User Reviews

In this episode we get the always noble, Jack Cassidy, coming to Dodge as a card dealer and gentleman, Marcus France. The clean cut France had just witnesses a spectacle outside the Long Branch where a saloon girl, Boni Damon, was getting slapped around by her so-called boyfriend Tiller Evans (Timothy Carney).

Being the gentleman that he is France finds out Boni's details and introduces himself to her. Boni tries to warn France that seeing her would cause his life to be in danger if Tiller ever found out. But it seems that France cares little about Tiller and the two become a couple. Everyone in town is wondering why France does not run off and marry Boni since they seem so happy together. But France may have a secret that he wants hidden and with Tiller due in town, Matt knows something must be done.

Jack Cassidy was perfectly cast as the role seems written especially for the actor. It was also nice to see the ever strange Timothy Carney playing a part he likes best as an uncomfortable character in a story. Nothing really makes this episode stand out but it was a nice story to end the third season of the TV show.

Note- During the show we are introduced to a young lady (uncredited and unnamed) as Tilda Mae Botkins, daughter of banker Botkins. Cannot remember another episode where we see Botkin's daughter again.

There was just not enough story here to last an hour. The viewer knew within 20 min what was wrong and how it would end. Good cast though npt much of a tale to tell.

Tiller Evans (Carey) is one mean plug-ugly who beats up his dancehall girl Boni. Then comes to Dodge, suave, well-dressed gambler Marcus (Cassidy) who takes an immediate liking to Boni; at the same time, Matt doesn't know whether to trust the slickster or not. One thing for sure, there's going to be trouble when Tiller finds out about Boni and Marcus. So why don't they just leave town before Tiller finds out. That's the puzzlement.

Okay entry featuring two distinctive actors—Carey and Cassidy. Too bad the script doesn't give more screen time to cult figure Carey, a truly disturbing presence. A showdown between him and his physical opposite, Cassidy, would have been a treat. Episode is also notable for Chester's mooncalfing over banker Bodkin's daughter, and Doc's fantastic tale of a barefoot girl high up in the mountains. Both are a hoot. These humorous bits are tributes to Weaver and Stone who did so much to make the series such a smashing success.

This episode has a few entertaining moments thanks to the repartee between Doc Adams, Matt Dillon, and Chester, together in any combination.Doc Adams tells the most unique story he ever told, about the time he almost got married.

The main story is totally forgettable. Timothy Carey plays a psychotic thug named Tiller Evans. Carey, 6'4" tall, was almost as tall as James Arness. Carey gets slapped around by Arness after Carey is caught beating one of the girls from the Longbranch Saloon.

Carey was on Gunsmoke twice, and also guested on several other westerns like Big Valley, Rawhide, The Virginian, and Cimarron Strip. Carey was Italian, and he always reminds me of John Turturro. Their faces are very similar.

Tiller Evans (Carey) considers Boni (played by Virgnia Baker) as his gal. Marcus France (played by Jack Cassidy) is the joker in the deck here. Cassidy comes into town and gets a job at the Longbranch as a card dealer. Cassidy is a nice guy (a Gentleman), and he immediately sweeps Boni off her feet. They become inseparable, but Cassidy has a secret that keeps him from marrying Boni.

In real life, Cassidy was married to actress Shirley Jones, and his two sons David Cassidy and Shaun Cassidy, both became teenage idols in the 1970s. Cassidy died in 1976 at the age of 49. He accidentally fell asleep smoking a cigarette, and started a fire in his apartment and was burned to death.

The secret of Marcus France (Cassidy) has been done before on Gunsmoke and many other TV shows and movies.