9 reviews
John Dehner brings this story to life
John Dehner is brilliant as he plays gunfighter Nate Springer that obviously has seen better days. Nate, a once surefire man with a gun, now seems to be strangely jumpy as he enters Dodge to take care of business.
Matt first encounter with Nate is enough for Matt to know that he is a gunfighter. But Matt also knows from Nate's action that something is not right with the man but he is set on finding out who hired Nate and who Nate is going to murder. But when Nate shoots a dog and draws on a saloon girl, Matt believes Nate has lost his nerve. The true test will come when Matt finds out who Nate intends to kill.
Cannot say enough about character actor John Dehner. Looking back, no other person could have done a better job of playing the jumpy gunfighter. Add in a nicely written story and the start of season three could not have been better.
Matt first encounter with Nate is enough for Matt to know that he is a gunfighter. But Matt also knows from Nate's action that something is not right with the man but he is set on finding out who hired Nate and who Nate is going to murder. But when Nate shoots a dog and draws on a saloon girl, Matt believes Nate has lost his nerve. The true test will come when Matt finds out who Nate intends to kill.
Cannot say enough about character actor John Dehner. Looking back, no other person could have done a better job of playing the jumpy gunfighter. Add in a nicely written story and the start of season three could not have been better.
Dehner Delight
Confidence Lost
When a nasty, belligerent gunfighter named Nate Springer shows up in Dodge City, Matt Dillon assumes Springer intends to kill someone, but he wants to know who hired the gunfighter and why. The longer Springer is in town, the more curious everyone becomes. Instead of acting like a confident, determined assassin, Springer lashes out at people and behaves in a tentative manner.
This episode is a vehicle for John Dehner to show his elite acting ability. Dehner carries the show as the Nate Springer character. The prolific actor must have been the hardest working person in television during the late 1950s and early 1960s, because it seems as though he appears in every television series airing during that time period. This first episode of Season 3 appearance is already Dehner's fourth in the Gunsmoke series, and he has never been better.
(Dehner was also a frequent actor on the radio version of Gunsmoke. He provided the voice for many characters during the show's run.)
Jess Kirkpatrick makes another appearance as barber Frank Teeters, and Howard Culver plays hotel clerk Howie Uzzell again. (In what must have been an error, Culver's character is listed as "Jim Uzzell" in the credits. During the episode, Chester calls him "Howard," and he was frequently addressed as "Howie.")
This story shares some thematic elements with the late Season 2 episode "Who Lives by the Sword." Both stories deal with gunfighters who struggle with a loss of confidence.
This episode is a vehicle for John Dehner to show his elite acting ability. Dehner carries the show as the Nate Springer character. The prolific actor must have been the hardest working person in television during the late 1950s and early 1960s, because it seems as though he appears in every television series airing during that time period. This first episode of Season 3 appearance is already Dehner's fourth in the Gunsmoke series, and he has never been better.
(Dehner was also a frequent actor on the radio version of Gunsmoke. He provided the voice for many characters during the show's run.)
Jess Kirkpatrick makes another appearance as barber Frank Teeters, and Howard Culver plays hotel clerk Howie Uzzell again. (In what must have been an error, Culver's character is listed as "Jim Uzzell" in the credits. During the episode, Chester calls him "Howard," and he was frequently addressed as "Howie.")
This story shares some thematic elements with the late Season 2 episode "Who Lives by the Sword." Both stories deal with gunfighters who struggle with a loss of confidence.
- wdavidreynolds
- Jan 6, 2022
- Permalink
He Even Shoots a Dog!
A belligerent stranger (Dehner) arrives in Dodge, antagonizing just about everyone and even shooting a dog! Matt figures he's a gunman hired to take someone out. But it's not clear since Springer behaves so oddly with a hollow-eyed stare, to boot. I like Matt's observation that he's not just mean, but worse, he's "jumpy", which makes him more dangerous.
The entry is really a showcase for that fine actor John Dehner, so good in so many TV Westerns of the period. I'm not sure how credible his character is here once we find out what's eating him, but Dehner's got that hollow-eyed stare down in spades. There's some suspense as we wonder what's up with gunman Springer; plus, one of the more detailed death scenes, which usually amounts to just lying motionless.
Nothing special, just a solid entry to kick off the third season of what was becoming a highly popular series.
The entry is really a showcase for that fine actor John Dehner, so good in so many TV Westerns of the period. I'm not sure how credible his character is here once we find out what's eating him, but Dehner's got that hollow-eyed stare down in spades. There's some suspense as we wonder what's up with gunman Springer; plus, one of the more detailed death scenes, which usually amounts to just lying motionless.
Nothing special, just a solid entry to kick off the third season of what was becoming a highly popular series.
- dougdoepke
- Aug 1, 2011
- Permalink
Matt wins Again
I agree that the half hour format was great. If this episode was later in the series, the same story would have been told with 25 minutes of unnecessary banter between Chester/ Doc / Matt which certainly isn't the worst scenario. John Dehner plays the perfect villain which as usual is no match for our Marshall. Most of these 30 minute episodes are NOT rushed at the end which is a testimonial to great writing.
- csmith-99615
- Sep 6, 2020
- Permalink
Quentisential western - Toxic Mascalentity At Its Finest!
Well done
Dehner always good really carried this. Excellent performance. He made it a. Believeable tale which in other hands could be overwrought.
- maskers-87126
- Sep 19, 2018
- Permalink
Top tier half hour
A Solid and Suspenseful Episode
When a hard, mean-spirited and dangerous man comes to town, he quickly encounters Marshal Dillon and knows he will ultimately have to match his gun skills against the confident marshal. But there's something unusual about Nate Springer that leads Dillon to believe the gunman has been hired by someone to do a killing in Dodge but also that Springer is far too edgy for a seasoned killer.
One incident after another confirms that feeling, and each time he's confronted by Dillon he seems more insecure though trying to put on a tough front. The marshal is determined to find out who hired Springer and who he's there to shoot dead.
This is one of the best Gunsmoke episodes I've seen. Much of that is due to the performance of John Dehner, a well-known character actor, and an especially strong performance by James Arness as the confident and wise marshal bound to deal with this menacing stranger who seems increasingly on edge. This is what makes Marshal Dillon such a compelling character in the series: he's the perfect lawman, with steely courage, sharp insights into human behavior, and a total dedication to the law and protecting his town.
Dehner plays a gun fighter who is at once mysterious and threatening. He fits the role so well that the tension is strong whenever he's in a scene. The episode is also well-written and nicely directed. It has the kind of taut character development and suspense that represents the series at its best.
One incident after another confirms that feeling, and each time he's confronted by Dillon he seems more insecure though trying to put on a tough front. The marshal is determined to find out who hired Springer and who he's there to shoot dead.
This is one of the best Gunsmoke episodes I've seen. Much of that is due to the performance of John Dehner, a well-known character actor, and an especially strong performance by James Arness as the confident and wise marshal bound to deal with this menacing stranger who seems increasingly on edge. This is what makes Marshal Dillon such a compelling character in the series: he's the perfect lawman, with steely courage, sharp insights into human behavior, and a total dedication to the law and protecting his town.
Dehner plays a gun fighter who is at once mysterious and threatening. He fits the role so well that the tension is strong whenever he's in a scene. The episode is also well-written and nicely directed. It has the kind of taut character development and suspense that represents the series at its best.