Johnny Red

Another great script that was entertaining to watch. This is another example of why the 'Gunsmoke' series is still an interesting watch even today.

When a young clean man rides into Dodge he asks Marshal Dillon if he knew where the Crale's lived. The young man claimed to be Billy Crale their son that ran away from home many years ago. Matt is suspicious about the young man since he knows that Billy was suppose to have died fighting in the Civil War and Mrs Crale, being a widow is vulnerable to anyone that may be after her money. Matt believes that he has seen this young man before in some capacity and set out to find where.

When Matt searches through the wanted posters, he finds that the young man is wanted in Texas under the name of Johnny Red. When Matt and Chester ride out to Mrs Crale's house they find her in such a good mood, due to her sons return, that Matt does not have the heart to tell her. When he confronts Johnny Red about the wanted poster, he claims that things are not what they seem. And invites the Marshal to contact Texas to see if he is really wanted. Matt sets out to find the truth.

A very well crafted plot that had the viewer waiting on the next nugget of information to further enhance the story. When the end comes the viewer knows they have witnessed an entertaining show. Well acted by all involved to keep the viewer interested to the very end. Good watch.

Young Billy Crale (Drury) seems a nice enough kid, returning years later to his aged mother who believes him killed at Shiloh. Matt's not so sure since Mom has a prosperous ranch and the kid has nothing to prove who he is. Then Matt finds a wanted poster with the kid's picture calling himself Johnny Red. But Matt's in a pickle since he hates to arrest the kid who has made the old lady so happy thinking he's her son.

Good story with neat twist. Drury is effective making us uncertain just who he is. Chester, Doc, and Kitty each get a few brief, but telling moments, showing why they were so essential to the series success.

(*Kitty to Matt Dillon quote*) - "That crowd down there has sure got me on the edge."

Billy Crale (aka. Johnny Red) has been away from Dodge for 17 years and he's back to find his mother.

Marshal Dillon has serious doubts that Crale is who he says he is and he wonders if some harm will come to Mrs. Crale as a result of Billy's return.

Soon the story of Johnny Red unfolds with a few surprises for the viewer.

Another happy Gunsmoke story when Billy Crale, who had been missing for 17 years, shows up to be with his mother in her last days. The Mother is overjoyed, and her health returns.

Dillon had previously searched for Billy in the war records, and found out he was dead. According to Dillon, he had never told Ma Crale about it. However, since Billy died as a Union Soldier, the War Department would have contacted her directly, and she would have also gotten the U.S. Flag and a pension check from the War Department. So that story was badly researched.

Dillon also remembers Billy from a wanted poster, so he looks through dozens of them, and finds an old poster for a guy named Johnny Red. When Dillon confronts Billy (James Drury) about it, he gets rude with the Marshal, instead of explaining his situation in detail. So Dillon and Chester think the worst of Billy. However, when Dillon checks on the wanted poster, he gets a telegraph saying it was dropped due to lack of evidence.

So do Billy and his Ma go on to have a wonderful life together on the farm? Is there a happy ending? Sadly, a couple of former criminals that used to be Billy's pals show up looking for Billy thanks to the rumors that his Ma has thousands of dollars hidden on the ranch. All hell breaks loose.

This episode really went out of its way for a tragic ending. This episode could have ended in a lot of positive ways, but the writer picked the worst possible, "everybody dies" ending.