The Prisoner (19 May 1962)
"Gunsmoke" The Prisoner (original title)

A charmer escapes from federal prison to Dodge and finds himself caught up in the drama among two brothers, the wife of one of them, and their domineering father.

Director:

Andrew V. McLaglen

Writer:

Robert E. Thompson

Stars:

James Arness, Dennis Weaver, Milburn Stone

Cast

Episode cast overview, first billed only:
James Arness	...	Matt Dillon
Dennis Weaver	...	Chester
Milburn Stone	...	Doc
Amanda Blake	...	Kitty
Andrew Prine	...	Billy Joe
Nancy Gates	...	Sarah
Conrad Nagel	...	Major
Ed Nelson	...	Seth
Dabbs Greer	...	Mr. Jonas
Rayford Barnes	...	Jellicoe
William Phipps	...	Ham
Charles Fredericks	...	Hunk
William B. Corrie	...	Waiter (as William Corrie)
Dorothy Neumann	...	Mrs. Pierson
Cathie Merchant	...	Sally (as Cathy Merchant)

Storyline

Billy Joe escapes from federal custody, leaving his guard dead and his fellow prisoner dying. He arrives at a farmhouse near Dodge where he diverts a pretty woman who is the unhappy wife of a sodden man dominated by his father and resented by his equally cowed brother. When the husband winds up dead, Billy Joe finds himself accused by the family of the murder, and the father threatens to administer "justice" to Billy Joe himself. There was already a wanted poster out on him for the escape and the killing of the guard, but Billy Joe protests his innocence of it all, reminding Matt that it's his duty to protect him from the would-be lyncher.

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Genres:

Drama | Western

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

19 May 1962 (USA)

Filming Locations:

Paramount Studios - 5555 Melrose Avenue, Hollywood, 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

Not the best show but one that held my interest to the end

From the rating of this episode, I am in the minority since I found this show rather interesting. A true old-school western that was a pleasure to watch even though the script had an overkill feel to the story.

Billy Joe is an escaped convict from an Federal prison that killed a guard on his exit. He lands in Dodge where he gets into a bar fight that Marshal Dillon has to break-up.

The next day the Marshal gets a wanted poster with Billy Joe's picture and goes out to find the convict. Just so happens he finds Billy Joe with broken ribs after being thrown from his horse. While Matt and the convict are talking, Major Owens and his son Seth come riding up claiming that Billy Joe shot and killed Ham Owens ( Major's other son) and abused Ham's wife, Sarah. They want him dead.

The Marshal takes Billy Joe to jail before getting word that Billy Joe has to go back to Federal prison before being tried on the murder of Ham. This does not set well with Major and Seth as they wait outside the jail waiting for the opportunity to kill the convict.

However the real story has not been told. Even with Billy Joe being an all-out bad dude, Sarah has a secret that she has not been told and it may be too late before another murder occurs around Dodge City.

This is not a show that keeps you on the edge of your seat- but it does entertain enough to make for a good watch. There are some odd writings like when Sarah wants to tell her father what really happen at the farm house but after three minutes obviously did not have time. Yet she tells Chester the story in three seconds. Not the best show but one that held my interest to the end.