"The Big Con" uses a story line that will be very familiar to viewers who are fans of the 1966 film, "A Big Hand for the Little Lady." As in that film, a gambler with what appears to be a foolproof winning hand runs out of money and enlists a local banker to lend him enough cash ($20,000) to be able to call his opponent. His only "collateral" is the hand itself. In the movie, the banker was in on the con. In this original version, both gamblers are in on it. Of course, the gambler loses out and the bank is out the $20,000. But Marshal Dillon smells a rat after Doc Adams informs him that he's seen this kind of "game" before on a riverboat. After that, it doesn't take too long before Dillon is chasing the conmen down. Viewers will recognize Raymond Bailey, the banker from "The Beverly Hillbillies" playing one of the conmen and also Joseph Kearns (Mr. Wilson from "Dennis the Menace") as the naïve banker who lends him the money. The conmen kidnap Doc Adams to help them make their escape from Dodge City, but they're soon apprehended by Marshal Dillon and his trusty companion, Chester. It seems like they're not accustomed to the great outdoors of the Kansas Plains. After recovering the money and saving the good doctor, Matt ends up stranding them out in the wilds for a day or two to teach them a lesson. Call it "frontier justice."
8 Reviews
"The Big Con" influenced future and similar plot lines
chuck-reilly20 December 2019
Warning: Spoilers
Title of Episode Says It All
jamdifo19 July 2013
Warning: Spoilers
The title of the episode gives it away that you know the card game is one big con. There is no suspense in that. What is neat is how Dillon bluffs the one poker player, making him think Dillon knows more than he really does, and makes the gang run away, but their mistake was taking Doc.
Even though I enjoyed the episode, Dillon, as smart as he is at times, still acts like a rookie marshal. Doesn't Dillon realize by now to check a person for more than one gun? That not everyone keeps there gun in a holster on their belt. The poker player had a hidden gun. Dillon is lucky that poker player didn't kill Doc. The other 2 poker players really didn't seem that far away on the prairie shooting at Dillon. But yet he acts like they are a mile away.
Anyway, Dillon gets all 3 poker players without killing one, but he did beat up the one who got the loan from the bank and Chester didn't do anything stupid.
Even though I enjoyed the episode, Dillon, as smart as he is at times, still acts like a rookie marshal. Doesn't Dillon realize by now to check a person for more than one gun? That not everyone keeps there gun in a holster on their belt. The poker player had a hidden gun. Dillon is lucky that poker player didn't kill Doc. The other 2 poker players really didn't seem that far away on the prairie shooting at Dillon. But yet he acts like they are a mile away.
Anyway, Dillon gets all 3 poker players without killing one, but he did beat up the one who got the loan from the bank and Chester didn't do anything stupid.
2 Things
darbski23 August 2017
Warning: Spoilers
**SPOILERS** One thing is that the banker in reality is never gonna loan anyone money on a card game at all ever. However, if he was, he'd send a document guaranteeing the amount once everything checks(?) out after the game; then, of course, we wouldn't have a story, would we? Another thing is the derringer. It was never discharged. Once Matt left to shoot at his friends, bad guy one could have easily k.o.d Doc, picked up the weapon and turned the tables.
You know, also, why wasn't Matt using his .30/.30 to pop off at the dandies? He was absolutely right, though; about three or four days on the open prairie, and they'll surrender immediately.
You know, also, why wasn't Matt using his .30/.30 to pop off at the dandies? He was absolutely right, though; about three or four days on the open prairie, and they'll surrender immediately.
Average
dougdoepke22 June 2011
The set-up is a good one. Dillon watches as inexperienced banker Papp loans 20 thousand to gambler Shaneways on basis of a poker hand with four aces. Trouble is Dodge can't afford to lose that much from their bank, but how can they lose with four aces, especially when the bank is promised a profit of 4 thousand in return. Then again, Doc says he's seen the poker players before. So what's Matt going to do.
It's a clever premise, convincingly performed. Note that the script has substitute banker making the reckless loan and not regular banker Botkin who's away. That wrinkle makes such a big loan more believable. However, Dillon's strategy once the action moves to the prairie is rather hard to follow, maybe because of the murky staging. Nonetheless, the final scene makes revealing use of the big empty, the rolling plains of the Kansas frontier.
It's a clever premise, convincingly performed. Note that the script has substitute banker making the reckless loan and not regular banker Botkin who's away. That wrinkle makes such a big loan more believable. However, Dillon's strategy once the action moves to the prairie is rather hard to follow, maybe because of the murky staging. Nonetheless, the final scene makes revealing use of the big empty, the rolling plains of the Kansas frontier.
tbh just needed this space.
birdgoog20 July 2021
Warning: Spoilers
Sorry not a review but taking total advantage to only make a comment. 🤞🏻Swear & Promise that i have like a best excuse involving cancer & suffering & if i could just tell yinz something it'll help me feel way better & i'm gonna trust you wanna help & please not be mad ok?
Lol absolutely every time this episode is available i MUST WATCH. The entire time i patiently wait for this one scenario.
Shaneways: " i think i'm safe enough now, unless the Marshall wants to trade your life for mine!" Doc: "Well why don't you just ask him, he's right behind you!"
SHANEWAYS 🌪SPINS AROUND!🌪
Matt: "HOLD IT."
That little exchange right there imho one of the coolest - funniest - most agile - most surprising - most thrilling - most satisfying - kinda all around bestest - thing anyone could want to see! I watch it over & over till finally sick of it! ... ok so having one of those bad REALLY bad days & realized how HAPPY this perusing was making me feel ... thought maybe if i could just "point it out" someone else might be tempted to watch & maybe even enjoy it as much as i am! Guess tryna share my HAPPY. Everyone needs to find a way, right? TY AGAIN for allowing me to "borrow" this space! Sorry i know i'm an idiot BUT i do feel way better!
Lol absolutely every time this episode is available i MUST WATCH. The entire time i patiently wait for this one scenario.
Shaneways: " i think i'm safe enough now, unless the Marshall wants to trade your life for mine!" Doc: "Well why don't you just ask him, he's right behind you!"
SHANEWAYS 🌪SPINS AROUND!🌪
Matt: "HOLD IT."
That little exchange right there imho one of the coolest - funniest - most agile - most surprising - most thrilling - most satisfying - kinda all around bestest - thing anyone could want to see! I watch it over & over till finally sick of it! ... ok so having one of those bad REALLY bad days & realized how HAPPY this perusing was making me feel ... thought maybe if i could just "point it out" someone else might be tempted to watch & maybe even enjoy it as much as i am! Guess tryna share my HAPPY. Everyone needs to find a way, right? TY AGAIN for allowing me to "borrow" this space! Sorry i know i'm an idiot BUT i do feel way better!
Aces Lose
StrictlyConfidential25 May 2021
Warning: Spoilers
(*Marshal Dillon quote*) - "Did you ever stop to think what would happen if you lose."
There's $20,000 at stake here in this poker game where all that Shaneway needs is for the Dodge City Bank to make him the loan.
The poker hand is 4 aces.
Doc Adams mentions to Marshal Dillon that he recalls the same sort of situation some years ago back in New Orleans on the riverboat, Tennessee Belle.
There's $20,000 at stake here in this poker game where all that Shaneway needs is for the Dodge City Bank to make him the loan.
The poker hand is 4 aces.
Doc Adams mentions to Marshal Dillon that he recalls the same sort of situation some years ago back in New Orleans on the riverboat, Tennessee Belle.
A Clever Scam Coincidentally Exposed
wdavidreynolds19 September 2023
Warning: Spoilers
With Mr. Botkin out of town, his obviously poor-choice replacement Mr. Papp agrees to loan a gambler $20,000 to cover a bet. The gambler - a well-dressed man named Shaneways - requesting (more like demanding) the loan is involved in a poker game and needs the money immediately because his opponent in the card game has only given him twenty minutes to raise the money to cover the bet. When Shaneways shows Papp his hand, which includes four aces, Papp reluctantly agrees to the loan. After all, it is highly unlikely Hook, Shaneways's opponent, will have a hand that can beat four aces.
Matt witnesses the exchange between Papp and Shaneways and is understandably suspicious. He urges Papp to exercise caution, but Papp foolishly views the risk of losing the money negligible, and the 20% return Shaneways promises has the banker seeing dollar signs. Of course, Papp is wrong. When the cards are revealed, Hook has a straight flush (the 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 of hearts), which beats four-of-a-kind.
Shaneways assures Papp and the Marshal he has the money to repay the loan and will have the money sent to the bank as soon as possible. Papp is in a panic, and Dillon is suspicious.
Later, Doc Adams tells Matt he remembers a situation years earlier similar to these events when Doc was a physician on the Tennessee Belle riverboat. (It is revealed in this episode that Doc was not only a riverboat doctor at one time, but he had also spent time in New Orleans.) This revelation naturally does nothing to alleviate Matt's concerns. Matt rightly suspects the men involved in the card game are working together and scamming the bank.
Raymond Bailey returns for the second and final time in a Gunsmoke episode. He plays the Shaneways character here. He had previously guest starred as the mysterious liar General Parsley Smith in the first season episode named after his character. Of course, Bailey would soon go on to star for years as the money-obsessed banker Milburn Drysdale on The Beverly Hillbillies.
Joseph Kearns portrays the hapless banker Mr. Papp. This is the first of four Gunsmoke episodes where Kearns participated. In Season Four, Kearns played Dobie, the manager of the Dodge House, in two episodes and, in a bit of a twist when thinking about his role here as Papp, played banker Botkin in one episode. Kearns was best known for portraying Mr. Wilson on the comedy series Dennis the Menace. Tragically, Kearns suffered a cerebral hemorrhage in 1962 while the third season of Dennis the Menace was in production and passed away.
Alan Dexter plays Hook, the man that held the winning hand in the sham card game. This was the first of three Gunsmoke roles for Dexter. Both additional roles would take place after the series expanded to the one-hour format.
The other man involved in the con-game is known only as Varden, and he is portrayed by obscure actor Gordon Mills. This appearance is the second and last in the series for Mills, who had no acting credits after 1960.
I have an affinity with this episode, because banking and cybersecurity are personally important. A common theme in any scam is the scammer often offers a sure-fire, too-good-to-be-true opportunity. Another classic common theme is the scammer will pressure the intended victim to make a quick decision. Shaneways uses both techniques to get Papp to agree to the loan.
One questionable aspect to this story is Marshal Dillon's surprising ability to discern the three men are working together, although there is little initial evidence of their involvement. It makes sense for Matt to suspect Shaneways, but how he initially ties Hook and Varden into the scam seems sudden and unwarranted.
The coincidence of Doc Adams just happening to know about a similar scam perpetrated several years earlier in a location far away from Dodge is a little too convenient. The crooks have developed a clever, effective scheme, but their actions after pulling off the scam are stupid. Once they decide to take Doc hostage, they ruin any chance they had of getting away.
There are some great scenes in this episode. Chester tries a new coffee-making technique, but Matt is reluctant to try it. The scene out on the prairie between Doc and Shaneways is fun with Shaneways so sure of his position...until he isn't.
In the end, this story has its flaws, but there is enough intrigue to warrant a recommendation.
Matt witnesses the exchange between Papp and Shaneways and is understandably suspicious. He urges Papp to exercise caution, but Papp foolishly views the risk of losing the money negligible, and the 20% return Shaneways promises has the banker seeing dollar signs. Of course, Papp is wrong. When the cards are revealed, Hook has a straight flush (the 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 of hearts), which beats four-of-a-kind.
Shaneways assures Papp and the Marshal he has the money to repay the loan and will have the money sent to the bank as soon as possible. Papp is in a panic, and Dillon is suspicious.
Later, Doc Adams tells Matt he remembers a situation years earlier similar to these events when Doc was a physician on the Tennessee Belle riverboat. (It is revealed in this episode that Doc was not only a riverboat doctor at one time, but he had also spent time in New Orleans.) This revelation naturally does nothing to alleviate Matt's concerns. Matt rightly suspects the men involved in the card game are working together and scamming the bank.
Raymond Bailey returns for the second and final time in a Gunsmoke episode. He plays the Shaneways character here. He had previously guest starred as the mysterious liar General Parsley Smith in the first season episode named after his character. Of course, Bailey would soon go on to star for years as the money-obsessed banker Milburn Drysdale on The Beverly Hillbillies.
Joseph Kearns portrays the hapless banker Mr. Papp. This is the first of four Gunsmoke episodes where Kearns participated. In Season Four, Kearns played Dobie, the manager of the Dodge House, in two episodes and, in a bit of a twist when thinking about his role here as Papp, played banker Botkin in one episode. Kearns was best known for portraying Mr. Wilson on the comedy series Dennis the Menace. Tragically, Kearns suffered a cerebral hemorrhage in 1962 while the third season of Dennis the Menace was in production and passed away.
Alan Dexter plays Hook, the man that held the winning hand in the sham card game. This was the first of three Gunsmoke roles for Dexter. Both additional roles would take place after the series expanded to the one-hour format.
The other man involved in the con-game is known only as Varden, and he is portrayed by obscure actor Gordon Mills. This appearance is the second and last in the series for Mills, who had no acting credits after 1960.
I have an affinity with this episode, because banking and cybersecurity are personally important. A common theme in any scam is the scammer often offers a sure-fire, too-good-to-be-true opportunity. Another classic common theme is the scammer will pressure the intended victim to make a quick decision. Shaneways uses both techniques to get Papp to agree to the loan.
One questionable aspect to this story is Marshal Dillon's surprising ability to discern the three men are working together, although there is little initial evidence of their involvement. It makes sense for Matt to suspect Shaneways, but how he initially ties Hook and Varden into the scam seems sudden and unwarranted.
The coincidence of Doc Adams just happening to know about a similar scam perpetrated several years earlier in a location far away from Dodge is a little too convenient. The crooks have developed a clever, effective scheme, but their actions after pulling off the scam are stupid. Once they decide to take Doc hostage, they ruin any chance they had of getting away.
There are some great scenes in this episode. Chester tries a new coffee-making technique, but Matt is reluctant to try it. The scene out on the prairie between Doc and Shaneways is fun with Shaneways so sure of his position...until he isn't.
In the end, this story has its flaws, but there is enough intrigue to warrant a recommendation.
Nice con game, not much else
kfo949410 July 2013
With banker, Mr Botkins, out of town Mr Papp is in charge of the Dodge Bank when a man, Shaneways, comes in and requests to borrow $20,000. At first there is no way that the bank will let him borrow the money but when Mr Papp learns that Shaneways is in a poker hand and is holding four aces, Mr Papp believes there is no way the bank can lose on this deal. So he loans the money only to lose it in the card games rules. Mr Papp has wagered the entire life of the bank on the hand and is now suicidal.
When Doc Adams hears about the game, he remembers hearing about such a game when he worked on a riverboat. When Shaneways believes he has been discovered, he takes Doc Adams as hostage and leaves town. Matt is on the trail.
The way the con came together was quite interesting. But other than that discovery there is little this episode has to offer. There is one scene where Matt is being shot at while on the prairie. He tells the other person that they are too far away to hit him. Perhaps it was the camera angle but they appeared closer than a right rear-view mirror would have made them seem. Con was nice, not much else.
When Doc Adams hears about the game, he remembers hearing about such a game when he worked on a riverboat. When Shaneways believes he has been discovered, he takes Doc Adams as hostage and leaves town. Matt is on the trail.
The way the con came together was quite interesting. But other than that discovery there is little this episode has to offer. There is one scene where Matt is being shot at while on the prairie. He tells the other person that they are too far away to hit him. Perhaps it was the camera angle but they appeared closer than a right rear-view mirror would have made them seem. Con was nice, not much else.
See also
Awards | FAQ | User Ratings | External Reviews | Metacritic Reviews
