Long, Long Trail

Season 7 of Gunsmoke is notable in its portrayal of women. The first two episodes of the season feature scheming women in a negative light. The third episode focuses on Kitty Russell's devotion to an old friend, and demonstrates her tough nature.

This is the sixth episode of the season, and it highlights one of the most dynamic woman characters of the entire series. Barbara Lord is Sarah Drew. Lord had a short acting career, primarily appearing in television dramas in the late 1950s and early 1960s. Her performance in this episode of Gunsmoke is excellent.

Sarah appears in Dodge City seeking help in reaching her fiancé at Fort Wallace, which is over 150 miles northwest of Dodge. Matt and Chester tell Sarah the trail from Dodge to Fort Wallace is treacherous, and they strongly advise against her attempting to make the trip. But Sarah is determined. She eventually convinces Matt to take her, and thus the story truly begins.

There is some deserved criticism of a few of the hour-long Gunsmoke episodes during this season, as the transition from the first six seasons of 30-minute episodes sometimes resulted in obvious filler material. This episode certainly does not fall into that category. As a matter of fact, there is enough action in this episode, it could have easily filled a two-part episode.

(I particularly would have enjoyed seeing more scenes with Mabel Albertson as Gody Baines. She seems like a character that deserved an episode of her own.)

Along the way, Matt and Sarah encounter many obstacles, which is really the point to this fast-paced episode.

Kathleen Hite wrote over 40 episodes of Gunsmoke between 1957 and 1965, including some of the most memorable stories, including this one.

The most glaring thing missing from this episode is any presence of Amanda Blake as Kitty Russell. It is understandable, because the majority of the episode takes place outside of Dodge City, but I cannot imagine Kitty would have been too happy about Matt and Sarah having dinner together at Delmonico's. Nor would she have been likely to have been pleased to hear the story of what happened on the prairie once Matt returned. The fact that whatever her relationship with Matt was is completely ignored in this story is notable.

One has to wonder how Matt Dillon would have reflected on the events of this episode as he went on with his life. While Sarah makes her feelings for Matt very clear, Dillon remains his usual, guarded self where it comes to relationships with women.

The previous episode, "All That," and this episode highlight the benefits of the show moving to the hour-long format.

Sarah Drew is determined to join her fiancé at a remote fort 150 miles from Dodge. Marshal Dillon tells her the trail is very difficult for a man to traverse let alone a woman. She tries to get Matt to assist her in reaching the fort, but he declines. On his way to Hays on marshal business, he is met on the trail by her and she persuades him help her reach the fort. The rest of this episode is primarily about Matt and Sarah on the trail and is pure dynamite. Barbara Lord (in real life, the mother of Patrick 'Puddy' Warburton of the "Seinfeld" series) is terrific as the beautiful young woman who won't take 'no' for an answer. Lord retired from acting to raise a brood of four (Patrick being the oldest) and this was her last performance for 17 years. Kathleen Hite wrote numerous teleplays for "Gunsmoke" and this one could arguably be considered her best script. Although this episode was shot in black and white, it is as good or better than most of the later stories filmed in color. (Most of the usual regulars don't have much to do here)

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).

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.

In my opinions one of the best episodes of the series. A very beautiful young woman wants to reach her husband who is stationed at Fort Wallace . A long dangerous trek that Matt try's several times to discourage her from doing .When finally agreeing to escort her the real story begins . The chemistry between Matt and Sarah is believable and touching .