The Jailer

This is a remarkably suspenseful episode with a cast worthy of the matinee marquee.

But don't you think --after all Matt and Kitty went through in this high stakes life or death drama-- don't you think Matt could've put a ring on it? Miss Kitty was nothing short of heroic and deserves more.

I am 58 years old and saw this episode for the first time last night. And, believe it or not, I had never before seen Bette Davis act. In fact, I'm not sure I could have placed her name if you'd shown me a photo of her. But boy, oh boy, the instant she appears on camera in this episode and before she'd even spoken a word, I knew she was something special. (Those Bette Davis eyes.) Come to see the credits and, lo and behold, it was Bette Davis.

Well, let's put it like this--Davis plays one of the most evil figures in the history of Gunsmoke, and that's saying something. Her mesmeric presence, her minatory words, the steady construction of a gallows outside the dungeon containing Matt Dillon--they all come together to produce an extremely creepy and unsettling experience. In fact, "The Jailer" would make excellent Halloween viewing.

Credit also goes to screenwriter Hal Sitowitz who crafts much outstanding dialogue and conjures speech worthy of the great Miss Bette Davis.

In short, after seeing this episode I now understand why all the fuss over Bette Davis. I wonder if she starred in any Western films?

I have seen many wonderful episodes of Gunsmoke over the years but this one is one of the best.

PLUTO TV allows me to follow these episodes continuously over a period of however much time until they start over once again. To me, the best part of the series is when the color episodes begin in season 12 back in 1966(still my favorite season of the whole series).

"The Jailer " in episode 3 had many accomplished actors such as Bette Davis and Bruce Dean just to name a few. A twisted rotten to the core family if ever there was one. Davis played the role of a criminally minded vengeful matriarch to perfection who ruled her house and children with an iron fist and God forbid anyone who crossed her(son Jack found that out the hard way). Revenge motive based episodes are fairly common in television but this one was so well played throughout. You knew eventually the Stone family would trip up along the way causing their own demise but may not have ever happened were it not for some good apples mixed in with the bad ones. Good always triumphs over evil on television.

A few things do puzzle me in this episode though.

Since there was no trail left behind when Kitty and then later on Matt were kidnapped, just where was anyone supposed to start looking for either one of them. Yet Festus begins to go out anyways with a posse aimed at finding them. Where did they go?

Plus, it was mentioned a few times how the Stone family were putting their own nooses around their necks but could never figure out how they were ever going to be caught considering nary a soul knew who kidnapped Matt and Kitty and where they were being held. They probably would have been buried right on the grounds where they were hung and no one would have been any the wiser.

When you think about it, it was quite an ingenious and twisted plan.

The only thing that could have tripped them up was son Lou took an awful chance hanging around Matt's office in broad daylight waiting for Matt to come back and then having to orchestrate their exit. Anyone else could have walked in on them at any time. Hard to figure what Lou would have done then.

Still a very gripping story with great music and even better acting.

A must see episode.

The cast in this episode is so very strong, and the camera work is a step above as well. The cast includes the series regulars but Betty Davis, Tom Skerit, and Bruce Dern. Almost any plot would soar with this talent in front of the camera, and the story is very well written. I found the camera shots of Amanda Blake to be very well done. The lighting is just perfect with the hint of softness that makes Amanda even more beautiful. The attention to detail by the director is splendid throughout the episode. This is an episode to save since it such a standout episode froman already outstanding series.

This episode was much-touted in TV "sneek peek" promos at the time on CBS..."Gunsmoke" being the network's long haul cash cow...consistently earning sky-high Nielsen ratings and, thereby commanding the highest per minute advertising fees of any program up to that time...

...it was also packed with stars and a supporting cast most film producers would envy...led by the indomitable ( and out of work) Bette Davis, who per usual, plays her strong-willed self...making her bitter arch rival Joan Crawford look like a Girl Scout...

...Bruce Dern is brilliant in his demented role of the eldest son, Luke...and Julie Sommars and Tom Skerrett shine as the humane, yet terrrified youngest son and daughter-in-law...

...the primary plot motivation in this episode highlights the strong, yet unacknowledged partnership between Matt and Kitty... a topic which generated thousands of fan letters sent to Paramount each month...

...Jim Arness, Ananda Blake and the cast and crew of "Gunsmoke" were riding the wave of the series' continuing dominance...and provided Paramount with more than enough cash to pay Davis's ouylanfish acting fees...