This is one of my favorite Gunsmoke episodes! Seen it several times now but luckily i never forget the first time! Not tryna be a 🚨spoiler person🚨 so i'll just say the ending is BRILLIANT! Still recall (during first viewing) how i went from being angry and disappointed in the supposed outcome to THRILLED and, well, AMUSED when i realized what really happened. Absolutely HATED the "Dal" character but now i'm old and i see what a great actor James Best was! imo it was Mr Best who RULED this episode. Actually everyone did a terrific job in their roles but the part of Dal had to be a pussified braggart, a sniveling fool. Now, i can't imagine anyone else in that part. Just wouldn't have worked! So the actors were superb and so was the writing! lol i LOVED the ending so much that i can watch this story over & over! ... siiiiiigh ... but it will NEVER be as AWESOME as the first time!
13 Reviews
One of the most solid episodes in the entire series.
kfo94949 December 2012
This has one of the most powerful endings of any 'Gunsmoke' episode in the entire series. Making this episode one of the best I have seen in a very long time.
The show centers around Major Creed (RG Armstrong) who is a large land and farm owner outside of Dodge City. He has a son named Dal Creed (James Best) that happens to be a weak coward which is totally opposite from his father.
Dal happens up on the Long Branch one evening and tries to strong-arm a saloon girl named Lottie. However Lottie is in a relationship with Pat Kane who just happens to be a ex-worker of the Creed ranch that Dal got fired. Anyway Pat don't take kindly to have his girl roughed up by Dal so they get into a fist fight until broken up by Marshal Dillon.
The next night while Lottie and Pat are leaving the Long Branch, shots ring out and Lottie is killed. Chester happens up to the scene and witnesses Dal getting on his horse and riding off. So Matt and Chester go out to the Creed farm to arrest Dal.
After a guilty verdict with the penalty of hanging, Major Creed uses all his political power to try to get a retrial or pardon. When he tells Dal that all attempts so far have failed - Dal goes into a crying and whining fit that embarrasses all that witness the spectacle. His father apologizes for his son's action and begins to think of a way that his son can die with a smile on his face.
The sheriff where the hanging is to take place tells Dal that his father has paid him and others to fake the hanging. Dal will look like he was hung but will be safe under the boarded up scaffold. Upon hearing this news Dal changes from a crying coward into a arrogant bully. It will be with the flare of arrogance that Dal ascends the steps to the hangman's noose. But all is not the truth.
Whatever the reason, at the end of this episode I knew I had witnessed a great entertaining story. From the script to the acting the entire episode was solid. James Best was perfect as the coward. R.G. Armstrong was a perfect cast as the father figure. Even minor characters such as the sheriff of Hays City was brilliant to the script. One of the most solid shows in the entire 'Gunsmoke' collection.
The show centers around Major Creed (RG Armstrong) who is a large land and farm owner outside of Dodge City. He has a son named Dal Creed (James Best) that happens to be a weak coward which is totally opposite from his father.
Dal happens up on the Long Branch one evening and tries to strong-arm a saloon girl named Lottie. However Lottie is in a relationship with Pat Kane who just happens to be a ex-worker of the Creed ranch that Dal got fired. Anyway Pat don't take kindly to have his girl roughed up by Dal so they get into a fist fight until broken up by Marshal Dillon.
The next night while Lottie and Pat are leaving the Long Branch, shots ring out and Lottie is killed. Chester happens up to the scene and witnesses Dal getting on his horse and riding off. So Matt and Chester go out to the Creed farm to arrest Dal.
After a guilty verdict with the penalty of hanging, Major Creed uses all his political power to try to get a retrial or pardon. When he tells Dal that all attempts so far have failed - Dal goes into a crying and whining fit that embarrasses all that witness the spectacle. His father apologizes for his son's action and begins to think of a way that his son can die with a smile on his face.
The sheriff where the hanging is to take place tells Dal that his father has paid him and others to fake the hanging. Dal will look like he was hung but will be safe under the boarded up scaffold. Upon hearing this news Dal changes from a crying coward into a arrogant bully. It will be with the flare of arrogance that Dal ascends the steps to the hangman's noose. But all is not the truth.
Whatever the reason, at the end of this episode I knew I had witnessed a great entertaining story. From the script to the acting the entire episode was solid. James Best was perfect as the coward. R.G. Armstrong was a perfect cast as the father figure. Even minor characters such as the sheriff of Hays City was brilliant to the script. One of the most solid shows in the entire 'Gunsmoke' collection.
simply great!
bill-975-33250214 April 2014
I just finished watching this show and when the final scene completed I said to myself, "that was probably the finest Gunsmoke episode i have ever seen in my life!" and then I read the other reviews ... you guys were spot on! If more westerns scripts were written like this, the genre would have survived the march of time... well done.
I also always liked the actor James Best (the "hanged" guy), but I never liked the characters he played... too bad they had to type cast him so his entire career, he really was a decent actor. Kind of a B movie kind of actor, until he finally found Dukes of Hazzard, which totally type cast him for the rest of eternity... now this Gunsmoke episode will be the way I remember him.
I also always liked the actor James Best (the "hanged" guy), but I never liked the characters he played... too bad they had to type cast him so his entire career, he really was a decent actor. Kind of a B movie kind of actor, until he finally found Dukes of Hazzard, which totally type cast him for the rest of eternity... now this Gunsmoke episode will be the way I remember him.
Outstanding in Every Aspect
wdavidreynolds21 October 2020
Warning: Spoilers
One of the things I love about Gunsmoke is the number of high-quality episodes it produced over the 20-year run of the series. "With A Smile" is one of those standout offerings. I try to avoid spoilers in my reviews, but it is difficult to attempt to adequately write about this episode without venturing into spoiler territory.
There are actually a few different stories embedded in this episode. The first is the tragic story of Lottie Foy. Lottie is the hardworking daughter of a Dodge City area farmer. When her father is killed by a cowboy from the Creed Ranch who has designs on Lottie, she is forced to sell the farm and take a job as one of Kitty's saloon girls at the Long Branch Saloon. While working at the Long Branch, Lottie meets Pat Kane, and the two strike up a relationship. Lottie is in love and very happy. This is one of the plotlines, and could have easily been an episode on its own.
Another plotline involves Major Creed and his son, Dal. The Major is a powerful, respected man with significant political influence. Unfortunately, Dal possesses none of his father's integrity. Dal uses the power and influence afforded by his father's reputation to bully others with seemingly no repercussions.
Eventually, the fates of Lottie and Dal cross. Lottie's role in this part of the story reminds me a bit of the character named Annie from an earlier Season 8 episode, "Phoebe Strunk." Trouble seems to follow Annie in that episode, and the same is true for Lottie in "With A Smile," except with an even more cruel, tragic outcome.
When Dal's advances are rebuffed by Lottie, he waits in ambush and murders her. Chester hears the shot and sees Dal ride away from the scene of the crime. The next day, Marshal Dillon and Chester ride out to the Creed Ranch. Dal tries to laugh off the Marshal's charges, but Chester tells Dal and the Major that he saw Dal riding away from the scene of the crime. Matt arrests Dal, and he is subsequently convicted of murder and sentenced to hang.
This series of events introduces the final plotline. The other characters fade away as the story moves from Dodge City to Hayes as Dal faces execution. The story now zooms in on the Major, Dal, Marshal Dillon, and the Hayes sheriff.
Major Creed is a proud man, "...too proud, maybe." Although he seems to know Dal is guilty, he spends considerable time and effort attempting to get Dal another trial or to get his sentence changed. Dal, on the other hand, is a tremendous coward, much to the shame of his proud father. As the time for Dal's sentence to be carried out draws closer, and it becomes increasingly clear that Dal will have to face justice, Dal's cowardice and the Major's resolve to see his son accept his fate with some measure of dignity both become more pronounced. This leads to a clever conclusion to the story.
The characters and the actors that portray them in this episode are about as perfect as it gets. James Best is absolutely outstanding as Dal Creed. I particularly love the scenes where Dal's nature is so clearly exhibited. When Dal is in the Dodge City jail, he treats Chester with contempt and complains about the food. When he is moved to the jail in Hayes, he is terrified at first, as it becomes increasingly apparent his father cannot save him. However, when he thinks he has a chance to "cheat the rope," he immediately reverts back to his arrogant, condescending ways. We can clearly see there is no repentance on Dal's part.
Casting R.G. Armstrong in the role of the Major is another perfect move. Armstrong exhibits the stoicism and exudes the air of authority the character demands. Like Dal, the Major isn't particularly interested in justice. He never shows any remorse that Dal murdered Lottie. His only interest is in how Dal's ultimate demise will reflect on the Creed name. He is primarily interested in preserving some sense of "manliness" and personal pride.
Dick Foran (the Hayes sheriff), Lindon Chiles (Pat Kane, Lottie's love interest), Dan Stafford (Kelly, the despicable ranch hand who kills Lottie's father and clearly intends to force himself on Lottie) and Sharon Farrell (Lottie) all have relatively short appearances here, but they all shine in their roles.
The ending of this episode is chilling. When Dal exclaims to Matt, "No hard feelings," and extends his hand, the momentary look on Matt's face conveys some mixture of sadness, surprise, and confusion. Dal displays his tendency for arrogant condescension right up to the end when the hangman asks if he wants a hood. The way the sheriff flinches when the hangman releases the door on the gallows and we see the shadow of the body plunging toward death perfectly reflects the never ending shock of such an event. (Since hangings in the area took place in Hayes, one would assume the sheriff had seen his fair share. Yet he *still* flinches.) The Major wants no part of witnessing his son's death, but he arrives on the scene almost immediately afterwards seeking assurances that his son "died like a man." It is all handled with subtlety and grace by the writers, actors, and director.
This is certainly one of the best episodes of not only this season but the entire series.
There are actually a few different stories embedded in this episode. The first is the tragic story of Lottie Foy. Lottie is the hardworking daughter of a Dodge City area farmer. When her father is killed by a cowboy from the Creed Ranch who has designs on Lottie, she is forced to sell the farm and take a job as one of Kitty's saloon girls at the Long Branch Saloon. While working at the Long Branch, Lottie meets Pat Kane, and the two strike up a relationship. Lottie is in love and very happy. This is one of the plotlines, and could have easily been an episode on its own.
Another plotline involves Major Creed and his son, Dal. The Major is a powerful, respected man with significant political influence. Unfortunately, Dal possesses none of his father's integrity. Dal uses the power and influence afforded by his father's reputation to bully others with seemingly no repercussions.
Eventually, the fates of Lottie and Dal cross. Lottie's role in this part of the story reminds me a bit of the character named Annie from an earlier Season 8 episode, "Phoebe Strunk." Trouble seems to follow Annie in that episode, and the same is true for Lottie in "With A Smile," except with an even more cruel, tragic outcome.
When Dal's advances are rebuffed by Lottie, he waits in ambush and murders her. Chester hears the shot and sees Dal ride away from the scene of the crime. The next day, Marshal Dillon and Chester ride out to the Creed Ranch. Dal tries to laugh off the Marshal's charges, but Chester tells Dal and the Major that he saw Dal riding away from the scene of the crime. Matt arrests Dal, and he is subsequently convicted of murder and sentenced to hang.
This series of events introduces the final plotline. The other characters fade away as the story moves from Dodge City to Hayes as Dal faces execution. The story now zooms in on the Major, Dal, Marshal Dillon, and the Hayes sheriff.
Major Creed is a proud man, "...too proud, maybe." Although he seems to know Dal is guilty, he spends considerable time and effort attempting to get Dal another trial or to get his sentence changed. Dal, on the other hand, is a tremendous coward, much to the shame of his proud father. As the time for Dal's sentence to be carried out draws closer, and it becomes increasingly clear that Dal will have to face justice, Dal's cowardice and the Major's resolve to see his son accept his fate with some measure of dignity both become more pronounced. This leads to a clever conclusion to the story.
The characters and the actors that portray them in this episode are about as perfect as it gets. James Best is absolutely outstanding as Dal Creed. I particularly love the scenes where Dal's nature is so clearly exhibited. When Dal is in the Dodge City jail, he treats Chester with contempt and complains about the food. When he is moved to the jail in Hayes, he is terrified at first, as it becomes increasingly apparent his father cannot save him. However, when he thinks he has a chance to "cheat the rope," he immediately reverts back to his arrogant, condescending ways. We can clearly see there is no repentance on Dal's part.
Casting R.G. Armstrong in the role of the Major is another perfect move. Armstrong exhibits the stoicism and exudes the air of authority the character demands. Like Dal, the Major isn't particularly interested in justice. He never shows any remorse that Dal murdered Lottie. His only interest is in how Dal's ultimate demise will reflect on the Creed name. He is primarily interested in preserving some sense of "manliness" and personal pride.
Dick Foran (the Hayes sheriff), Lindon Chiles (Pat Kane, Lottie's love interest), Dan Stafford (Kelly, the despicable ranch hand who kills Lottie's father and clearly intends to force himself on Lottie) and Sharon Farrell (Lottie) all have relatively short appearances here, but they all shine in their roles.
The ending of this episode is chilling. When Dal exclaims to Matt, "No hard feelings," and extends his hand, the momentary look on Matt's face conveys some mixture of sadness, surprise, and confusion. Dal displays his tendency for arrogant condescension right up to the end when the hangman asks if he wants a hood. The way the sheriff flinches when the hangman releases the door on the gallows and we see the shadow of the body plunging toward death perfectly reflects the never ending shock of such an event. (Since hangings in the area took place in Hayes, one would assume the sheriff had seen his fair share. Yet he *still* flinches.) The Major wants no part of witnessing his son's death, but he arrives on the scene almost immediately afterwards seeking assurances that his son "died like a man." It is all handled with subtlety and grace by the writers, actors, and director.
This is certainly one of the best episodes of not only this season but the entire series.
"With a Smile" is "Gunsmoke" episode with a unique plot-line
chuck-reilly19 July 2018
Warning: Spoilers
On occasion, "Gunsmoke" would offer up an episode that eschewed the normal "good guys and bad guys" theme and shook things up a bit. This one, titled "With a Smile," involves a cowardly fellow (James Best at his weakest) who has been sentenced to death for killing an innocent bystander played by Sharon Farrell. But Best thinks his formidable father ("the Major"), played by R.G. Armstrong, has enough influence and pull to arrange for him to get a new trial, or a pardon, or a lighter sentence. The old man pulls all the strings he can, but to no avail. Best finally realizes that he's going to swing at the end of a rope and the mere thought of it drives him into hysterics. Marshal Matt Dillon (James Arness) confers with Armstrong who is ashamed of his son's actions in the face of death. He wants him to go out with dignity, if possible, and he's intent on making that happen---even if it means tricking his son. But that's exactly what happens. While squirming in his jail cell, Best is relieved to hear that his old man has made bribes to everyone involved in the execution. Best is told that the gallows will have a covering around the bottom so no one will view the body hanging after it drops. There will be a wagon underneath the gallows to cushion his fall. Without anyone seeing what's going on, the undertaker will declare him dead and all he'll have to do is lay down on the wagon until he's driven out of town. His father then hands him a $1000 so he can get a fresh start in Mexico. What Best doesn't know is that he's still going to hang after all. His father just wants him to think that he's going to live. The ruse works. Best goes to the gallows "with a smile" on his face and scoffs at the hangman when he offers him a hood. Then the lever is pulled and Best goes to his maker. R.G. Armstrong is given the $1000 back after the undertaker rifles through Best's clothing before they ship him off for burial. He turns to Marshal Dillon and says "At least he died with a smile." I wonder if poor Jimmy was still smiling when he felt that rope crack his neck. This episode was directed by the prolific Andrew V. McLaglen, a veteran of many a western TV series. Dennis Weaver co-starred as the limping deputy, Chester. Old time actor Dick Foran was also part of the cast as the sheriff of the town where the execution takes place. Best was an under-rated actor who played lots of weak-willed characters and shifty-eyed villains during his career. He got plenty of steady work on the small screen. I saw this episode as a young kid and it stuck with me. It was recently aired again and it had lost none of its impact.
Strangest Episode!
jazzharp113 May 2012
My father is the author of this episode, and though I've tried to be objective, it could be slightly biased! Now if you like your serial television with a smattering of murder, rape, posh privilege, and false redemption, this episode is for you! The basic premise, was to fool a man about to be hanged, that he would actually escape. All so he would die "with a smile" on his face. And the set up was done by his father! The story of how "Dal" ends up in this end of life trauma, is possibly the strangest plot to ever hit Gunsmoke. You can read the storyline on IMDb, and see it has it's twists and turns, but I would encourage you to purchase a copy somewhere, as it has everything a western should have. Including Burt Reynolds, as the Native American, Quint.
And if you ask me, the story of Lottie Foy may be the saddest thing to hit American television. She deserves a prequel! Quite possibly a brilliant example of how we all deal with end of life issues, and the knowledge of our own mortality, this episode from season 8, should be submitted for a posthumous Emmy. But then again, my dad, Bud Furillo, was the author, so this review may be seasoned with a grain of salt.
And if you ask me, the story of Lottie Foy may be the saddest thing to hit American television. She deserves a prequel! Quite possibly a brilliant example of how we all deal with end of life issues, and the knowledge of our own mortality, this episode from season 8, should be submitted for a posthumous Emmy. But then again, my dad, Bud Furillo, was the author, so this review may be seasoned with a grain of salt.
Best episode ever!
rickcampbell-8368727 February 2021
One of the best Gunsmoke episodes
AlsExGal9 November 2022
Major Creed has a cowardly bully, Dal, for a son. Dal tries to bully one of his father's ranch hands, and when he won't be bullied Dal says he might put a bullet in his leg. Dal backs down when the hand actually challenges him to a gunfight. The Major comes out and gets only Dal's side of the story and fires the ranch hand. This scene is probably included to illustrate what kind of a person Dal is.
The the scene changes completely to show the ranch hand who didn't get fired attempting to assault a local girl, Lottie, and murdering her father when he attempts to intervene. Quint hears the gunfire, fights with the murderer, and has to kill him to contain him.
Lottie ends up working at the Long Branch since her father's farm had to be sold to pay her debts. She and the ranch hand who got fired from the Creed ranch strike up a romance. When Dal tries to get romantic with Lottie against her will, he once again is shown up as a coward by that same ranch hand. Later that night he tries to shoot the ranch hand down in cold blood as he walks along with Lottie, but hits and kills Lottie instead, by accident. Dal exchanges gunfire with Chester, who clearly sees him. Dal is tried for murder, convicted, and sentenced to hang.
Everything up to this point has just been to get to the essence of the plot - That Dal is a completely worthless person who cannot take responsibility for what he has done and thinks his father will find some way to bend the system - his friendship with the governor, his money, something to get him off the hook for murder, because dad has been getting him off the hook for everything his whole life. He doesn't realize that what he has done is so despicable that nobody is going to keep him from hanging. I wondered why there was that violent scene at Lottie's ranch that seemed to have nothing to do with anything in what came before or after, except perhaps for this - If Lottie had been some random girl whose sad past you did not see, the audience might not hate Dal quite so much. And the author of this piece obviously wants you to really hate this guy.
As the date of his execution nears, Dal melts down into a whiny mess. The major can see he is going to shame both of them when he does die, and he says something interesting to Dillon - That he would rather he die than see his son shame him by dying a coward. What did he mean by that? Watch and find out.
The the scene changes completely to show the ranch hand who didn't get fired attempting to assault a local girl, Lottie, and murdering her father when he attempts to intervene. Quint hears the gunfire, fights with the murderer, and has to kill him to contain him.
Lottie ends up working at the Long Branch since her father's farm had to be sold to pay her debts. She and the ranch hand who got fired from the Creed ranch strike up a romance. When Dal tries to get romantic with Lottie against her will, he once again is shown up as a coward by that same ranch hand. Later that night he tries to shoot the ranch hand down in cold blood as he walks along with Lottie, but hits and kills Lottie instead, by accident. Dal exchanges gunfire with Chester, who clearly sees him. Dal is tried for murder, convicted, and sentenced to hang.
Everything up to this point has just been to get to the essence of the plot - That Dal is a completely worthless person who cannot take responsibility for what he has done and thinks his father will find some way to bend the system - his friendship with the governor, his money, something to get him off the hook for murder, because dad has been getting him off the hook for everything his whole life. He doesn't realize that what he has done is so despicable that nobody is going to keep him from hanging. I wondered why there was that violent scene at Lottie's ranch that seemed to have nothing to do with anything in what came before or after, except perhaps for this - If Lottie had been some random girl whose sad past you did not see, the audience might not hate Dal quite so much. And the author of this piece obviously wants you to really hate this guy.
As the date of his execution nears, Dal melts down into a whiny mess. The major can see he is going to shame both of them when he does die, and he says something interesting to Dillon - That he would rather he die than see his son shame him by dying a coward. What did he mean by that? Watch and find out.
James Best really was one of the best.....
hpringnitz24 April 2022
....at playing weak, stupid, evil characters and he made quite a successful career doing it. Both for laughs (Roscoe P Coltrane comes to mind) and for dramatic effect. Which this episode of Gunsmoke did in spades. One the very best from Best!
"He Died Like a Man"....GUNSMOKE at it's peak
lrrap9 February 2021
One of the best.
It's remarkable how cruel and violent a series "Gunsmoke" had become by the mid '60's. A couple of nasty, vicious characters figure prominently in this story, much to the misfortune of poor Lottie. The first of them is thrashed by Quint in a hail of Chickens in the barn...and I guess he dies, even though Burt Reynolds' line confirming the death was clearly dubbed. But it's fun to watch the prop guys flingin' chickens into camera range during the melee, which keeps things visually interesting.
The conflict between Lottie, Dal and Pat Brady is excellently laid out in the script, and Quint always seems to be around when his help is needed. Still, it's not enough to ensure a happy ending for the pair of lovers. A real bummer.
The plot then shifts to the relationship between the gruff, no-nonsense R. G. Armstrong and his pathetic son Dal, a conflict which is also convincingly defined; the pivotal scene near the end, with R. G. sitting in the bar by himself (joined by Matt) is, again, expertly written, directed and performed. James Best-- an actor whose talent was definitely underrated, deftly moves between sadistic bully and quivering, spineless weakling. Damn' good performance.
As is the performance of Dick Foran as the Hays City Sheriff. Like the true old pro that he is, Mr. Foran is a model of control, authority, and honesty as an actor. The casting director REALLY nailed it by engaging Foran for this part.
Big Jim Arness is also in top form, as the subtlety and command in his final scenes with Best, R. G, and Foran again demonstrate. Keep in mind that he's the only major character in the final scene who is UNAWARE of what's going on. Great scripting (even though the ending was not impossible to predict during the scene between Best and Foran in the jail cell). And---better late than never-- it's good to see Chester get involved in the action, IN ADDITION to his whimsical scene with Doc and his glass o' beer.
MY ONLY COMPLAINT--- the selection of library/musical cues leaves much to be desired. For the opening business with Chester and the stove-pipe, the Music Supervisor must have gone to his file of cues labeled "Monkey Business" or something similar; pretty amateurish stuff. For the big fight in the barn (with the chickens), the garish music cue sounds like Hans Salter or Albert Glasser on an off day, and the brass fanfare stuff for the scene where Dillon and Chester visit the Major's ranch also seems out-of-place. These cues are all too flashy and jarring, and tend to undermine the sober, downbeat tone which is essential to this story.
BUT---OVER ALL-- "With a Smile" is ANOTHER First-Rate accomplishment from the Gunsmoke gang. It's amazing to see how they were able to deliver such high quality so consistently. LR.
It's remarkable how cruel and violent a series "Gunsmoke" had become by the mid '60's. A couple of nasty, vicious characters figure prominently in this story, much to the misfortune of poor Lottie. The first of them is thrashed by Quint in a hail of Chickens in the barn...and I guess he dies, even though Burt Reynolds' line confirming the death was clearly dubbed. But it's fun to watch the prop guys flingin' chickens into camera range during the melee, which keeps things visually interesting.
The conflict between Lottie, Dal and Pat Brady is excellently laid out in the script, and Quint always seems to be around when his help is needed. Still, it's not enough to ensure a happy ending for the pair of lovers. A real bummer.
The plot then shifts to the relationship between the gruff, no-nonsense R. G. Armstrong and his pathetic son Dal, a conflict which is also convincingly defined; the pivotal scene near the end, with R. G. sitting in the bar by himself (joined by Matt) is, again, expertly written, directed and performed. James Best-- an actor whose talent was definitely underrated, deftly moves between sadistic bully and quivering, spineless weakling. Damn' good performance.
As is the performance of Dick Foran as the Hays City Sheriff. Like the true old pro that he is, Mr. Foran is a model of control, authority, and honesty as an actor. The casting director REALLY nailed it by engaging Foran for this part.
Big Jim Arness is also in top form, as the subtlety and command in his final scenes with Best, R. G, and Foran again demonstrate. Keep in mind that he's the only major character in the final scene who is UNAWARE of what's going on. Great scripting (even though the ending was not impossible to predict during the scene between Best and Foran in the jail cell). And---better late than never-- it's good to see Chester get involved in the action, IN ADDITION to his whimsical scene with Doc and his glass o' beer.
MY ONLY COMPLAINT--- the selection of library/musical cues leaves much to be desired. For the opening business with Chester and the stove-pipe, the Music Supervisor must have gone to his file of cues labeled "Monkey Business" or something similar; pretty amateurish stuff. For the big fight in the barn (with the chickens), the garish music cue sounds like Hans Salter or Albert Glasser on an off day, and the brass fanfare stuff for the scene where Dillon and Chester visit the Major's ranch also seems out-of-place. These cues are all too flashy and jarring, and tend to undermine the sober, downbeat tone which is essential to this story.
BUT---OVER ALL-- "With a Smile" is ANOTHER First-Rate accomplishment from the Gunsmoke gang. It's amazing to see how they were able to deliver such high quality so consistently. LR.
I strongly agree with the other reviewers, but ....
streetlight226 February 2021
Warning: Spoilers
This is one of the best episodes in the series.
Allowing young Creed to be hanged thinking he would not suffer death certainly was a startling ending. However, he never realized that he was a jerk and become a mature individual and understand that his arrogance is what got him into trouble. But then, the last minutes of the episode and ending wouldn't have been so startling.
Did Dal die like a man? I'm not so sure, considering what he thought would happen. Were the Major's actions for his self interest to make him look good to others by having a brave son?
Allowing young Creed to be hanged thinking he would not suffer death certainly was a startling ending. However, he never realized that he was a jerk and become a mature individual and understand that his arrogance is what got him into trouble. But then, the last minutes of the episode and ending wouldn't have been so startling.
Did Dal die like a man? I'm not so sure, considering what he thought would happen. Were the Major's actions for his self interest to make him look good to others by having a brave son?
Rotten is Rotten
babuzsuzsu5 February 2024
You can learn so much from this episode.
James Best is perfect....because I.couldnt stand him.
Shows what a awesome actor....funny how ppl, or murderes don't think their victims wanted to live too.
They just don't care. The ending surprised me and was peaceful in a way. Loved when shows used to make people Think. Teach you something about character, morals, and truth. You don't even realize it.
The whole cast is always great for every show.
I hated when a character would leave, but then love the next one just as much.
Gunsmoke is a all time favorite show.
Don't make'em like that anymore.
James Best is perfect....because I.couldnt stand him.
Shows what a awesome actor....funny how ppl, or murderes don't think their victims wanted to live too.
They just don't care. The ending surprised me and was peaceful in a way. Loved when shows used to make people Think. Teach you something about character, morals, and truth. You don't even realize it.
The whole cast is always great for every show.
I hated when a character would leave, but then love the next one just as much.
Gunsmoke is a all time favorite show.
Don't make'em like that anymore.
Born too late...
dpc6915 January 2019
I was always in love with Sharon Farrell (along with all the men that married her) from adolescence-on. She had a wide range, but her portrayal of wide eyed innocence is spot-on here. Linden Chiles as the noble cowpoke wronged by James Best at his smarmiest. What a cast!!! They play to type but at a perfect pace. It's so good to watch actors trained and practiced in their art! Story: somewhat run of the mill but elevated by the ensemble's performance and great guest stars! Plenty of bits for everyone to do and the director spread it around so no one misses out. Andrew McLaglen was top-notch as is evident here! Nothing touches it today!
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