User Reviews

In this second part episode we find Charlie Hacker (villian) and Matt inside a Chupadero, Mexico jail cell with the Mexican police Lt Chavez playing both sides of the fence. Chavez is wanting the reward of $2000 for Hacker but is also trying to bleed Matt of all the money he has in possession. When Chavez demands money from Matt, he has no other option but to pay. Hacker in the meantime offers $5000 if they would kill Matt.

After Matt pays, the two head north with Lt Chavez along for supposed protection. But it will not be long before bandits start following them. But what the bandits actually want is Hacker who killed a brother of a bandit member. Matt refuses to turn over Hacker. But it will not be long before one of the bandits takes a shot a Hacker hitting him in the leg. Matt returns fire killing the bandit. The three now flee north trying to outrun the bandits. And with Hacker injured, Matt will have to tie him to his horse in order to get him out of the area.

But soon the bandits have the three surrounded. Chavez gives Hacker a gun to protect himself. With Hacker having a gun it will only be a matter of time before it is pointed at Matt.

This second part is much more action packed that part one making this a better view. Even with the less than thrilling first part, this part held its own with good acting and a continuing flow of interest. This would be a good watch even without viewing the first part.

Part two of this story begins with Doc Adams and Kitty Russell paying a visit to Chester Goode at the Dodge City jail. No one has heard from Marshal Matt Dillon for some time, and Doc and Kitty are demanding some answers. This is a nice vehicle for providing a quick review of the story so far in case the viewer hasn't seen the first episode. While everyone is worried there has been no word from Matt, they all seem very confident that Matt will get his man and return to Dodge.

Meanwhile, Matt is in jail in Chupadero, Mexico with his would-be prisoner Charlie Hacker. Mexican Army Lieutenant Julio Chavez is trying to figure how he can get part or all of the $2,000 reward for Hacker. Hacker offers Chavez $5,000 if he will kill Dillon, but Chavez turns down the offer, which I guess proves that Chavez has some measure of integrity. (Hacker was not willing to kill Dillon when he had the chance in Texas, but not he is willing to pay Chavez to kill the Marshal. It makes little sense.) Chavez finally negotiates Matt's release from the Mexican officials. Soon, Dillon, Hacker, and Chavez are on their way back to the border.

At this point, the first part of the story is essentially resolved, because Marshal Dillon is finally free of his Mexican captors. Of course, the journey back to the United States isn't going to be so easy. Hacker killed a bandit on his way to Chupadero, and the bandit gang led by a man named El Piñon wants Dillon to give them Hacker so they can enact their own measure of justice.

The rest of the story involves the trio of Dillon, Chavez, and Hacker trying to make it back to the border while the bandits pursue and eventually attack them. We have seen (and will see in future episodes) this cat-and-mouse part of the story played out numerous times on Gunsmoke and other westerns with fairly predictable results. Part one of the episode is slower paced but also provides more mystery. Part two is more conventional.

There are many odd, implausible aspects to this story, not the least of which is the fact that the Hacker character is referenced at times as an old man, but Gene Evans and James Arness were close in age. My biggest problem with this episode is how the entire story happens because the Marshal uncharacteristically underestimates Hacker when he first found him in Texas, and how Hacker does not kill Matt when given the opportunity instead choosing to flee into Mexico. Supposedly, Matt had desperately wanted to get Hacker for years, but when he finds him, Matt treats him more like an old acquaintance than a ruthless outlaw wanted for multiple murders. We are expected to accept that Hacker is a ruthless murderer, but he refuses to kill Matt when he has the chance.

There will be better multi-part stories in Gunsmoke's future, but this one is not all bad. This story is worth watching for the first series appearance by Gene Evans, a fine actor, who will return to play several more intriguing characters over the remainder of the series. A large number of Hispanic actors are also used effectively.