General Parsley Smith

Don't let the name fool ya. This is an excellent episode, and another that leaves you guessing to the very end, with strong performances from all involved. Sure, you could watch solely to admire the beauty of a very young James Arness, but there's so much more to this fine episode. Milburn Stone was especially good in this, showing us Doc's gentler nature. An entertaining, classic episode well worth watching.

For the eleventh episode of the first season we get a tale that is interesting and entertaining as nearly any show in the series. It all comes down to someone is not telling the truth. And even with the end of the episode we are still left with a haunting revelation that the truth has not be told.

It begins with a new bank opening in Dodge. The bank is operated by Drew Holt and he produces a charter of record to show that the bank is legitimate. However, a man claiming to be General Parsley Smith, from the third Illinois Cavalry, advises Marshal Dillon that Holt is there to steal people's money.

Now Matt is placed in the middle of which man to believe. Holt has hired a former gunslinger which is suspicious yet General Smith does not seem to be the person he is claiming. Matt must make a decision that he hopes is correct.

A very interesting episode for viewers. We are put in the middle of the conflict between the two parties with each side showing several reason of mistrust and suspicion. This is a show that will have you glued to the screen waiting for the next scene to see what happens. A really nice show.

Nifty half-hour that generates some real suspense. General Smith sounds and looks like an authentic Civil War general. The plot thickens when he imperiously informs the marshal that the town's new banker is a swindler intent on absconding with depositors money at the first opportunity. The trouble is the new banker has a state-provided charter and acts like a perfectly reasonable businessman. Even the town's established banker, Mr. Botkin, vouches for him. Something's amiss somewhere, but where? Somebody's either mistaken or lying. Yet it's hard to know which since both appear credible.

Clever premise from story by Meston and screenplay by John Dunkel. There're enough twists and turns to keep viewers interested. And just when everything seems settled, there's yet one more twist. Good central performance by Raymond Bailey as the general. Still and all, I think the gunman's presence is unnecessary to the plot and possibly detracts. Nonetheless, an interesting and offbeat episode.

So if you want an actual, really good review, all of the prior ones i read are great! i'm only here bc i felt compelled to share my SHOCK! lol well i guess General Parsley Smith finally turned a certain way or something ... anyway it suddenly occurred to me that the actor was Raymond Bailey! aka "Mr Drysdale" of The Beverly Hillbillies! Once i realized this i couldn't look away! i mean, there was the full beard and everything but WHY didn't I see it sooner?! It's so obviously him! And my answer is: he's was simply THAT GREAT of an actor! Used to him acting and appearing a different way, his character was soo "out of character" that i failed to actually "SEE" him. Who i did see was the crazy character that he was playing. ARGH! Tryna say imho that only PROVES what an EXCELLENT ACTOR HE WAS! lol now i feel REALLY STOOPID for never knowing this sooner!

Drew Holt has opened a new bank in Dodge City, but a man claiming to be a former Union military General begins making claims that Holt is a crook and should not be trusted. Marshal Matt Dillon can find no reason to believe the assertions by the man who says he is General Parsley Smith. Even Mr. Botkin at the established bank in Dodge welcomes Mr. Holt and a second bank in the town.

Once Matt begins to further investigate the matter, he discovers General Smith is a notorious pathological liar and may not even be who he says he is. Doc Adams is consulted, because the General claims he served in the Third Illinois Calvary, which was the same unit in which Doc served.

While the Marshal learns Parsley Smith cannot be trusted to tell the truth, he also discovers Mr. Holt has hired a gunman named Nash as a bank guard. Matt knows Nash's reputation and is suspicious of Holt's association with the gunfighter.

Raymond Bailey makes the first of two appearances in the series as the strange General Parsley Smith character. Bailey was a popular guest star in many televisions shows -- including most of the westerns -- in the 1950s and early 1960s. Of course, a toupee-wearing Bailey would later become famous for playing the role of Milburn Drysdale on The Beverly Hillbillies during the entire run of that series.

Little-used actor James O'Rear portrays Drew Holt in his only Gunsmoke appearance. John Alderson plays the gunfighter named Nash in one of his three guest roles in the series. Alderson appeared in several television westerns, and was even a regular in the obscure, syndicated series Boots and Saddles.

This is the first appearance in the series for the character Mr. Botkin, who is the president of the Dodge City Bank. In this episode, Wilfred Knapp plays the character. The character would be played by several other actors over the entire run of the series.

This is a quirky story full of surprises and intrigue. Even after the story ends, some of the mystery remains unsolved.