The Magician (21 Dec. 1963)
"Gunsmoke" The Magician (original title)

A mild old peddler of patent medicines and card tricks arrives in Dodge with his grown daughter, hoping to settle down, but instead they find their worst luck yet, beginning with a card game with a rich man and his spoiled son.

Director:

Harry Harris

Writer:

John Kneubuhl

Stars:

James Arness, Milburn Stone, Amanda Blake

Cast

Episode cast overview:
James Arness	...	Matt Dillon
Milburn Stone	...	Doc
Amanda Blake	...	Kitty
Burt Reynolds	...	Quint
Lloyd Corrigan	...	Jeremiah
Tom Simcox	...	Tom
Barry Kelley	...	Wells
Brooke Bundy	...	Alice
Sheldon Allman	...	Banks
Bill Zuckert	...	Ned (as William Zuckert)
James Nusser	...	Louie Pheeters
Ken Tilles	...	Sy

Storyline

Jeremiah Dark and his daughter are from a hundred nowheres and heading to the same, wanting to bring a little happiness to those he meets. Accused of cheating at cards and then roughed up, he doesn't identify those responsible and Matt is afraid he might take the law into his own hands.

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Genres:

Drama | Western

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Details

Language:

English

Release Date:

21 December 1963 (USA)

Filming Locations:

CBS Studio Center - 4024 Radford Avenue, Studio City, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Arness Production Company, Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

60 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

User Reviews

A surprising show with a great cast and script

Maybe I was not expecting much from this episode, but what a surprise. this is one the better episodes in the entire collection. With Lloyd Corrigan playing the lead and a cast of other fine actors, this show entertained to the highest level. A great show.

Aging and tired Jeremiah Dark and his daughter Alice come to Dodge with the traveling wagon peddling a so-called medicine. Jeremiah is also some type of magician as he does card tricks and slight-of-hand items for the crowd. When Marshal Dillon speaks to Jeremiah about the reason for being in Dodge, he advises that he is tired. He just wants to stop for a few days instead of moving from town to town.

Jeremiah goes into a saloon and gets pulled into a card game by Aaron Wells. Mr Wells, his son Tom and his foreman are drinking and actually force him into the game. When Jeremiah wins many games one of the patrons advises that he is a card shark and is accused of cheating. Tom hits Jeremiah and throws him into the street. Later, the drunk Tom sees Alice and assaults her. With Alice laying on Doc's table, Jeremiah refuses to tell Matt any information about the assault saying evil will kill evil. But Matt already has an idea.

Matt goes out to the Wells farm to talk with Tom. Tom tells the Marshal that he was with his father last night. His stunned father backs-up the story but knows that Tom is guilty. Matt gets Tom to ride so Alice can see him- but she says that it was not him.

Tom's father, Aaron Wells, tries to pay off Jeremiah for $300 then tops it up to $500. Jeremiah grabs the money with the condition that he leave town. But he does not leave as quick as wanted making Tom say that he will take care of the old man. Tom rides to town, stands in an window and points the gun at Jeremiah...a shot rings out. Then comes one of my favorite lines in any show "It was the sound of justice, Alice- The sound of evil bursting."

One of the better episodes I have witnessed. From a beginning that did not look promising, this turned upward making for an exciting watch. You should be pleased with this show.