The War Department in Washington, D. C. notifies Matt Dillon they are sending a man to inspect Dodge City and Marshal Dillon's practices. Chester Goode is appalled by the development, but Matt sees it more as a necessary part of his job to comply with any reviews.
Rex Propter arrives in Dodge and immediately begins to question Marshal Dillon's practices. One of his first demands is banning the practice of carrying guns within the city limits of Dodge. Matt knows enacting such a measure is a mistake, but he goes along "to teach Propter a lesson." Unfortunately, Propter is not so easy to convince. Even more unfortunately, the action results in some tragedy.
John Hoyt is recognizable to anyone that has watched television shows from the 1950s, '60s, and '70s. He portrays the Rex Propter character in this story. Hoyt appears in one other series installment in Season 6. He is perfect for the part of the stubborn, arrogant bureaucrat.
Ken Lynch is another familiar character actor who appears in this episode. He plays trail boss Will Stroud in this story. Lynch eventually appeared in twelve different Gunsmoke episodes.
Ned Glass joins Hoyt and Lynch as veteran character actors making their first Gunsmoke appearances in this story. Glass plays a man named Husk here. He appeared in nine episodes of the series.
Less recognizable actor Richard Avonde portrays the gunfighter Nick Fane in this story.
This is a fairly formulaic story when viewed over half a century later, but it was not so when it first aired. It is interesting to see an issue still being debated today - namely gun control - debated in an 1800s, albeit under quite different circumstances. Many other series would latch on to this theme and use it in variations during the heyday of the westerns genre in television.
Rex Propter arrives in Dodge and immediately begins to question Marshal Dillon's practices. One of his first demands is banning the practice of carrying guns within the city limits of Dodge. Matt knows enacting such a measure is a mistake, but he goes along "to teach Propter a lesson." Unfortunately, Propter is not so easy to convince. Even more unfortunately, the action results in some tragedy.
John Hoyt is recognizable to anyone that has watched television shows from the 1950s, '60s, and '70s. He portrays the Rex Propter character in this story. Hoyt appears in one other series installment in Season 6. He is perfect for the part of the stubborn, arrogant bureaucrat.
Ken Lynch is another familiar character actor who appears in this episode. He plays trail boss Will Stroud in this story. Lynch eventually appeared in twelve different Gunsmoke episodes.
Ned Glass joins Hoyt and Lynch as veteran character actors making their first Gunsmoke appearances in this story. Glass plays a man named Husk here. He appeared in nine episodes of the series.
Less recognizable actor Richard Avonde portrays the gunfighter Nick Fane in this story.
This is a fairly formulaic story when viewed over half a century later, but it was not so when it first aired. It is interesting to see an issue still being debated today - namely gun control - debated in an 1800s, albeit under quite different circumstances. Many other series would latch on to this theme and use it in variations during the heyday of the westerns genre in television.
