Gunsmoke is an American radio and television Western drama series created by director Norman MacDonnell and writer John Meston. The stories take place in and around Dodge City, Kansas, during the settlement of the American West. The central character is lawman Marshal Matt Dillon, played by William Conrad on radio and James Arness on television.
Written by Sophie and last updated on jan 10, 2023.
PS: The following content contains spoilers!
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After Sam Lackett physically beats his wife on the streets of Dodge, Matt and Doc try to persuade Mrs. Lackett to prefer charges on her husband, but she refuses to so. When Mrs. Lackett comes into Doc's office suffering from a beating she received from her husband, Matt decides to go after Sam Hackett. After the Judge finds Hackett guilty of several minor crimes, he sentences Hacket to 50 dollars or 50 days in Dodge City's jail. Mrs. Hackett comes up with the 50 dollars for Hacket's fine, Matt reluctantly releases Hacket from the jail;however, once Hackett is free from jail, Mrs. Hacket learns that Hackett has not changed his ways one bit. He still threatens to bully and beat Mrs. Hackett. When Sam Hackett attempts to beat his wife again, she pulls a gun and kills her husband.
The episode was rated 7.25 from 20 votes.
Matt is uncertain what to make of Cyrus Tucker's confused claim that his wife of 32 years "just ran off", especially when a homesteader claims that he saw the old man digging a large hole just behind his house.
The episode was rated 7.25 from 20 votes.
After a train sparks a fire that destroys a family's crops, the man, his son, and his daughter rob another train of fifty thousand dollars. A baggage clerk is killed and the crusty representative of the railroad pressures Matt to solve it.
The episode was rated 7.29 from 21 votes.
A father and son bully a farmer and his wife who won't sell their land, but the farmer is oddly reluctant to let Matt arrest the two, even when they resort to gunfire.
The episode was rated 7.30 from 20 votes.
A man enlists the aid of a parson to fake his own death.
The episode was rated 7.30 from 23 votes.
An ex-Confederate waits to settle the score with the Union man whose unit cost him a loved one and property in the late war.
The episode was rated 7.33 from 21 votes.
Despite a serious heart condition, onetime prizefighter Tom Burr is determined to go through with his plans to fight vicious Hob Creel. The only way Matt can stop the mismatch and save Burr's life is to fight Creel himself.
The episode was rated 7.38 from 21 votes.
A man is convicted of murder on doubtful testimony.
The episode was rated 7.38 from 26 votes.
A quarrel between two partners in homesteading escalates to the point of gunfire. Matt tries to make peace between them by locking them up together.
The episode was rated 7.39 from 23 votes.
After Miss Kitty is injured from falling from a horse, Matt seeks help from some poor farmers. Matt determines early on that the Farmer (Raff Juson), his wife and son are strange people that will probably not offer any assistance in helping Miss Kitty. When the Farmer refuses to help Matt and Kitty, Matt forces Raff Judson's son (Lootie) to go into Dodge to get Doc Adams. When Lootie does not return from Dodge with Doc, Matt sends the Farmer (Raff Judsin) to search for them. Lootie eventually returns from Dodge, but returns without Doc. Insted of helping Miss KItty, Lootie has plans to run off with Miss Kitty. When Matt fails to persuade Lootie to do what is right for Miss Kitty, Matt is forced to confront a hostile Lootie Judson.
The episode was rated 7.39 from 33 votes.
While Doc and Chester are traveling on the prairie, Doc is shot by some wolfers. Doc's gunshot wounds are serious enough where Chester is worried that Doc might die on the prairie. Chester not only has to remove the bullet from Doc, but he also has to fight off an attack by the wolfers.. Since Chester must also find enough food to keep Doc alive, Chester is forced to kill one of the horses so Doc can receive the proper nutrients. Chester kills one of the wolfers and takes another one into custody. Matt finally arrives on the scene and hears about Chester's heroic deeds.
The episode was rated 7.48 from 21 votes.
A southern belle charms Chester and many others in Dodge, not including Kitty.
The episode was rated 7.50 from 24 votes.
Onetime gunman Zeno Smith faces an unenviable choice. If he does not help would-be gambler Hank Fergus rob Mr. Jonas's general store, Fergus will tell 12-year old orphan Tommy the full story of how Zeno's descent into deprivation and alcoholism dates to the day he backed down from facing Fergus in a gunfight.
The episode was rated 7.50 from 22 votes.
Someone takes a shot at a hard man who is brutal to his wife, and someone is overheard claiming he was offered money to kill the man.
The episode was rated 7.61 from 23 votes.
The new rootin tootin owner of "The Lady Gay" (Mamie) comes to Dodge and opens a saloon. When she opens the saloon, she lets the Dodge cowpokes know that she is very handy with a gun and will use that gun on any trouble makers in her saloon. At first Matt, Doc and Chester are quite amused at Mamie, but Matt begins to have some concerns about Mamie. Matt, Doc and Chester think that Mamie might be involved in some foul play concerning the previous owner of the Lady Gay Saloon (Herman Bleeker). When a Mexican man tells Matt that he saw Mamie sneaking around late the previous evening night with a lantern and a shovel, Matt, Doc and Chester investigate. They find a vest owned by the previous owner with blood stains. Matt thinks he has to arrest Mamie, but is concerned that Mamie might cause some problems;however, Matt tries to trick Mamie into an arrest. Just about the time that Matt is ready to haul Mamie to the Dodge City jail, he learns the truth about Herman Bleeker.
The episode was rated 7.62 from 21 votes.
