Gunsmoke (TV Series) Quint's Indian (1963) User Reviews

DARK and GRITTY...

[lrrap · 9/10 · 8 February 2021]

...and pretty disturbing, at that.

With most "prestige" shows of the early '60's tackling racial issues, Gunsmoke, The "Adult Western" (which featured several stories with Indian/prejudice themes) REALLY jumped in with both feet in this episode.

I remember the scene with Quint tied up to the anvil in his shop in March, '63, when it was first broadcast, and it was pretty upsetting. Now, 58 years later, I watched it again and found it to be very well written and compelling.

The interaction of its many characters is well-plotted, and Matt-- after spending maybe just a LITTLE too much time at the checkerboard with Doc, takes off to find Quint and solve the various criminal activities that propel the plot.

The script really takes us into the dark side of Quint's resentment of the residents of Dodge. Even with the totally honest respect and warmth Matt, Kitty, Doc, etc feel for him, Quint knows down deep that he will NEVER be at home in Dodge, because of the all-too-real hatred that was an ingrained part of the American West.

The large cast of men includes a rare bad-guy performance by James Brown of "Rin-Tin-Tin" fame as the dufus Feeney, and the always fascinating, quirky presence of James Griffith as the weasely Bettis.

James Arness is his usual solid, stoic self, and really shines in the latter half of this show. Great to see him finally corner the scumbag Stope and threaten to thrash him, having reached the end of his rope. And then he shoots Feeney in the arm to show he's HAD IT with these jerks and will take no more of their crap.

The final scene with Quint and the Comanches is very sobering; I'd expect Quint to jump for joy and come to Matt's defense with his tribe members...but it really doesn't happen quite that way.

The wounds go deep, but Quint will stick around for another season or two, which is good news. BTW-- what is "Quint's Indian?" Is it possessive, or is it a contraction for "Quint IS Indian?" LR

Prejudice of kfo

[pattheresaadamrylie · 9/10 · 18 August 2019]

I see by the other review that people are tired of the same old stories about Indians in the old west . Your tired of hearing the truth about the annihilation of said people ? Is it hard watching? Good it should be !!!

Quint's Cross

[Johnny_West · 10/10 · 2 February 2023]

Burt Reynolds was only on this show for about two seasons, and it seemed like every time he was the focus of an episode, it was so all the whites could hate on him.

Gunsmoke had the bizarre way of bringing "sensitivity" to an issue by promoting it without any accountability. Numerous episodes about some kind of racism or abuse were done, and the bad guys rarely got punished.

This episode always gets me angry. Quint is targeted by racists so that Quint can get blamed for their horse-theiving. The first guy that blames Quint had his horse loose on the prairie. Dillon should have punched that guy out, and slapped his nasty kid when they came into town to accuse Quint. How can anyone be accused of stealing a horse that was loose on the prairie? If it had been a white guy that picked up the horse, nothing would have been said against him.

Then when the two villains jumped into the accusations and harassment, it should have been a red flag to Dillon, but he was never sharp when it came to preventing crimes. Once Dillon knew people were targeting Quint, he should have kept an eye on his friend, Quint. Instead Quint gets attacked and beaten by racists and Dillon is nowhere to be found.

So do the racists ever get killed or arrested like they deserve? No. It would have been nice to see Quint cut one open, but nothing happens to them. Another episode were Gunsmoke exploits racism without showing that there is accountability for it.

Quint can do much more for the show- this repeated plot is getting old

[kfo9494 · 4/10 · 5 December 2012]

I do not mean to complain about the writing but the same story of Indian racism in nearly every other episode is getting old. In this offering Quint is again abused because he is again referred to as half-breed.

After two riders, Mark Feeney and Jim Stope, find out that Quint is half Indian they turn their attention into making Quint leave town. Since there have been some Indian raiders in the north steal horses they set Quint up by telling him there is a horse near the creek that needs shoeing. Someone will be by to pay him double if he will go get the horse. When he gets the horse he is accused of stealing the horse and people say it is his Indian half coming out.

It gets so bad in Dodge that an party of about eight men go and beat Quint up. This causes quint to tell Matt that he is leaving town so he can kill white men.

Matt goes out to search for Quint but instead runs into the real horse thieves. Brings them back to Dodge places them in jail and then rides back out to search for Quint. He hopes to tell Quint that all is right back in Dodge. However Matt now runs into some Indians that has left the Darlington Agency Reservation. The Indians want to kill Matt thinking he told the Cavalry where they were located. Right on cue Quint makes an appearance with the Indians but will Quint have enough influence over the renegade Indians to keep Matt alive.

This episode was not interesting mainly due to the repeated plot subject. I think nearly all the viewers know he had an Indian mother and could care less. A few stories concerning that fact was appropriate but now it feels like beating a dead horse. We are ready to accept Quint into the family- branch him out in stories with interest. This plot is getting old.