsmoke story was earlier in Season 19 in "Matt's Love Story."
It is also worth noting that actor Paul Stevens suffered a stroke while filming the courtroom scenes. Filming of the episode was stopped for a few weeks while Stevens recovered enough to continue. Stevens was still suffering the effects of the stroke, and it is obvious in some of the courtroom scenes the director carefully framed shots of Stevens to avoid showing any obvious ill effects of the stroke.
This story is full of surprises. At least on an initial viewing, each time the viewer thinks they know where the story is going, a surprise is introduced. The pace of the episode is also surprisingly slow, although the story does not contain some of the "filler" one normally expects from a two-part episode.
Lavinia Sanderson's murder and the subsequent trial are merely tools used to propel the story. The tale is really about people peeling back layers to reveal issues related to love, honor, prejudice, integrity, and justice that have lingered for many years to find some essential characteristic of their existence.
As someone who has been a Gunsmoke viewer since childhood, I must admit I did not care for this episode when I was younger. The slow progression of the story, the numerous scenes of dialog, and the complex subject matter is easily dismissed. However, this is one of the more unique episodes in the Gunsmoke run. It should not be missed, and the complex subject matter should be savored.
The second part of this episode deals primarily with the trial of the Comanches who are being tried for the murder of Lavinia Sanderson. Mrs. Sanderson was the wife of a man named Bear Sanderson, a wealthy rancher who settled in the Dodge City area in his younger years. Sanderson is highly respected by the Kansas citizens. Since Sanderson is convinced the Comanches in custody are responsible for his wife's death, he wants to kill them. Many of the residents of the area share Sanderson's bloodlust.
Matt Dillon has asked an attorney named Cicero Wolfe to defend the men that were arrested when they were found with Sanderson's gold watch and some jewelry that had belonged to Lavinia. Wolfe was initially reluctant to take the case because he is harboring a secret that was revealed near the end of Part One. Wolfe is half Cherokee.
Wolfe is a shrewd, highly intelligent lawyer, and he discovers evidence along the way that will have a profound impact on the outcome of the trial. Bear and Lavinia Sanderson's daughter, Cora, initially pleads with Wolfe to take the case, but her attitude changes to resentment when she realizes the attorney will do everything possible to see that his clients are freed.
In addition to the cast members mentioned in the review entry for Part One, Michael Learned makes an appearance in Part Two as a key witness for the Defense, a sassy prostitute named May Lassiter. Learned's last -- and only other -- appearance in a Gunsmoke story was earlier in Season 19 in "Matt's Love Story."
It is also worth noting that actor Paul Stevens suffered a stroke while filming the courtroom scenes. Filming of the episode was stopped for a few weeks while Stevens recovered enough to continue. Stevens was still suffering the effects of the stroke, and it is obvious in some of the courtroom scenes the director carefully framed shots of Stevens to avoid showing any obvious ill effects of the stroke.
This story is full of surprises. At least on an initial viewing, each time the viewer thinks they know where the story is going, a surprise is introduced. The pace of the episode is also surprisingly slow, although the story does not contain some of the "filler" one normally expects from a two-part episode.
Lavinia Sanderson's murder and the subsequent trial are merely tools used to propel the story. The tale is really about people peeling back layers to reveal issues related to love, honor, prejudice, integrity, and justice that have lingered for many years to find some essential characteristic of their existence.
As someone who has been a Gunsmoke viewer since childhood, I must admit I did not care for this episode when I was younger. The slow progression of the story, the numerous scenes of dialog, and the complex subject matter is easily dismissed. However, this is one of the more unique episodes in the Gunsmoke run. It should not be missed, and the complex subject matter should be savored.