The Jailer

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 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.

A number of comments refer to this episode as being "predictable." Basically, I disagree.

First, what do we expect of a mid-sixties weekly hour-long Western? It's not The Twilight Zone where "surprise" endings were expected. For these Westerns, it is safe to assume when the show starts, which characters will be alive at the final credits. Safe to predict that. And in most instances, we can usually guess which characters will end badly.

The question is how to get from opening to closing credits. Much too often in prior episodes, a totally implausible and unbelievable ending was developed, probably in the hope of not being "predictable."

I thought this episode was well-written and directed, and Bette Davis was terrific, without being a caricature or falling back on mannerisms. While it would have been interesting to have Dern and Skeritt switch roles, they each did a fine job with what they were given, which had little time for character development. I thought this episode was definitely better than average.

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?

Don't know whether Hal Sitowicz, a New York writer unfamiliar to this follower of "Gunsmoke", was brought in especially to ensure "Miss Bette Davis" (billed in gigantic capital letters compared to everyone else) got her propers, but the overall effect is something of a letdown on my second or third viewing of this generally admired episode. Can't help but think much of its massive reputation and rating is due to the very presence of an all-time movie superstar. In an episode where Amanda Blake as Miss Kitty got much more than her usual share of screen time too, and at the same time trying to do justice to guest stars Julie Sommars, Tom Skerritt, Bruce Dern and Zalman King, the story was spread mighty thin. This meant Arness wasn't really effective either in his few bit showings, mostly comforting Miss Kitty. Doc, Festus, Thad, and Sam were restricted in this to a whole two minutes among them simply working themselves up to raising a posse, and were never seen again -- obviously to make more room for Bette (who still didn't give of her best in screen time or intensity of performance). This story, not very well handled as it was, maybe would have been better spread over two episodes.