Mistakenly hailed as a hero who downed four robbers, a man rethinks his decision to let folks regard him as a gunfighter when protecting the woman he wants calls for a gunman's skill.

Chicken

James Arness

Amanda Blake

Ken Curtis

Milburn Stone

John Meston

Andrew V. McLaglen

Innocence

Big Man, Big Target

A runaway kid and a wanted man from East Texas team up to first find the kid's mother and second to shake those who have been chasing the man about a murder in Carver County and robbery he just didn't commit.

Blue Heaven

Cyrus Degler is determined to keep Quint away from his 19-year old daughter, but no threats or beatings can keep them apart. They are about to leave town to get married when cousin Praylie comes to town bent on putting a stop to their plans any way he has to.

Crooked Mile

Having already rescued an old man once, Danny may have to try to save him again when his friend is framed for murder.

Old Man

A violent killing appears to be the work of Indians, but Matt doubts it. Someone accuses Quint of it and the solution involves secret motives and revenge in Indian country.

The Violators

There's trouble for Doc Adams, and perhaps for Dodge, when a new doctor and his wife arrive in town and the wife resorts to spreading a nasty rumor about Doc to get the new practice started.

Doctor's Wife

When a shiftless farmer offers his daughter to Matt, Matt demurs, but the smitten girl comes after Matt, bringing danger with her.

Take Her, She's Cheap

When a young pregnant woman seeks Kitty's aid in escaping from the child's father, the two women take the stagecoach from Dodge and meet with greater danger.

Help Me, Kitty

As Matt takes a convicted man to Hays City for hanging, Matt and the prisoner are waylaid and the prisoner lynched. Matt is framed for the killing, then arrested by a sergeant with a grudge against him.

Hung High

An old rancher returns home after many years in prison, ready to reclaim what is his by any means necessary, including burning out the squatters on his land.

Jonah Hutchinson

Ellie Merchant, the wife of farmer Joe Merchant, is having a passionate affair with outlaw Pike Beechum. Beechum intends to remove Joe and any other obstacle between him and Ellie.

Art and Bob both have an eye on a new girl in town. She works at the Long Branch but only has eyes for the most well-liked man in town. On the eve of their marriage, it all comes to a head and the town is out for blood.

Festus's ornery aunt arrives, squats on a piece of land, sets up a still, and comes to the rescue of a pair of star-crossed lovers. At the time he appeared in this episode, Howard McNear was appearing on The Andy Griffith Show as regular, Floyd Lawson the town barber.

Aunt Thede

Festus takes part in a horse race in which big money is at stake, tempting some to sabotage the race in order to make sure of the outcome.

Hammerhead

Matt's old friend comes to town, announcing plans to settle down and start a business, but the business he has in mind involves dishonesty and perhaps murder.

Double Entry

The body of a no-good man is found in his burning store on the same night as the sudden disappearance of the nice couple he cheated out of the money for their ranch.

Run, Sheep, Run

On their way out of town, some cousins of Festus come across a badly injured man whom they assume is dead, so they flee, pursued by Festus, who believes his cousins attacked the man.

Deputy Festus

Anderson, a stylish bounty hunter, rides into Dodge City. He informs Matt that his partner has a wanted criminal at an ice house. The locale is a two-day ride from Dodge; Anderson wants Matt's help to bring the criminal in. The outlaw's brother intends to go gunning for Matt and Anderson. There's also a twist: Matt finds out Anderson didn't tell him the truth about what happened. Both Anderson's partner and the outlaw lie dead at the ice house.

One Killer on Ice

Chief Joseph has come to town suffering from pneumonia. When he and his party are refused lodging at the hotel, a stranger steps in offering his room. Local sentiment is against this and like a boiling over teapot, trouble begins to brew.

Chief Joseph

A circus family comes to town and charms the populace, who don't know the family's real stock in trade is larceny.

Circus Trick

The head of the Lukens clan blames Martin Kellums for not helping his young bride during a difficult childbirth when the doctor was away. When Kellums runs to Dodge, Matt does his best to keep everyone safe including the local citizens.

Song for Dying

Two brothers quarrel to the death over a woman, and as the survivor flees with her, pursued by Matt, the killing may not be over.

Winner Take All

The goofy nephew of Festus, Eliab Haggen, comes to Dodge with the hope of shooting off a tiny piece of his ear, because Festus bit off a piece of his dad's ear years ago in a fight.

Eliab's Aim

Kitty welcomes her mentor to town, but her friend is burdened by a secret: she's here to deliver the child of her outlaw son, a man willing to take his own mother hostage.

Thursday's Child

A young attorney newly arrived in Dodge works the law to keep his client out of Matt's clutches, then has ample reason to regret it.

Breckinridge

Bert Clum uses his clan to get what he wants. They are camped outside of Dodge. When they meet a small wagon train, he hatches a plot to rob the local bank. But he needs to snatch a baby to hide behind first.

Bank Baby

A woman and her adult, attractive niece stop in Dodge to earn some money to complete their journey to San Francisco. When an offer of marriage to her aunt threatens to derail those plans, the niece takes action.

The Lady

A temperance agitator wants to shut down Kitty's saloon and end all the drinking in Dodge.

Dry Road to Nowhere

On a stagecoach returning to Dodge, Kitty and her traveling companions are waylaid and held for ransom.

Twenty Miles from Dodge

A mousy local man is hailed as a hero when he shoots and kills a man wanted for murder. Then a newspaper reporter interviews him and uncovers facts that cast a very different light on the shooting.

The Pariah

Drought and crop failure leave Dodge without fruit or vegetables and a farming widow and her son very ill with scurvy.

Gilt Guilt

Just arriving in Dodge, Molly McConnell looks for her husband. When she finds out he's been killed, and Dillon is responsible, she wonders why he didn't tell her in the first place and sets out to learn how to shoot so she can kill him.

Bad Lady from Brookline

Doc, carrying money on an errand for Matt, is found near death. In Matt's absence, the townsfolk figure there's no need to wait for official justice to deal with those deemed responsible.

Two Tall Men

A man comes to town and tells Sam he's going to shoot Matt. It's soon understood he is an old friend of Matt's. Soon this drifter is Involved in shooting and killing a man, and his and Matt's friendship is stretched as he claims self defense even though he was the only one armed.

Honey Pot

Matt is ordered to Ridge Town to reopen the case of an army major who was murdered 12 years before, when a dying outlaw he shot swears he did not commit the crime, and it appears the whole town is hiding something.

The New Society

A buffalo hunter who doesn't hold with ranching is acquitted of shooting the man who tries to stop him from stealing a calf, but he isn't finished with stealing to get his way.

He Who Steals

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.

Chicken

Seasons20

Season 10 Episodes36

Cast4

Crew2

Discussion

Episode Summary