"Gunsmoke" Horse Deal (TV Episode 1959) Poster

(TV Series)

(1959)

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9/10
One of the better scripts in the entire collection
kfo949418 August 2013
This is one of the better written scripts which has the viewer on the edge of their seat for the entire run of the episode. This plot is as timely today as it was in the late 1800's.

The situation involves the selling of stolen horses. Charlie Deesha confronts Emmett Bowers on Front street and advises that he is riding one of his stolen horses that has his brand. Turns out that Bowers had bought six horses from a traveling man and all are the property of Deesha. When other men across the prairie buy stolen horses, Matt knows something is up around Dodge. With the men wanting to lynch the person involved Matt pleas with them to let him have one week to solve the case. That will be just enough time for Matt to set up his trap.

A very entertaining story that was well cast and well directed. Near the end there are some close-up shots that enhanced the viewer's experience plus some real notable quotes. When one of the characters says 'I'm going to die now, I feel it coming'- that line was so chilling that hairs on your neck will actually stand. An all around nice watch to a very well written story.
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Good Story
dougdoepke6 November 2012
A more structured story than usual. Young Deesha (Carey Jr.) turns up in Dodge and spots a horse stolen from him with his brand, and he can prove it. Current owner Bowers (Robinson) is upset but forced to absorb the 30$ loss. In fact, it turns out a whole herd of horses with Deesha? s brand has been stolen, and now the law is returning the mounts to their rightful owner. Meanwhile, a lot of well-meaning dupes have lost 30$ purchase money.

Carey Jr.is perfectly cast as the innocent young Deesha, while Robinson shines as the surly first victim. Writer Meston has crafted a carefully structured story-- instead of the usual series of dramatic episodes-- with a definite beginning, middle and end, along with an appropriate upshot.
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10/10
Beer For Horses
darbski25 September 2017
Warning: Spoilers
**SPOILERS** Great episode, with Matt tricking a young grifter into a showdown with his equally crooked partner. They kill each other. Problem solved. This was a small horse remuda, looking like about ten animals. The first eight sold for $30 each, and the last two for $20. Grand total $280, or $140 for each of their lives.

I've done this before, so I'll do it again. Matt now recovers the money, and pays out the suckers who got took, and he keeps the horses. What? You say?? YUUUP. What was he supposed to do? Turn them out loose on the prairie? I don't think so. Now, of course, once he got the animals back to Dodge, he could have then sold them to the guys who had been cheated, or returned their money and kept the horses to sell later.

Let's not forget the mounts that Deesha and his thieving buddy rode, either. Matt gets them, too, plus saddles, tack, pistols, rifles, and since they were already there, they probably ate lunch (bacon and beans, no doubt) courtesy of the dead guys. If they had a shovel, they most likely would have buried them right there, or brought a wagon back from town. They would NEVER have left them horses while they rode back to town. Repeat... NEVER. You don't leave good animals just tied up for somebody else to come and take. Ending was stupid with Matt and Chet riding back without those horses and property.

****SPOILERS****

We've all seen the ending where they buried the gunfighter with his weapons, haven't we? Just ask yourself how STUPID that decision would be. The movie "The Last Challenge" comes to mind. Given that it was a stupid movie already, Glenn Ford throws his gun and holster belt into the grave with Chad Everett's body. Same thing happened in "The Fastest Gun Alive". Oh, yeah? Anybody dumb enough to believe that, deserves to get took.
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6/10
Mystery Not That Tough To Solve
jamdifo5 October 2013
Warning: Spoilers
Harry Carey Jr is the main guest star, amazingly, he's findings all his stolen horses being sold to people in Dodge. He claimed they got stolen while he was on the Canadian river, wherever that is. After the 2nd person gets stiffed by his bar S brand, you can tell he was in on this deceiving scheme. Even Dillon realizes this half way thru. All the other people were clueless. No one else was suspicious why this horse thief kept sticking around selling the rest of the horses. I understood Dillon's trap from the get go. The ending was too convenient for Dillon. Chester's last words were ridiculous and stating the obvious "Can't very well put a dead man in jail". I guess Dillon and Chester didn't bury the bodies, as we just see them ride off.

We see Dillon all dressed up taking Kitty out for a horse ride on the prairie. I thought we were going to have a romantic moment, but no, Kitty has to state the talk of the town is Dillon is lazy. Then Chester finds them (I thought he had no sense of direction) and spoils there date. Later, Dillon gives Chester $20 to get Carey drunk. Chester is all happy and its never clear if Dillon gets any change back. And not surprisingly, Chester gets no info from Carey, just booze.
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6/10
You Can't Put A Dead Man In Jail
StrictlyConfidential3 December 2020
(*Marshal Dillon quote*) - "This is a mighty big country. Where do I start?"

There's a crafty horse thief operating in and around Dodge these days and Marshal Dillon has just one week to find him otherwise the irate citizens of town are gonna be forming a lynching party.

When Matt Dillon starts his investigation he comes up with some very surprising results.
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