Another one of Matt Dillon's old friends (there are many of those in the early days of Gunsmoke) arrives in Dodge City. Nick Search is a gambler and a fast draw with a gun. He has gained a reputation for cheating. A couple of cowboys from Texas warned several Dodge City residents Search was on his way, and he was a cheater.
Matt vouches for his old friend to Bill Pence, the owner of the Long Branch Saloon. Pence agrees to let Search play in the saloon.
When Search begins losing to a local wealthy man named Enoch Mills, people take note. People like Chester Goode begin to doubt the stories that preceded Search's arrival in Dodge. Matt pays attention to the rumors but stays quiet about any opinions he has.
Marshal Dillon talks with Mills, and the man tells Matt he has $5,000 and plans to take everything from Search that night. When Mills and Search meet at the Long Branch, and Search sees how much money Mills has, the gambler suggests they move to a private room to avoid attracting a crowd.
Chester tells Matt that neither Search nor Mills are at the Long Branch. Matt knows something must be happening and goes to investigate.
Andrew Duggan, who may have appeared in every television drama ever made, makes the first of three Gunsmoke appearances in this episode where he plays the Nick Search character. Ten years or so later, Duggan would star as Murdoch Lancer in the series Lancer.
Simon Oakland is another veteran character actor who makes his first Gunsmoke appearance in this episode. He portrays Enoch Mills. He would later have parts in three more Gunsmoke installments.
This is the first appearance in the series for Jess Kirkpatrick. He plays the recurring character Frank Teeters, who runs the Dodge City tonsorial parlor. This episode includes the first time the viewer sees Matt getting a haircut. The Mr. Teeters character was last included in a Season 3 episode, but Kirkpatrick would appear three more times in the series, sometimes as an uncredited townsman.
Joseph Mell appears for the second time in the series as the Bill Pence character. He would play the character in another four episodes.
This story is about as predictable as they come. The only surprise comes with a strange, unexpected twist at the very end.
One remarkable attribute of this episode is the primary story thread with the arrival of the Nick Search character in Dodge does not begin until almost halfway through the episode. There is a lot of talk to describe events instead of showing the events. The episode begins with a scene outside the Marshal's office with Chester, Matt, and Doc where everyone is in a surprisingly good mood. There is also an extended scene inside the tonsorial parlor with Matt getting a haircut from Mr. Teeters. There is even a scene where Matt is sewing buttons on his shirt.
The acting is fine in this episode. Duggan plays the role of the gambler with questionable ethics perfectly. Oakland is unusually restrained, but he does not have much to do other than be present in his scenes. The snippets of routine life around Dodge City are nice touches for an otherwise routine story.
Matt vouches for his old friend to Bill Pence, the owner of the Long Branch Saloon. Pence agrees to let Search play in the saloon.
When Search begins losing to a local wealthy man named Enoch Mills, people take note. People like Chester Goode begin to doubt the stories that preceded Search's arrival in Dodge. Matt pays attention to the rumors but stays quiet about any opinions he has.
Marshal Dillon talks with Mills, and the man tells Matt he has $5,000 and plans to take everything from Search that night. When Mills and Search meet at the Long Branch, and Search sees how much money Mills has, the gambler suggests they move to a private room to avoid attracting a crowd.
Chester tells Matt that neither Search nor Mills are at the Long Branch. Matt knows something must be happening and goes to investigate.
Andrew Duggan, who may have appeared in every television drama ever made, makes the first of three Gunsmoke appearances in this episode where he plays the Nick Search character. Ten years or so later, Duggan would star as Murdoch Lancer in the series Lancer.
Simon Oakland is another veteran character actor who makes his first Gunsmoke appearance in this episode. He portrays Enoch Mills. He would later have parts in three more Gunsmoke installments.
This is the first appearance in the series for Jess Kirkpatrick. He plays the recurring character Frank Teeters, who runs the Dodge City tonsorial parlor. This episode includes the first time the viewer sees Matt getting a haircut. The Mr. Teeters character was last included in a Season 3 episode, but Kirkpatrick would appear three more times in the series, sometimes as an uncredited townsman.
Joseph Mell appears for the second time in the series as the Bill Pence character. He would play the character in another four episodes.
This story is about as predictable as they come. The only surprise comes with a strange, unexpected twist at the very end.
One remarkable attribute of this episode is the primary story thread with the arrival of the Nick Search character in Dodge does not begin until almost halfway through the episode. There is a lot of talk to describe events instead of showing the events. The episode begins with a scene outside the Marshal's office with Chester, Matt, and Doc where everyone is in a surprisingly good mood. There is also an extended scene inside the tonsorial parlor with Matt getting a haircut from Mr. Teeters. There is even a scene where Matt is sewing buttons on his shirt.
The acting is fine in this episode. Duggan plays the role of the gambler with questionable ethics perfectly. Oakland is unusually restrained, but he does not have much to do other than be present in his scenes. The snippets of routine life around Dodge City are nice touches for an otherwise routine story.
