Gunsmoke (TV Series) Liar from Blackhawk (1957) User Reviews

A man wants respect and unfortunately gets that respect

[kfo9494 · 9/10 · 14 June 2013]

Here is a nice tale about a man that wanted respect- problem with the story is he got the respect he was seeking.

Denver Pyle plays Hank Shinn a man that comes into Dodge and lets everyone know about his reputation as a gunfighter. he even has a drummer, Ed Davey, that has heard about Shinn and tells people about a famous gunfight where Hank shot three men dead.

It is not long before Hank is forced to draw against a staggering drunk that was going to kill him. And all of the respect he so desired is not was he was expecting. And when a real gunfighter comes to town, Hank will be getting even more respect than wanted.

As the another reviewer stated, the title to this episode gives away much the story but still was entertaining to the end. And maybe in the end perhaps Hank did gets some respect that he so desperately sought. With a fine written script and some brilliant acting by the cast, this show was a very good watch.

Contenders and Pretenders

[wdavidreynolds · 8/10 · 7 January 2022]

Dodge City newcomer Hank Shinn wants everyone to know he is a gunfighter. Matt Dillon has doubts about Shinn's claims, but Ed Davey, a drummer, helps spread the news about a gunfight where Shinn killed three men. Shinn's ambition becomes problematic when he has to kill someone in self-defense. Suddenly, Shinn decides the gunfighting profession is not so glamorous and leaves his guns in Marshal Dillon's office.

Unfortunately, word has spread about Shinn's supposed prowess with a gun, and another gunfighter named Al Janes arrives in town. Now Matt has his hands full with Shinn and Janes in town at the same time.

The great character actor Denver Pyle plays the Hank Shinn part with his usual level of excellence. Pyle appeared in fourteen different episodes in the series. "Liar from Blackhawk" marks his second role in the series.

Strother Martin appears in a small, insignificant part as the Ed Davey character. This is already the third appearance in the series for the talented actor.

Another talented, familiar character actor John Doucette makes his only Gunsmoke appearance as the gunfighter Al Janes.

Howard Culver makes another of his many appearances as hotel clerk Howie Uzzel. Culver and Pyle were both considered for the Matt Dillon role at one point in their careers. Culver recorded Dillon's voice for the pilot episode of the radio version of the series, but the part eventually went to William Conrad. Pyle was the final candidate for the television role until James Arness auditioned and won the part.

This is another compelling story made better by an exceptional cast of familiar western guest stars. The moral of the story is one should be careful what one wishes for. It is curious why men during this period wanted to earn a reputation as a gunfighter. It seemed to be a sure way to shorten one's life.

Longing For Respect

[jamdifo · 9/10 · 22 January 2013]

I knew that actor Denver Pyle looked familiar. I realized after the episode that's Uncle Jessie from the Dukes of Hazzard and Mad Jack on Grizzly Adams.

I loved this episode of a guy wanting respect so bad that he pretends he killed 3 people on the draw to get respect. At first, Denver Pyle acts like a jerk going after Miss Kitty. Then Mr Ridiculous Chester challenges Denver Pyle to a gunfight. I guess Chester feels his job is in jeopardy as the previous episodes had a wanted would be marshal and Chester got shot by an Uncle who wanted his nephew to have his job. Of course Dillon saves the day....for Chester.

But Denver Pyle makes this episode work as a guy who realizes he went to far in his lying and regrets it in more ways than one. You really sympathize with him. I just didn't like the title of the episode giving the story away. Strother Martin is also in this. He seems to play the same slow guy who killed a person many episodes earlier.

Respect Cuts Two Ways

[dougdoepke · 3 September 2013]

Hank Shinn, a gunman with a reputation, rudely cuts in on Chester and Kitty's conversation. Chester gets unusually angry and it looks like the two are going to have a gunfight. But then a drunken cowboy cuts in. Later, the gunman Shinn swears he only wants respect and no more gunplay, even giving up his gun to Dillon. But things get complicated when Matt's friend Janes, another gunman, comes to town. Is Dodge big enough for two gunslingers to co-exist, especially when one only wants respect.

Pretty good episode with a thoughtful twist, though the action seems more contrived than usual. Nonetheless, it's a good chance to scope out three of TV's most recognizable stalwarts of the day — Pyle, Martin, and Doucette. It always amazes me when I see the diminutive Martin play one of these cringing roles after he was so deliciously evil in Cool Hand Luke (1967). Anyway, it's also a good chance to catch Chester being very un-Chester-like.

A solid, well-crafted half hour

[lrrap · 9/10 · 26 July 2022]

An intriguing show, well-plotted, well acted and VERY well directed. The pace and unfolding of the story are carried along by the swift direction and imaginative staging, the camerawork sometimes moving along with and amidst the characters. The framing of each scene, sometimes with the camera on the move in tight places (eg: Dillon's office) kept my interest and really "pulled me along" with the story.

The omnipresent Denver Pyle's performance was nicely controlled and balanced; he obviously worked very well with JIm Arness, and it shows here (I assume they kept hiring him back, among other reasons, since he had originally been offered the role of Matt Dillon, only to have it yanked from him when Arness was approached).

Good show, especially considering it's lateness in the season. LR.

Not enough time for so much talent!

[birdgoog · 6/10 · 7 October 2020]

This is actually one of those super rare episodes that i don't recall ever seeing! First person i see is the wonderful awesome Strother Martin! Recognized him IMMEDIATELY without even hearing his distinctive voice! He's one of my all time favorites! But i'm about to learn that doesn't really mean as much as i think! See, another all time favorite is Denver Pyle. Betcha i watched this "Shinn" character for five minutes only thinking he kinda looked vaguely familiar. Checked the cast list ... Denver Pyle? ... but WHERE?! ... nooo!! ... perusing again, i realized that this was absolutely Mr Pyle! Darker hair and mustache than usual. Ok, now i see it, of course! Also thought both these boys looked pretty young but Mr Martin was 38 and Denver was 37. So i'm gonna choose to believe that it's not MY fault! No! Just goes to prove what a TERRIFIC ACTOR Denver Pyle was! But then why did i recognize Strother so quickly? imo he's also a BRILLIANT ACTOR! Sorry, i've run out of excuses to cover my bum. Anyhoo it was a good episode i guess. No real surprises if you simply have common sense. i mean, like there's soo much TALENT gathered here ... not ONLY Mr Martin and Mr Pyle but also other guest actors plus the always lovely regular cast! So yeah, like this giant living breathing aura of BRILLIANCE was just way too much to try and fit into a half hour program. So that's the way i choose to think about it. Prolly could've been better, just not enough TIME is all.

Went nowhere

[maskers-87126 · 6/10 · 19 September 2018]

Good premis but it never really was flushed out to make a full episode.

A Gunman Bragging About His Reputation

[StrictlyConfidential · 6/10 · 14 September 2021]

(*Ed Davey quote*) - "I never had no education. I don't know how to tell lies."

"Liar From Blackhawk" was first aired on television June 22, 1957.

Anyway - As the story goes - A young gunslinger attempts to build his reputation by telling lies and shooting drunks.

Worst Episode of the Series

[smurky · 5/10 · 13 April 2022]

I didn't think there was an episode I've never seen of Gunsmoke, but this is it....and now that I've seen it, I know why....it's not shown very often, because it is terrible ! The story is stupid, it doesn't make sense, and none of the guest star characters are appealing. I'm not going to explain the plot, because all the other reviewers have done that thoroughly and well. All I'll do is give you my opinion, which is that it is the worst episode of the series. It must be a very early episode, because Mat and Kitty look so young ( not Doc, he looks exactly the same ). The only interesting thing is seeing Denver Pyle look so young and acting so serious ! I miss his comedic genius, as Brisco Darling in the Andy Griffith Show. I agree with another reviewer, that Strother Martin's character was really useless here.