Gunsmoke (TV Series) A Game of Death... An Act of Love: Part 2 (1973) User Reviews

A Revealing Look at the Best and Worst of Humanity

[wdavidreynolds · 8/10 · 6 October 2021]

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.

Whodunnit?

[mrphlipper · 9/10 · 11 July 2020]

I loved all of it EXCEPT, although they proved that the initial Indian suspects did not kill the wife, they never showed anyone trying to hunt down the real killers. Though not necessary to this wonderful story of love, hate, revenge, prejudice, forgiveness, humility - all the emotions, it leaves you with that pebble on your shoe that never goes away. There could have been a surprise ending that showed the killer to be one we would have never expected BUT, I much as I hate to admit it, it was not important to the story of these people's lives and would have actually have taken away from the message. It is the best Gunsmoke I have ever seen - and I've seen a barnload. So, Whodunnit?? Who cares!! (Otherwise, a 10)

A nice story for a two part episode.

[kfo9494 · 7/10 · 28 January 2013]

After watching this two part episode, I have to say that it was not that bad. Perhaps it might have been better in a one hour format since there was much filler to stretch the story out for the full two hours but it played well enough to hold the viewers interest to the end.

To shorten the review it really is about Bear Sanderson (Morgan Woodward) having his wife killed by renegade Indians. When some Indians are found with a watch belonging to the Sanderson family, Mr Sanderson wants them dead on the spot. No court hearing for those red-skins.

But enter Marshal Matt Dillon who risk his friendship with Sanderson to make sure that the Indians get a fair trial. With a traveling attorney, Cicero Wolfe, willing to represent the Indians, it will go to trial and shocking evidence will be presented. But before that verdict is handed down we find out that the the lawyer, Wolfe, just happens to be an Indian himself. This only causes more problem for the lawmen in Dodge.

So now Sanderson and most of the town are near riot mode as Wolfe will defend the Indians in front of Judge Brookins. With the evidence presented it will be difficult to heal relationships that may be permanently severed.

The episode is worth a watch- but far from being the best in the series. Some parts were extremely entertaining while many parts were unnecessary dialog. A well acted show that is not a bad watch.

A two-part episode that truly leveraged the time

[kenstallings-65346 · 10/10 · 16 June 2018]

This is a two-part episode that truly needed the additional time. It is ultimately a social justice episode, but one that considers justice not merely from a societal level, but also a more personal one.

The premise is straightforward enough.

A man and a wife, chiseled through many years of hardscrabble life on the frontier, sit amid financial success, but without a personal relationship that the wife wants and the husband wouldn't understand. An argument results in the man storming out to get drunk at a bar or brothel leaving his wife home alone.

A band of Comanche renegades then descends upon the home and murders the wife and sets fire to the home, destroying it. The man is filled with grief and rage.

In steps an Irish-Cherokee Princeton educated lawyer, very skilled, and moving through town on his way to a new practice in San Francisco. The way the story plays out has many quality scenes that speak to the heart of true social justice, as well as to the manifest need to fairly measure men in the time they lived.

There are a lot of people wishing to tear down monuments throughout America who desperately need to see this two-part episode, especially the lawyer's (played by Paul Stevens) eloquent courtroom soliloquy, where he laid out the reality of forgiveness and understanding.

The episode needed the time to tell the story, one that saw many characters develop from one-sided to multi-faceted, from anger to understanding. In the ultimate example, one man went from blind murderous rage to genuine respect and friendship.

Few TV series ever had the chops to tell a story like this, and in our current era, the pervading sense of PC doctrine might tragically well prevent it. And this is why Gunsmoke remains, even after forty years since its enviable run ended, and nearly the entire cast has passed away, remains as vivid and poignant today as it was when it first aired.

One of the Best of Gunsmoke's 2 part episodes

[cooncat-0-749645 · 10/10 · 12 February 2020]

Worthy of a 2 part episode, this was an epic story, beautifully portrayed by defense lawyer (Paul Stevens) and a grizzled rancher (Morgan Woodward). I won't go into the storyline, as that's been well covered in other reviews. I can only say that during the 2nd part, when actor/lawyer Paul Stevens gave his summary to the gentlemen of the jury, it brought me near to tears. Powerful and eloquent, and so moving, its a fine example of why Gunsmoke is still so watched and loved to this day.

If you've not seen this 2 part episode, it is well worth your time to watch it. I only wish that quality television like Gunsmoke (in general) was still available today.

Justice Without Hatred!!

[ellisel · 10/10 · 8 October 2008]

The conclusion of "A Game Of Death ... An Act Of Love" had Defense Attorney Cicero Wolfe trying the case. The renegades were being tried for first-degree murder and robbery. Bear Sanderson had been so vent up on being judge and jury into seeing the defendants getting hung for the killing of his wife. Cora Sanderson was being sarcastic about Cicero Wolfe's involvement with the trial. He told her that seeking a "Not Guilty" verdict in court was his sole objective in the episode.

The setting became interesting -- to say the least -- during the episode. Miss Michael Learned -- who played Miss Vassiter -- testified for the defense; she pointed out the time watch and other jewelry items were given to her. Bear Sanderson himself was drunk beyond recognition; moreover, the renegades were no more guilty of murdering his wife than the next group of murderers. In fact, Mr. Dekker did not call for Bear Sanderson to testify for the prosecution. In truth, Miss Vassiter obtained the jewelry from Bear Sanderson's wife at the time of the murder. Miss Vassiter's testimony virtually destroyed the prosecutor's hopes for a "Guilty" verdict in the show. By the same token, Bear Sanderson realized the renegades in question were never even close to the Sanderson home that night.

In the end, Bear Sanderson put aside his vendetta and obtained a friendship with Cicero Wolfe. Cora Sanderson would eventually return to school. Bear Sanderson would put his wife's death behind him. Cicero Wolfe -- in the end -- would eventually leave Dodge City and headed out for San Francisco. By the same token, Cora Sanderson was grateful for trying the case in court ... without reservation or exemption. A Brilliant 14!! A Recommended Episode From The 1973-1974 Television Season!!