Gunsmoke (TV Series) Gunsmuggler (1958) User Reviews

Back To Town in Style

[jamdifo · 9/10 · 29 July 2013]

Excellent episode! You know when the episode begins on Boot Hill, its going to be a dark episode and usually really good, and this was no exception.

Here, we really see a very angry, yet subdued Dillon in this episode. Finding out a family of 8 were all killed by Pawnees, what angers Matt was that they were killed by guns, so someone sold the guns to them with no thought of what would happen to innocent people. Kind of mimics real life today like the Mexican Cartel getting guns from the US or terrorists getting weapons to use on innocent people.

I also liked how smart Dillon was thru out the whole episode. It was great to see how his mind was working to get this gunsmuggler. When he finally did get him, he gave the guy the beating he deserved. Instead of killing him, Dillon tells Chester "put the noose around his neck so he can go back to town in style!" Even though that's already making that gunsmuggler (Lou Krugman) guilty before being tried, he is responsible for 8 deaths and probably more in the future. I just don't understand why Dillon didn't disarm the gunsmuggler after beating him up, because he could wake up and fire a shot so everyone would've died.

Other observations: Great musical score making you feel the dread and danger of the episode. Doc's expressions of the deceased family really showed how terrible the killings were. Also, when he says good-bye to Matt and Chester, you honestly feel they might not come back. This is Frank DeKova third and final time playing Tobeel. I loved it when Joe Shaw (Sam Edwards) told the marshal he is crazy going into Pawnee territory and Dillon responds "That's possible". Nice to see Dabs Greer as Jonas again. I wished they would've shown Dillon bringing the gunsmuggler back to town "in style". Again, excellent episode.

Tracking Through the Kansas Mountains

[dougdoepke · 31 March 2012]

A cavalry major informs Matt that a band of Pawnee have gotten guns and are now ravaging the countryside. The major says the guns must have come from Dodge, specifically Jonas' hardware store. Matt disagrees, and sets out with an Indian scout to find the band and whoever is smuggling guns to them.

Pretty good episode. Most of the action is away from Dodge in the countryside. Sticklers can point out the very un-Kansas mountains the men travel through, but what the heck. Note the nicely staged burned-out scene on the prairie that lends a realistic touch to the rampage,(certain similarities here to that fine 1972 cavalry western, Ulzana's Raid). This 30- minutes is nothing special, just solid Gunsmoke entertainment.

Pawnee, My Buckskin

[darbski · 10/10 · 29 August 2017]

**SPOILERS** I've said it before, that the chances of Pawnee being renegades or war parties are exactly TWO: slim and none. If they'd said Kiowa, or Cheyenne, that would be more accurate, but they would have been actual war parties, and not renegades. The scum selling them rifles and ammo would have been hung right after a swift trial and being found guilty.

I liked the cowboy who told Matt, Tobeel, and Chester that he'd tell people what happened to them, but I didn't and don't believe that he'd give up his Pistol. Put a bullet in his head (mercy) yes. Leave a firearm, NEVER.

White Gunsmugglers

[StrictlyConfidential · 6/10 · 18 April 2021]

(*Marshal Dillon quote*) - "Say, you must be kind of hard up for customers tonight."

A band of renegade Pawnee Indians have gotten hold of some rifles and they are attacking local ranchers.

Major Evans comes to Dodge to get help from Marshal Dillon.

Dillon and Indian guide, Tobeel head out to the prairie to try to track down the culprits in question.

Too much dialog nearly ruined this episode

[kfo9494 · 5/10 · 14 July 2013]

When a group of renegade Pawnee Indians start killing settlers the Cavalry becomes even more worrisome when they find out that the Indians have rifles. The Major believes that someone in Dodge is supplying the Indians and wants Matt to find out the person. However Matt believes that the gun-smuggler is someone on the prairie and he sets off with an Indian guide and Chester to find the responsible person and bring him to justice.

Even though this was a classic western story it seemed long for a thirty minute show. The show was near twenty minutes into the program and very little action had occurred. A large portion of the episode was taken up with dialog while tracking the Indians before any excitement began. By the time the episode ends very little seemed accomplished. Just an average show that produced average results.