Gunsmoke (TV Series) Crack-Up (1957) User Reviews

John Dehner brings this story to life

[kfo9494 · 9/10 · 15 June 2013]

John Dehner is brilliant as he plays gunfighter Nate Springer that obviously has seen better days. Nate, a once surefire man with a gun, now seems to be strangely jumpy as he enters Dodge to take care of business.

Matt first encounter with Nate is enough for Matt to know that he is a gunfighter. But Matt also knows from Nate's action that something is not right with the man but he is set on finding out who hired Nate and who Nate is going to murder. But when Nate shoots a dog and draws on a saloon girl, Matt believes Nate has lost his nerve. The true test will come when Matt finds out who Nate intends to kill.

Cannot say enough about character actor John Dehner. Looking back, no other person could have done a better job of playing the jumpy gunfighter. Add in a nicely written story and the start of season three could not have been better.

Dehner Delight

[jamdifo · 9/10 · 23 January 2013]

Great 1st episode to season 3. John Dehner was awesome as the gunman. He just recently played Miss Kitty's Dad only a few episodes ago, so at first I thought he was going after Dillon because he interfered with his daughter, but he plays a totally different character in this one.

The first encounter at the barbershop was classic. I love how Marshal Dillon never backs down to any gunman. The episode creates suspense as to why Dehner's character is at Dodge and why is he so nervous or "jumpy". He's rude to everybody and is so nervous he shoots a dog! That's classic, and Miss Kitty saw it.

In the end the questions are answered and my only dislike is John Dehner won't be back as Nate Springer.

Confidence Lost

[wdavidreynolds · 7/10 · 7 January 2022]

When a nasty, belligerent gunfighter named Nate Springer shows up in Dodge City, Matt Dillon assumes Springer intends to kill someone, but he wants to know who hired the gunfighter and why. The longer Springer is in town, the more curious everyone becomes. Instead of acting like a confident, determined assassin, Springer lashes out at people and behaves in a tentative manner.

This episode is a vehicle for John Dehner to show his elite acting ability. Dehner carries the show as the Nate Springer character. The prolific actor must have been the hardest working person in television during the late 1950s and early 1960s, because it seems as though he appears in every television series airing during that time period. This first episode of Season 3 appearance is already Dehner's fourth in the Gunsmoke series, and he has never been better.

(Dehner was also a frequent actor on the radio version of Gunsmoke. He provided the voice for many characters during the show's run.)

Jess Kirkpatrick makes another appearance as barber Frank Teeters, and Howard Culver plays hotel clerk Howie Uzzell again. (In what must have been an error, Culver's character is listed as "Jim Uzzell" in the credits. During the episode, Chester calls him "Howard," and he was frequently addressed as "Howie.")

This story shares some thematic elements with the late Season 2 episode "Who Lives by the Sword." Both stories deal with gunfighters who struggle with a loss of confidence.

He Even Shoots a Dog!

[dougdoepke · 2 August 2011]

A belligerent stranger (Dehner) arrives in Dodge, antagonizing just about everyone and even shooting a dog! Matt figures he's a gunman hired to take someone out. But it's not clear since Springer behaves so oddly with a hollow-eyed stare, to boot. I like Matt's observation that he's not just mean, but worse, he's "jumpy", which makes him more dangerous.

The entry is really a showcase for that fine actor John Dehner, so good in so many TV Westerns of the period. I'm not sure how credible his character is here once we find out what's eating him, but Dehner's got that hollow-eyed stare down in spades. There's some suspense as we wonder what's up with gunman Springer; plus, one of the more detailed death scenes, which usually amounts to just lying motionless.

Nothing special, just a solid entry to kick off the third season of what was becoming a highly popular series.

Matt wins Again

[csmith-99615 · 10/10 · 7 September 2020]

I agree that the half hour format was great. If this episode was later in the series, the same story would have been told with 25 minutes of unnecessary banter between Chester/ Doc / Matt which certainly isn't the worst scenario. John Dehner plays the perfect villain which as usual is no match for our Marshall. Most of these 30 minute episodes are NOT rushed at the end which is a testimonial to great writing.

Quentisential western - Toxic Mascalentity At Its Finest!

[jdcoates · 9/10 · 30 January 2019]

This is one of my favorite episodes Gunsmoke. Keep in mind I'm not a fan of that later hour long episodes or the color episodes. The first 5 years of 30 minute episodes packed in more plot, story, and characterization than most hour long shows today.

Similar to Jimmy Stewart's performance in many of Anthony Man's best western feature films, Matt Dillon is portrayed as a man that speaks softly but carries a big stick, and only uses it when pushed to the brink. This episode is quintessential Matt Dillon. Men want to be him, and women want to be with him.

Also, JohnDenver, well-known character actor through the 1950s to the 1970s, perfectly plays the coldheart gunman.

Well done

[maskers-87126 · 9/10 · 20 September 2018]

Dehner always good really carried this. Excellent performance. He made it a. Believeable tale which in other hands could be overwrought.

Top tier half hour

[chchurch · 8/10 · 30 August 2023]

The csmith review is right on...it amazes me how good these 30 minute episodes are. I was looking forward to the rollover (on MeTV anyway) to the old b&w half hour shows and most pay off.

This show uses a tried and true plot: a dirty rotten scoundrel (who shoots a poor dog!) VS the ultimate good guy hero (Matt). From minute three on we want Matt to put the guy down, and he does.

This first show of season three is why Gunsmoke is now the number one rated show on television. It took two seasons for the show to ramp up and season two made it to number 7. It will remain number one for two more seasons and remain in the top 15 for ten more.