Long, Long Trail

A head strong beautiful Boston women, Sarah Drew, makes her way to Dodge with the expectations of meeting her lover at Fort Wallace many miles from Dodge. However, the lover forgot to tell her that there is no way to get to Fort Wallace since it is so far in the back country of the prairie. (something that would have been helpful info)

She tricks her way into making Marshal Dillon escort her to the rugged Fort Wallace. Along the way they will run into just about every disaster known to mankind. From fire, dead children, Indians, fever, starvation, mistrusting hillbillies and death- the two meet with everything the writer can throw.

There is a lot to absorb in this episode since not much time can be spent on one mayhem till another arises. But with the ending a restful calm falls over the show. Maybe not the ending we wanted but one that makes for a good watch.

Kathleen Hite is one of my favorite Gunsmoke writers, and, in my humble opinion, after she and John Meston left, the series lost a certain spark. Long, Long Trail makes great use of the longer format, which began with the seventh season, with never a padded moment or unnecessary scene. Barbara Lord is excellent as the slightly haughty yet likable Sarah Drew. As the episode progresses, she changes from a woman intent only on her own wishes to one who puts others first. I do question the insertion, and necessity, of the romantic overtones that grow stronger as the ending nears. As for a lack of emotion on the part of Matt near the last scene commented on by another reviewer, I see his point and yet, so many emotions chase across Matt's face as he looks around him: loss, grief, futility, questioning, a dawning of understanding, all are there in brief glimpses. It's certainly not a firestorm of emotion, as when he is angry, but a far subtler performance and one that fits the character's stoic temperament.

Now for the one flaw, which is pointed out by others, the complete absence of Miss Kitty. It doesn't feel right for Matt and Sarah to be eating dinner together without even a mention of Kitty. If only there'd been a reference to her taking a trip or some other excuse for her to be away from Dodge. And, of course, if she'd taken a stage ride somewhere, that would set up the next week's episode nicely as any fan of Gunsmoke knows that Kitty and stage travel are bound to lead to calamity.

I can only second the other rave reviews here; this episode accomplishes SO MUCH in its mere 50-minute running time that it defies any attempt to describe it. Nothing is forced or rushed; the entire emotional journey of the show--from Sara Drew's first entrance to the final, emotionally restrained and eloquent scene, is perfectly paced and shaped.

This is an astounding feat, considering the production-line schedule for weekly TV production in the early '60s---when a full season actually consisted of 36 or more episodes. The script is flawlessly constructed, the direction and performances are consistently first-rate. And, considering the show's weekly (low) budget, the depiction of a prairie fire is very convincing.

Everything rings true, right down to the subtly wrought late-night talk between Matt and his wise old friend Gody. Near the end of the show, when I saw Alan Baxter shuffling around in a weird wig and beard, I momentarily feared that the spell of the drama might be broken; quite the opposite---it actually adds that extra bit of off-beat intensity that propels the show to its powerful conclusion.

FIRST-RATE episode; I am glad to have discovered it.

LR

PS-- Though uncredited, I am sure that the main musical material that dominates the soundtrack is the work of composer Jerome Moross (also a little Fred Steiner when they arrive at Gody's cabin).

I normally start writing a review and expound in detail my opinions, known facts, and final analysis so to speak. But after watching this episode i don't think i can write as much as i'm normally used to. This episode by far goes down as one of the BEST Gunsmoke episodes i have had the opportunity to watch. It appeared slightly predictable in the beginning but surprisingly saddening at the end. Barbar Lord was passionately moving from beginning to the end. This episode was scripted to express the reality of the old west and all that life can bring. I'm man enough to say that it brought a tear to my eye in viewing the tragic finale to this episode and all i wished for was some raw emotion from Matt upon losing his trail companion, but i quickly realized that the character of Marshall Matt Dillon is prone to be numb to love and loss. This episode in my opinion follows in a long line of well scripted, well acted, perfectly realistic & well toned to make this 60's television show well worthy of 10 stars and 100% certified Classic TV..I wrote more than i thought i would..again

This Gunsmoke story, "Long, Long Trail" is among my very most beloved episodes of my most beloved series, period. James Arness, Barbara Lord and Mabel Albertson outdid themselves with their performances. The other cast members were all excellent as well. The story is about a headstrong Bostonian who needs to get to Fort Wallace, Kansas to meet with her officer fiance so they can be wed. Sarah Drew must find somebody to escort her through the harsh prairie land, with hostile Indian tribes, wilderness and all kinds of dangers that are completely foreign to a lady from Boston. The story will NOT disappoint. I want to avoid spoilers. It is a guarantee that, "Long, Long Trail" is bound to become one of YOUR favorite Gunsmoke stories, too. The ONLY sticking point for me is that her fiance is beyond a jerk for leaving such a lady to her own devices to get out to Ft. Wallace on her own. What sort of a creep man would do that?! She is a lady on her own, unfamiliar with the dangers of the area. Yet, "Mr. Wonderful" officer in the cavalry does not even arrange to have her escorted out to the fort?? Better still, escort her himself?? Granted, the story had to be this way in order for it to play itself out. Still, it would have put her intended in a better light if he HAD arranged an escort, but somehow the plan had fallen through. To simply leave her to fend for herself is a most unlikely scenario for that era, or even by today's standards. Great, great story, nonetheless.