While returning suspected killer Pruit Dover to Dodge to stand trial, Matt is shot and badly wounded, and yet Dover stays with him and nurses him back to health.While returning suspected killer Pruit Dover to Dodge to stand trial, Matt is shot and badly wounded, and yet Dover stays with him and nurses him back to health.While returning suspected killer Pruit Dover to Dodge to stand trial, Matt is shot and badly wounded, and yet Dover stays with him and nurses him back to health.
Photos
- Ax
- (as Robert J. Stevenson)
- Hangman
- (as Robert Gravage)
- Townsman
- (uncredited)
- Townsman
- (uncredited)
- Townsman
- (uncredited)
- Townsman
- (uncredited)
- Director
- Writers
- John Meston(uncredited)
- Norman MacDonnell(uncredited)
- Charles Marquis Warren(uncredited)
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaWhen Dillon and Pruitt ride into Hays City, it is the same location on the Paramount western street that served as Virginia City in the series Bonanza (1959).
- GoofsWhen Pruitt Dover fights the older man next to the pond, it is obvious that there is a stunt double standing in for him. Pruit's hair is much lighter in color than the double's, whose hair is black.
- Quotes
Matt Dillon: The only thing that's been left out, Your Honor, is any proof that Pruit Dover is guilty of cold-blooded murder.
Judge: You have any proof that he isn't?
Matt Dillon: Well, just that nobody saw it, nobody at all.
Judge: Well, Louie Pheeters, he just the same as saw it.
Matt Dillon: Louie Pheeters. Your Honor, poor old Louie has been known to see a lot of things, including snakes, dragons and hellfire.
A judge is supposed to be impartial, but not willfully blind to the truth. Extenuating circumstances are supposed to be carefully weighed as much as any circumstantial evidence. This episode is an indictment against western justice, which did have an insufficient level of appellate review.
In today's system, this verdict would have likely been overturned given the entire lack of evidence indicating murder. Reasonable doubt combined with extenuating circumstances. The judge shown here failed miserably to take that truth into account, and so what is presented here is an unjust verdict.
What therefore unfolds is a collision of people instilled with integrity, who are each compelled to try to do the right thing for the right reasons, but find themselves trapped by a single damnable decision by a corrupt judge.
It is a very sobering reminder that again, justice is only rendered by just and reasonable men, who remember their public duties and act without malice and prejudice.
In the era of 1962, the idea of omitting the standard coda theme was never contemplated. But, this episode ended on such a profoundly emotional level, that frankly it would have been best to omit the entire closing theme song and instead list the credits in silence. The ending was just that stark.
This episode cannot be missed. It was exceptional in 1962 when premiered and today is perhaps even more exceptional.
- kenstallings-65346
- Jan 10, 2019
Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Language
- Filming locations
- Production companies
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
- Runtime1 hour
- Color
- Aspect ratio
- 1.33 : 1
- 4:3