The Jailer

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.

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.

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...

It is easy to understand why this episode is considered one of the best television episodes of all time. Everything about this episode is high quality. One can easily imagine the entire crew considered the opportunity to work with Bette Davis and this cast special enough that they were going all out on making sure this episode would be top notch, and it is.

Bette Davis was not a stranger to television. She appeared on TV dramas such as Alfred Hitchcock Presents and Perry Mason -- to name only two examples. Gunsmoke had a reputation for being able to attract top talent, too. Many actors have stated in interviews they considered it an honor to be asked to appear on the show. The fact that Ms. Davis agreed to do this episode is not that surprising. The Etta Stone character is quite dynamic, too. It requires someone with the talent to properly convey the character's menacing demeanor.

The remaining guest cast is absolutely outstanding. Bruce Dern was usually great as a mean, nasty character, and he lives up to expectations here as Lou Stone. Zalman King, who appeared in several Gunsmoke episodes during this time period and who went on to a career in television and film production and direction (6 1/2 Weeks, Red Shoes Diaries), plays Jack Stone, the family member that schemes a little too much for their own good. Robert Sorrells, a Gunsmoke veteran and a very recognizable character actor, is another Stone son named Mike. Tom Skerritt was always memorable in his Gunsmoke appearances, and he does not disappoint as the younger son, Ben. Julie Sommars, yet another familiar face in Gunsmoke casts, shines in this portrayal of the timid wife of Lou.

Amanda Blake is especially good in this episode. Whenever she was given the opportunity to play a prominent role in Gunsmoke, she was usually up to the task. Blake mentioned in a later interview that this episode was one of her favorites.

My only (very mild) criticism of this episode is that everyone knows where the plot is going from the time Kitty Russell is kidnapped. Of course, the destination is rarely as interesting as the journey to arrive there. Despite the predictability of the story, the episode is so well done it is still quite enjoyable.

The Stone family is intriguing. Etta's hatred for Marshal Dillon is probably psychotic, but it is not difficult to believe her loathing of the Marshal would cause her to take the actions she does. It is more difficult to accept the Stone sons' eager willingness to go along with their mother's scheme. They are terrified of their mother's wrath. One can only imagine what their childhoods must have been like with a father that was an outlaw and a domineering mother that seems perfectly content ruling by fear.

Matt even tells Etta at one point that her sons will likely be arrested and executed for helping her carry out her plan, and she clearly does not care. Her white-hot contempt overwhelms everything.

Another reviewer alluded to the fact that the Season 20 episode, "Matt Dillon Must Die!" is very similar to this episode. It contains so many of the same elements as this episode that it could almost be considered a remake.

I think there are more clever stories in the Gunsmoke body of work, but you won't find many episodes done as well as this one.

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.