Gunsmoke (TV Series) Jayhawkers (1959) User Reviews

So entertaining- hated to see the show end

[kfo9494 · 9/10 · 6 August 2013]

Here is an episode that was so interesting that they could have made three more shows from this plot. We have a Texas cattle drive that is heading to Dodge and there has been trouble along the way from Jayhawkers attempted to steal cattle. The boss of the drive, Dolph Quince (Jack Elam), has sent for Marshal Dillon to come and help him out. So Matt and Chester make a four day ride out to the cattle drive so that Dolph can get the cattle into Dodge without incident.

As you can guess this is easier said than done as Marshal Dillon will help lead the Texan filled cowboys toward Dodge. He is not only having to deal with renegades along the trail but also the resentment that the Texas cowboys have for people from Kansas. There looks like a lot of trouble along the way.

Because of the limited time the episode only deals with one situation of the problem. It would have been nice for another episode to be made of the cowboys arriving in Dodge and the trouble this causes. But we have to be happy with this thirty minute show that was still a very interesting watch.

A very well western theme that did not disappoint.

Who Wants to be a Cowboy Now

[dougdoepke · 10 August 2007]

Superior episode. Matt and Chester are called out of town to help a trail-herd disrupted by Jayhawkers who scatter herds unless paid off. Good effort at recreating life along the trail drive. Excellent script from John Meston with considerable color and easy-going byplay between Chester and Ken Curtis after initial dust-up. Fine performance from Jack Elam as toughly taciturn trail boss. With his handle-bar mustache, he certainly looks the part. Also, top performance from Curtis as reliable trail hand, showing why he later joined the cast as the drolly amusing Festus Hagen. It looks as though the producers popped for an actual cattle herd to appear on location since the editing does not appear to alternate between stock footage and the cast as was the custom for tightly budgeted programs. All in all, this entry amounts to a laudable effort at cowboy realism and ranks among the series best.

The Good

[darbski · 10/10 · 11 September 2017]

**SPOILERS** "The good die young" is the quote that seems to fit, here. Phil Jacks was a good man, who ingratiated Chester and Matt as he was asking them to ride back to the herd Dolph Quince, he, and other Texans were driving up to Dodge. There seems to be a little misunderstanding about the distance involved. As I understand it, it was five day's ride FROM the herd to Dodge. well, they still had to ride back to the herd, didn't they? so let's see if we can give a little understanding to the timing, here.

First, Jacks had to ride north, and let's say it was a total of five day's ride to get there. He had to have not just his normal mount, but a pack mount that could also double as a second riding mount. You MUST rest your horses. If you get forty miles a day, that's some real distance. That's because, you have to take breaks, water (Yeah, WATER - the stuff you AND your horse; your best friend, need), and rest your horses, and yourself, and you have to take supplies with you; food, water - again, at least to or three canteens full; probably at least a half tent, coffee, cooking gear, fire equipment, and other things that are necessary. Jacks gets to Dodge, he's gonna wanna re-stock his food and coffee supplies, get some shuteye, a good meal, and a good breakfast the next day, He'll probably wanna trade horses for fresh ones, and let's not forget that Matt and Chester need the same things.

They start out the next morning, rested and ready. If I was Matt, I'd make Jacks sleep in the jail, and not get out partying. NOW, they have probably about how many days left? Well, if memory serves, Jacks rode about 200 miles to get to Dodge, didn't he? If he rode 40 miles a day for five days; well, yup, that figgers, don't it? NOPE. How about if he rode five days out? 200 miles? , yeahhhhhh..NOPE.

Let's just say he rode about thirty a day, saved his horses, and rode five days up to Dodge from the South Kansas border. THAT'S much more believable. Of course, we must also consider the fact that they are driving cattle. If you get six miles a day out of your herd, that's good distance. All the other stuff applies, though. So, five days up to Dodge, figure a day of rest and re-supply, and back down would be about four days, or nine days total riding.

Nobody remembers about the trail, or pack horse, but if you're riding a distance, you absolutely want to split up the weight between your mounts. They are life and death (literally) on the prairie. I know, it's only guesswork, because there are always unexpected things that slow you down. The Jayhawkers got their just desserts, and it was sad to see a good Man like Jacks get killed. If I'm thinking' right, The cowboys dug down about a foot, stripped those 'Hawkers, and opened their bellies, so the buzzards and coyotes would clean them up, and then threw some dirt on top of them; just so's they could say they buried them. Matt did the killin'; he gets the guns and saddles.

I was surprised and happy to see Ken Curtis in this one, and prodding and kidding Dennis Weaver; them turning into friends. Jack Elam in younger days when he was properly fence rail tough was a real revelation, wasn't it?? Very good episode.

Texan Trail Herders

[StrictlyConfidential · 6/10 · 4 March 2021]

(*Dolph Quince quote*) - "Is there any drink left in that bottle for us?"

Kansas renegades (aka. Jayhawkers) are out to stampede Dolph Quince's herd of 3000 head.

Quince sends for the help of Marshal Dillon in hopes that his presence will prevent these ornery outlaws from succeeding in their goal.

In the meantime - Quince's men show a lot of resentment towards the marshal.

Festus First Appearance

[jamdifo · 4/10 · 26 August 2013]

Its very odd not only to see Ken Curtis (who plays Phil Jacks in this episode) who became a future regular as Festus on Gunsmoke, but he becomes good friends with Chester, the person he replaces years later on the show. The irony. I didn't even realize it was Festus until looking him up after the episode. That's the best thing about this episode, Ken Curtis's 1st appearance and his interactions with Chester.

For the rest of the episode, it seemed to drag. It lacked suspense and I didn't care to see Dillon helping out with a cattle herd. This episode seemed like a prelude to Rawhide that just didn't click on any cylinder. Also, doesn't Dillon have a town to look after. I found it unbelievable he would ride out 5 days one way to meet the trial boss, even if its a friend. That's 10 plus days away from Dodge. On top of that, he does last watch on nightshift. The guy just traveled 5 days (100 miles), let him get a full night's rest. They only need him as a gunhand anyway. Ungrateful Trial Boss (played by the familiar face Jack Elam).

The gunfight at the end with 3 jayhawkers was really lame and unsuspenseful. Of course, only Dillon can handle them and he kills all 3, his 75th, 76th, and 77th confirmed kills on the show. But all 3 were unmemorable, the one you never see his face. And what's up with the cook (played by Bradley Payne, one of only 2 roles in his entire acting career)? Why was he so reluctant to give the Marshall meat to eat? He was there to help them and just traveled 5 days to get there. Makes me wonder why Dillon even bothered to stay.

What did you expect?

[dpc69 · 17 June 2020]

Some people seem fascinated that Rawhide and Gunsmoke, two hit CBS series being filmed at the same time, on the same lot by the same production company using the same network might share locations, props and soundstage (as well as actors). Well, how about that?

Keep them doggies moving

[LukeCoolHand · 3/10 · 12 November 2021]

This episode seemed to have a lot of reviewers that liked it. Personally i found it to be boring with not much plot or action. But then again I did not like Rawhide very much either although I am a fan of Clint Eastwood's later work. The great Jack Elam could not save it.