Professor Jacoby is a photographer from back East in Dodge, willing to do anything for a picture, even to the point of committing murder.Professor Jacoby is a photographer from back East in Dodge, willing to do anything for a picture, even to the point of committing murder.Professor Jacoby is a photographer from back East in Dodge, willing to do anything for a picture, even to the point of committing murder.
Dean Fredericks
- Gart
- (as Norman Frederic)
Fred Carson
- Townsman
- (uncredited)
Tex Holden
- Townsman
- (uncredited)
Charles King
- Townsman
- (uncredited)
Tex Palmer
- Townsman
- (uncredited)
Bert Rumsey
- Bartender
- (uncredited)
Cap Somers
- Longbranch Patron
- (uncredited)
- Director
- Writers
- John Dunkel
- Norman MacDonnell(uncredited)
- John Meston(uncredited)
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- GoofsWhen Chester looks in the camera, the image is upside-down (which is correct). However, it should also be reversed left-to-right (which it isn't).
- Quotes
Professor Jacoby: What do you know about men like me Marshal? Laws are for little men, like you. But for us, the great ones, we take what we want, do what we want, even kill if we want.
Featured review
Ignorance and Arrogance Can Be a Fatal Combination
Professor Jacoby is a photographer from the Eastern U. S. who has traveled to Dodge City with the intention of taking sensational photographs of gunfighters, American Indians, and any scenes showing violent acts. He intends to send his pictures back east to Harper's Weekly for publication. The people of Dodge are understandably fascinated with the technology required for producing photographs.
Jacoby considers himself an artist, and he considers artistic endeavors to be above the law. Furthermore, he also suffers from delusions of grandeur. He sees himself as a great man and most others as dispensable common people. He is out of his element in a place like Dodge, but his arrogance is such that he cannot see it.
Matt Dillon finds Jacoby's photography amusing at first, but not everyone agrees. A group of Cheyenne hunters arrive in Dodge to sell hides, and Jacoby photographs them. The Cheyenne are not convinced the photography is harmless. When a derelict named Grubby is found murdered and scalped, Marshal Dillon suddenly has his hands full dealing with townspeople convinced the Cheyenne men are responsible and Jacoby's continued picture-taking efforts become increasingly troublesome because, as Jacoby makes very clear, he will do anything for a photograph.
Sebastian Cabot returns for his second and final Gunsmoke appearance. In Season 1 he appeared in the episode "The Queue." In this episode, Cabot is outstanding as the Professor Jacoby character. In both episodes, he portrayed extremely unlikable characters, which is quite the contrast to his later roles as Giles French in the series Family Affair and as Kris Kringle in a remake of Miracle on 34th Street.
Dean Fredericks makes his only Gunsmoke appearance as an aspiring gunfighter named Gart. Fredericks had appeared in an uncredited role in the sci-fi film Them! A few years earlier. James Arness had a starring role in that film. Fredericks would soon begin starring in the short-lived series Steve Canyon, which was a live action version of the popular comic strip. Fredericks does not have much to do here, except stand around.
Ned Glass had recently guest starred in the episode titled "Bureaucrat." He is almost unrecognizable in this story with bushy, unkempt facial hair. Glass appeared in nine different installments of the series between Season 2 and Season 14.
Actor Charles Horvath was about as prolific actor as has existed, but most of his roles were small parts and were often uncredited. He plays the Cheyenne man known as Left Hand in this story. He appeared in one additional Gunsmoke episode in Season 13.
This is one of the better John Dunkel stories. The subject matter is unique, and the reaction to Jacoby's technology is often funny. Cabot's performance stands out, as his smiling, cool demeanor belies the underlying sinister arrogance of his actions. If there is a lesson to be learned in this story, it is that ignorance and arrogant certainty are a dangerous combination.
A minor detail I appreciate about this story is the way Dunkel juxtaposes Chester Goode's fear and Matt Dillon's respect for the Cheyenne people.
Jacoby considers himself an artist, and he considers artistic endeavors to be above the law. Furthermore, he also suffers from delusions of grandeur. He sees himself as a great man and most others as dispensable common people. He is out of his element in a place like Dodge, but his arrogance is such that he cannot see it.
Matt Dillon finds Jacoby's photography amusing at first, but not everyone agrees. A group of Cheyenne hunters arrive in Dodge to sell hides, and Jacoby photographs them. The Cheyenne are not convinced the photography is harmless. When a derelict named Grubby is found murdered and scalped, Marshal Dillon suddenly has his hands full dealing with townspeople convinced the Cheyenne men are responsible and Jacoby's continued picture-taking efforts become increasingly troublesome because, as Jacoby makes very clear, he will do anything for a photograph.
Sebastian Cabot returns for his second and final Gunsmoke appearance. In Season 1 he appeared in the episode "The Queue." In this episode, Cabot is outstanding as the Professor Jacoby character. In both episodes, he portrayed extremely unlikable characters, which is quite the contrast to his later roles as Giles French in the series Family Affair and as Kris Kringle in a remake of Miracle on 34th Street.
Dean Fredericks makes his only Gunsmoke appearance as an aspiring gunfighter named Gart. Fredericks had appeared in an uncredited role in the sci-fi film Them! A few years earlier. James Arness had a starring role in that film. Fredericks would soon begin starring in the short-lived series Steve Canyon, which was a live action version of the popular comic strip. Fredericks does not have much to do here, except stand around.
Ned Glass had recently guest starred in the episode titled "Bureaucrat." He is almost unrecognizable in this story with bushy, unkempt facial hair. Glass appeared in nine different installments of the series between Season 2 and Season 14.
Actor Charles Horvath was about as prolific actor as has existed, but most of his roles were small parts and were often uncredited. He plays the Cheyenne man known as Left Hand in this story. He appeared in one additional Gunsmoke episode in Season 13.
This is one of the better John Dunkel stories. The subject matter is unique, and the reaction to Jacoby's technology is often funny. Cabot's performance stands out, as his smiling, cool demeanor belies the underlying sinister arrogance of his actions. If there is a lesson to be learned in this story, it is that ignorance and arrogant certainty are a dangerous combination.
A minor detail I appreciate about this story is the way Dunkel juxtaposes Chester Goode's fear and Matt Dillon's respect for the Cheyenne people.
helpful•11
- wdavidreynolds
- Jan 4, 2022
Details
- Runtime30 minutes
- Color
- Aspect ratio
- 1.33 : 1
- 4:3
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