Gunsmoke (TV Series) Crowbait Bob (1960) User Reviews

A box contain the story of a man's life.

[kfo9494 · 9/10 · 3 September 2013]

This story could have been taken right out of situations that happen in today's society as we get a poor homeless man living his last days on earth when a rumor causes family member to all of the sudden come out of the woodwork to support their dying kin.

Everyone calls the man Crowbait Bob. No one in Dodge actually knows his name but have just seen him around town basically living a beggar's life. Crowbait has just return from prospecting for gold and has taken a turn for the worse. Doc advises that he only has a few days to live and Crowbait ask Marshal Dillon to write him a Will. The only thing he has in his life is a locked metal box that he lives to Kitty. It seems that Kitty had been feeding Crowbait for the last few years and he wants to leave her something.

Well, a rumor gets out that some people have struck gold near where Crowbait was prospecting and people begin to surmise that the metal box is filled with gold. Well, after not even speaking to Crowbait in five years, his sister and brother in-law arrive wanting to help their poor kinfolk and are appalled to find their love one is giving all his worldly possessions to a saloon girl.

Another wonderful story that is played out even today. An interesting story that was entertaining to the very end. The viewer must stay to when the box is finally opened and see the collections of a man's life plus the greed of so-called family members. As a song by Cyndi Lauper use to say, "Money changes everything'".

Poignant Premise

[dougdoepke · 18 April 2014]

Old Crowbait Bob is shunned by his family but befriended by Kitty and others in town. Now he's deathly ill, with only an old iron box to leave behind. Rumor is it's filled with gold from his prospecting days. But is it. He's left it to Kitty, but now his ingrate family is eager to get it. Meanwhile Matt's left in charge. So what's in the box.

Good strong ending, again showing the series' writing skills, which are also embodied on screen by excellent restrained performances by Matt, Kitty, and Chester. Wish I could say the same for family Gilberts who are more like caricatures than real or even greedy people. The finely wrought ending, however, more than makes up for the Gilberts' over-reach.

Funny and Sad

[darbski · 10/10 · 12 October 2017]

**SPOILERS** I liked it. Very sad that a man's life ends and nobody even knew him. Matt said it very well: "Could be the story of any man's life". What was absolutely hilarious was Matt suggesting that Bob's greedy relatives pays his debts. They do so, and then later find out that he's gone to his reward. Also wonderful was the way Matt conned Elbin into thinking that the older model Army Colt was rusted up, when Bob had said what a great gun it was. All one had to do was LOOK at it to see it was in working order. Kitty was so sweet when she cried over the poor old boy's medal and lock of hair; now all meaning lost in the shadows of time... How many men lie in nice graves, boothills, dusty, sandy slopes; people never to know who they really were. If you have family who know you, count your blessings...

Let Bygones Be Bygones

[StrictlyConfidential · 6/10 · 3 December 2020]

(*Crowbait Bob to Marshal Dillon quote*) - "I'm a liar."

Old "Crowbait" Bob is one of Dodge's most well-known hobos. He is now close to his death and so he dictates his will to Marshal Dillon so that everything will be on the square.

As it turns out - Kitty Russell is the sole heir of Bob's possessions which are all contained inside a small strong-box that he has kept hidden from his greedy relatives.

The viewer watches as Kitty goes through the contents of this box with Marshal Dillon.