Gunsmoke (TV Series) The F.U. (1959) User Reviews

Where is part two?

[kfo9494 · 7/10 · 11 August 2013]

Everything is going nice until we get to the ending and the story comes crashing down. It just did not end in a way expected in a 'Gunsmoke' episode.

Al Clovis is a gambler that has some highly questionable tactics. When a common farmer, Onie Becker, claims that Clovis dealt from the bottom, the gambler is set for a gunfight. Becker leaves but is later gunned down on Front Street.

Marshal Dillon is highly suspicious of Clovis' action when he suddenly takes the train out of town. Somehow Marshal Dillon and Chester get aboard the train heading east and capture Clovis. But while the Marshal was away the Dodge Bank gets robbed. Matt believes that both situations are tied together.

A common story that has been played many times in classic western shows. It will be the ending that will leave viewers scratching their heads and wondering what else happened. Another thing that was puzzling was how did Matt and Chester get on the train. I feel sure that if they ask the conductor not to leave before they check the train then it would have never left Dodge. Perhaps they got on the train at another stop which is rather unlikely since it was night time. Anyway there are some questions about the show but the most important question is, 'Can someone direct me to part Two'?

Finally, Dillon Gets Upset at Chester

[jamdifo · 6/10 · 3 September 2013]

I liked the episode up until the end. I thought Bert Freed played Al Clovis well as a slimy villain. I liked how Dillon was set up so the bank was robbed and how Dillon figured it out that Clovis was in on it. Also, Chester had one of his most hilarious moments, throwing dirty water from the wash bowl out the marshal's front door, accidentally hitting someone. The look on Dillon's face was priceless when he heard Chester say sorry. Hilariously funny.

Everything went well till at the end Dillon had Chester hold a gun to Clovis while he went after the 3 bandits. When will Dillon learn? Chester says don't worry about a thing, of course Clovis gets the gun off Chester and Dillon has to shoot Clovis, Dillon's 79th kill. The noise enables the 3 bandits to run away and Dillon's horses run off from the sound of gunshots (they weren't tied). Dillon finally lays into Chester, but not enough. Chester messes up again, and as smart as Dillon is, why on earth does he still bring Chester with him? He probably would never killed Clovis if it wasn't for Chester's incompetence. The formula of Chester's screw ups is getting old and the ending stunk!

Chester, the idiot

[streetlight2 · 8/10 · 3 October 2020]

The story is OK and has a good plot, but Chester shows his incompetence.

Early on, Chester is making coffee. He's just adding water to the residue that's two days old. Must be scrumptious. Probably could cut it with a knife.

At the end of the story Chester's guarding one of the crooks with Matt's pistol as Matt goes off to round up the rest of the gang and he basically gives the crook Matt's gun. Of course the rest of the gang ride away in the rain making it impossible to track them.

Routine until the End

[dougdoepke · 8 August 2012]

The story is pretty routine until the surprising end that may cause a head turning double-take. Clovis (Freed) is a crooked gambler who faces down the inoffensive Onie (Flynn) when the latter catches him cheating. Later, Onie's gunned down mysteriously causing Matt and Chester to chase after Clovis who's boarded a train. Then, while the law is gone, Dodge's bank gets robbed of big money. So what's going on here.

Actually the gang's trick seems more contrived and harsher (poor Onie) than usual. But that's really beside the point. Writer Meston always had an independent streak, a real asset to the series' classic status. Here, it's on clear display with the ending. He not only challenges TV strictures, but shows another side to the Matt-Chester relationship that's seldom seen, yet is quite affecting in its human dimension. At the same time, what a fine actor Weaver was as he shows here. And, oh yes, check out the rather puzzling title to the entry. My guess is it's gutter slang for "a bungled task". I don't think the production crew expected draft titles to reach the public, and probably had a chuckle over this one.

Chester Chester. Chester

[csmith-99615 · 9/10 · 22 April 2020]

You really had to feel sorry for Matt in the early episodes. Having Chester as an assistant ( not a Deputy) had to so frustrating. With Quint Festus Newly and Thad to follow as actual Deputies it did get better. Chester's heart or courage was never a problem . Just his competence.

Don't Understand The Title

[wserafin-76677 · 10/10 · 28 October 2021]

"The F. U."

No explanation for the title! Can anyone explain where that title comes from? Sounds kind of risqué to me!

For a show from the 1950s that title seems kind of odd does it not?

What do you think?

A Shot In The Back

[StrictlyConfidential · 6/10 · 7 March 2021]

(*Chester quote*) - "You know, maybe it was just an accident."

This episode of TV's "Gunsmoke" was aptly titled "The F.U.".

Its story all has to do with a crooked blackjack dealer named Al Clovis who tries to pull the wool over Marshal Dillon's eyes.

Clovis is a pretty crafty gambler who unexpectedly gets his just deserts before getting around to reaping his profits.

Fouled Up

[darbski · 10/10 · 14 September 2017]

**SPOILERS** I liked this one. Of course, everyone who watched drams like these realizes that when an innocent party to anything is just walking down the street, He's a goner. So it is with Onie. Problem is after Matt figures out what happened (this bit has been used before), the bank's been robbed.

You've all seen the episode, and if you haven't, get it from Amazon and watch it; so you know that Chester is faked out, and the three guys who took the loot get away again, on horseback, in the rain. Now, I know everyone's P.O.ed at old Chet, but if he hadn't been dumber than a box of rocks, he could never have offered Matt part of his horehound stick as they stood there in the rain, could he?, and let's not forget that Matt stopped and stood in the rain, too.

Truth to tell, they didn't always get the bad guys, and it could mean the end of a sheriff's or marshal's career if they got away with as much money as these guys did. Now, lets figure up the damages, okay? There were four bandits, including Clovis, who is now dead. If they were running the robbery the right way, they'd already made the split. This means $25,000 by 4 = $6,250 apiece. Who was it that killed Onie? Probably the leader. No smart murderer/gang leader is not gonna be ready for action, so HE'D be the one holding Clovis's take, right? The crap hit the fan, they take off, money and all. Really?

A gang this ruthless,daring, and smart would have a real good escape plan. Here's how you do it. You always take the best care of your mounts, They're rested overnight, and as long as it takes Matt, Clovis, and Chet to get started and ride twenty miles to the shack they're waiting in. No barn, so their horses are fed and watered, and inside with the robbers. Even if you had to knock out a few wall boards to get them in there. YOU heard the storm comin' too, and you won't leave them out. You're all watching for Clovis, you see what's going' on, saddle up, throw on your slickers, out the door and out of there. Finding your tracks the next day's gonna be tough, too. you've got a long head start on Matt and Chester, and you're gonna split up from each other as soon as you can. IF you're the leader, you're holding about $260,000, compared to the other's $130,000.

It didn't always work out for justice back then, but you know Matt's not gonna give up real soon, is he? If you know how these things really worked, sometimes the good guys just lost.

I like this one

[maskers-87126 · 9/10 · 29 October 2018]

Finalment he didnt vet the and guy! Twists plot. Would lo e to know well Matt mas relibed back in Dodge. Chester is a hoot.