Gunsmoke (TV Series) Young Love (1959) User Reviews

Matt bides his time to catch a killer.

[kfo9494 · 6/10 · 30 July 2013]

Jesse Wheat is an older cattleman that happens to be returning from Dodge. On his way home he meets two of his cowhands, Jim Box and Rod Allison, on the trail. Jim Box tells Jesse that he is tried of working for him and shoots him. Rod is horrified but when Box tells him that he is right in the middle of the crime, Rod goes along.

The reason that Box killed Jesse is to sell his cattle and get rich. But he really has no plans of splitting the money with Rod. And when Box sees a chance to sell Jesse's cattle he jumps at the chance and at the same time knocking Rod out of the way.

There is a mildly interesting side plot that has Jesse's young wife, Anna, having feelings toward the young cowhand Rod Allison. All this really does is make the villain Jim Box even more nasty and Rod looking more naive. Even though the story had its flaws, the viewer was interested in finding how this story was going to end. And when Matt and Chester ride off from the farm house, enough justice had been served.

No Authority

[StrictlyConfidential · 6/10 · 22 April 2021]

(*Marshal Dillon quote*) - "What you got planned for the rest of the day?"

Ruthless ranch hand, Jim Box shoots down his elderly employer, Jesse Wheat.

Without getting any authority from the widow, Anna Wheat, Box attempts to sell off 100 head of Wheat's cattle.

In the meantime, Rod Ellison and Anna Wheat fall in love and this creates a real problem for Jim Box.

Detective Dillon

[jamdifo · 5/10 · 24 August 2013]

Dillon sure has a sharp eye. Not only does he find the crime scene by tracks, he can tell there was 2 horses and where the carriage horses turned around. It must not be easy to do because Chester seemed clueless (as always) to the evidence in the dirt.

Charles Cooper plays Jim Box, the villain of the episode. He is no match for Dillon brains wise or quickness. Toward the end it looks like their will be a big shootout as Jim Box hires some gunmen. But after he disposes of Box (Dillon's 72nd confirmed kill), the other gunmen ride off scared for their life.

The young love part of the episode didn't work for me. No chemistry between Anna Wheat (played by Joan Taylor, her only Gunsmoke appearance) and Rod Allison (Wesley Lau). Stephen Chase plays Enoch Miller, the bill of sale guy. But we never see him Dodge again.

"Did Someone Pull You Through a Knot Hole, Doc"

[dougdoepke · 6 August 2007]

Lacklustre episode. Old man Wheat is murdered by two of his cowhands, one of whom sells Wheat's cattle with the written permission of the old man's widow. Matt gets suspicious, but has to wait for more evidence.

Nothing to distinguish this entry in any department, except maybe the amusing byplay between Doc, Matt, and Chester over who is the laziest. There is one unexpected plot complication that adds some interest; also, I'm not sure Matt's resolution brings everyone to proper justice (maybe I missed something since the series is very careful about seeing justice served.) Then too, the way they've made-up Joan Taylor (Mrs. Wheat), I expected her to drive up to the ranch house in a station wagon.