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» » Gunsmoke Chester's Indian (1955–1975)

Short summary

On his way to a fishing vacation, Chester stumbles into a human drama when he wounds a fleeing Indian he mistakes for a thief, who has touched the heart of a lonely young white woman.

User reviews


  • comment
    • Author: Rude
    Chester is going to visit his cousin in a town somewhat distant from Dodge for a long-planned, two-week vacation of fishing. Meanwhile, in a town that lies between Dodge and the cousin's place, plain but friendly Callie, daughter of the general storekeeper, longs for a husband but is kept a virtual prisoner by her father. A young Indian man is brought to the store, tethered like a dog, and he and Callie lock glances. The Indian escapes and takes refuge at Callie's house, where she hides him from her father and brother. Just as Chester rides up, seeking to water his horse, the Indian runs out of hiding and tries to vault onto one of Callie's family's horses. Chester shoots him in the shoulder, to stop the theft of the horse, and Callie insists that Chester take the Indian away with him to nurse him back to health. Chester protests, but, being Chester, gives in. Is Callie's feeling for the Indian something more than Samaritanism, and, if it is, will they ride off into the sunset together? Will poor Chester ever get to his fishin' hole? I thought the episode did a fairly honest job of depicting a white woman's love for an Indian at a time (the early 1960s) when television was far more comfortable dealing with a white man's love for an Indian woman. There were some plot holes: Callie has been ordered confined to the house even before Chester shoots the Indian, and her father discovers her gone from home one day when she is out tending him, yet she is still left free to slip away to see him on the succeeding days, with no explanation as to how her absences have been dealt with at home. At the end of the episode, Chester is without a horse, a matter he dismisses as of little consequence, when of course it was a big deal to be left without transportation on the prairie, and horses were expensive, and Chester was unable to save money. Like all the hapless-Chester episodes, this one left me wondering how "Gunsmoke" was able to hold onto Dennis Weaver for nine seasons. I enjoy the show, but "Gunsmoke" left his abilities all but unused. He must have been paid well.
  • comment
    • Author: Phenade
    When Katerine Hite writes a screenplay I know it will have less killing and more story line. Sympathtic female lead. Believable in her lonliness and it really is okay for a man to be kind .guys. Ive known it to happen! Good tale with strong ending.
  • comment
    • Author: Magis
    Chester is set to make a trip to his cousin's house about four days ride from Dodge. He happens up the Dell farm house asking for water and some grain. The only person home is a teenage girl named Callie.

    Callie's father is a strict disciplinarian that happens to be away from the house with his son. They had heard about a run-away Indian in the area and was possibly looking for signs of his whereabouts. What they did not know was that the Indian was being hidden by Callie. So when Chester comes riding to the farm, the Indian comes out of hiding and jumps on a horse. Chester shoots him wounding him in the shoulder.

    Callie makes Chester feel so bad that he agrees to take the Indian into the woods and care for his wounds. He must get the Indian out of the quick since Callie's father would be returning and they would surely kill the run-away Indian.

    We have come to learn that Chester can be manipulated into doing almost anything when a woman is around. This situation is no different. Chester will find out that he should have kept on riding to his cousin's house than to help Callie with her attraction to the Indian brave.

    This really is not a bad story but one that the viewer felt would end differently than how the show played out. I am sure no character got what they were wanting or expecting- especially Chester.
  • Episode cast overview:
    James Arness James Arness - Matt Dillon
    Dennis Weaver Dennis Weaver - Chester
    Milburn Stone Milburn Stone - Doc
    Amanda Blake Amanda Blake - Kitty
    Jena Engstrom Jena Engstrom - Callie Dell
    Karl Swenson Karl Swenson - Adam Dell
    Eddie Little Sky Eddie Little Sky - Indian
    Lew Brown Lew Brown - Frank Dell
    Garry Walberg Garry Walberg - Simeon
    Michael Barrier Michael Barrier - Cowboy
    Shug Fisher Shug Fisher - Obie
    Gene Benton Gene Benton - Waiter
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