Marshall Dillon sees himself as an ordinary man just doing his job the best way he knows how. But others look at him differently. To outlaws, he is a fearsome, unkillable foe. To citizens, he is more legend than man.
"Any Body Can Kill a Marshall" is a unique episode that looks at Dillon's legend. Two outlaws, Lucas and Clede, plot to kill Dillon so they can have free reign over Dodge City. Clede ambushes the Marshall at point blank range but fails to kill him. When the two are talking over how they'd like to kill Dillon but aren't sure how to go about it, they are overheard by a strange, shabbily dressed man named Painter. Painter offers to do the job for a flat $200 up front. The outlaws agree and pay the man, who vows he will kill the Marshall the next day.
Painter spends some of his money right away. We see him purchase a gun and a nice suit of clothes, with compliments to the shopkeeper. He shows kindness to a saloon girl and gives her a note to send to somebody the next day. He even compliments Marshall Dillon for breaking up a fight. The following day, he has sworn to kill him...
I won't spoil what happens next as others have done.This is a moody, melancholy episode of "Gunsmoke", made more atmospheric by ominous music. The music was courtesy of the great Bernard Hermann and appeared in several notable "Twilight Zone" episodes. Character actor Milton Seltzer steals the show as Painter, a man both sympathetic and creepy. It's obvious from his laconic personality that he has given up on life. "He just don't care no more!" says Clede. We later discover Painter's motivations and they are not what one would expect.
We see Marshall Dillon through many different eyes in this episode. Miss Kitty is furious with him because he constantly risks his life, telling him "You make me sick!" at one point. Painter discovers admiration for the Marshall, a man he's never met. Clede has almost supernatural terror of Dillon, bellowing at him "Why don't you DIE, Marshall Dillon?". Lucas sees him as an obstacle to be disposed of. Matt might be aware of these viewpoints but soldiers on because that's all he knows how to do.
The ending on the episode is ambiguous in a real life way that most TV Westerns would avoid. This episode is proof again why "Gunsmoke" was on one of the best.