Long, Long Trail

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 .

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).

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)

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.

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.