Phoenix is an ex-con hired to kill an ex-law man. When he starts working for the man and his wife, he becomes attached to them and can't go through with it.Phoenix is an ex-con hired to kill an ex-law man. When he starts working for the man and his wife, he becomes attached to them and can't go through with it.Phoenix is an ex-con hired to kill an ex-law man. When he starts working for the man and his wife, he becomes attached to them and can't go through with it.
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- Anthony Lawrence
- Norman MacDonnell(uncredited)
- John Meston(uncredited)
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- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
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Did you know
- GoofsPhoenix asks Kate if she has a sledge hammer and a wedge for splitting wood and says he will get them. However, he is later shown splitting wood with an ax.
Featured review
Outstanding Performances in a Predictable Story with Minimal Connection to Gunsmoke
Phoenix is an inmate at Leavenworth Prison in Kansas. His cell mate is a man named John Sontag. Phoenix has served his time and is due to be released. Sontag asks Phoenix to kill the Sheriff that was responsible for his arrest in exchange for some money Sontag hid before his conviction.
The Sheriff in question is a man named Jess Hume. Hume is no longer a Sheriff, as he lost the use of one of hands. He now lives on a farm outside Dodge City with his pretty, much younger wife, Kate. Jess and Kate struggle to make ends meet with no help on the farm.
Phoenix stops in Dodge and asks Deputy Newly O'Brien for directions to the Hume farm. After Newly provides the information, Phoenix leaves. The Deputy thinks Phoenix looked familiar, and when he examines wanted posters, he discovers one for Phoenix.
Newly informs Matt Dillon, and the Marshal rides to the Hume farm to find Phoenix. When Matt arrives and meets the ex-con, he learns Phoenix has served his time and is no longer wanted.
Phoenix earns the trust and friendship of Jess and Kate. It quickly becomes evident that Phoenix is attracted to Kate. He questions Kate's motivation for marrying and staying with her husband.
As Phoenix spends more time with the Hume's he begins to care for them both and finds himself conflicted over the job he was hired to do. The remainder of the story addresses the inner turmoil Phoenix faces, as well as further events that endanger the Humes.
Glenn Corbett returns for the second of his three Gunsmoke guest-starring roles. He portrays the character Phoenix. It has been a long time between Gunsmoke appearances for Corbett, as his last participation was in Season 10's "Chicken" episode. Corbett was the epitome of the "strong, silent type." He was soft spoken, but possessed rugged good looks. He often played parts similar to the Phoenix character: men with a dubious background that ultimately choose a better path.
Interestingly, Mariette Hartley also last appeared in a Gunsmoke episode in the story "Big Man, Big Target" from Season 10. She appears in this story as Kate Hume. Hartley's first acting credit was a major role in Sam Peckinpah's classic film Ride the High Country. It is strange that her career has been dominated by roles in television, as her film career had such an auspicious beginning. She has never appeared in any films as highly regarded as her first. This role represents one of Hartley's five different Gunsmoke appearances.
Ten different episodes of Gunsmoke featured character actor Gene Evans. He previously appeared in Season 16's two-part "Snow Train" episode. In this story, he plays the part of Jess Hume. In every appearance, Evans provides a noteworthy performance.
Ramon Bieri is yet another Gunsmoke veteran that graces this episode. He plays John Sontag.
This is an entertaining, well-acted story marked by a small, outstanding cast. The story, on the other hand, is much too predictable and formulaic. The theme of someone being paid to commit a murder later deciding against the action has been explored numerous times.
This story is another that could be set in almost any other series. There is nothing essential to the world of Gunsmoke that has any bearing on this episode. Most of the story takes place on the Hume farm, and appearances by any of the stars are minimal.
(In addition to the predictable story, Sontag's escape from prison was so easy, one wonders why everyone has not escaped, but it is a minor complaint about a small detail.)
The Sheriff in question is a man named Jess Hume. Hume is no longer a Sheriff, as he lost the use of one of hands. He now lives on a farm outside Dodge City with his pretty, much younger wife, Kate. Jess and Kate struggle to make ends meet with no help on the farm.
Phoenix stops in Dodge and asks Deputy Newly O'Brien for directions to the Hume farm. After Newly provides the information, Phoenix leaves. The Deputy thinks Phoenix looked familiar, and when he examines wanted posters, he discovers one for Phoenix.
Newly informs Matt Dillon, and the Marshal rides to the Hume farm to find Phoenix. When Matt arrives and meets the ex-con, he learns Phoenix has served his time and is no longer wanted.
Phoenix earns the trust and friendship of Jess and Kate. It quickly becomes evident that Phoenix is attracted to Kate. He questions Kate's motivation for marrying and staying with her husband.
As Phoenix spends more time with the Hume's he begins to care for them both and finds himself conflicted over the job he was hired to do. The remainder of the story addresses the inner turmoil Phoenix faces, as well as further events that endanger the Humes.
Glenn Corbett returns for the second of his three Gunsmoke guest-starring roles. He portrays the character Phoenix. It has been a long time between Gunsmoke appearances for Corbett, as his last participation was in Season 10's "Chicken" episode. Corbett was the epitome of the "strong, silent type." He was soft spoken, but possessed rugged good looks. He often played parts similar to the Phoenix character: men with a dubious background that ultimately choose a better path.
Interestingly, Mariette Hartley also last appeared in a Gunsmoke episode in the story "Big Man, Big Target" from Season 10. She appears in this story as Kate Hume. Hartley's first acting credit was a major role in Sam Peckinpah's classic film Ride the High Country. It is strange that her career has been dominated by roles in television, as her film career had such an auspicious beginning. She has never appeared in any films as highly regarded as her first. This role represents one of Hartley's five different Gunsmoke appearances.
Ten different episodes of Gunsmoke featured character actor Gene Evans. He previously appeared in Season 16's two-part "Snow Train" episode. In this story, he plays the part of Jess Hume. In every appearance, Evans provides a noteworthy performance.
Ramon Bieri is yet another Gunsmoke veteran that graces this episode. He plays John Sontag.
This is an entertaining, well-acted story marked by a small, outstanding cast. The story, on the other hand, is much too predictable and formulaic. The theme of someone being paid to commit a murder later deciding against the action has been explored numerous times.
This story is another that could be set in almost any other series. There is nothing essential to the world of Gunsmoke that has any bearing on this episode. Most of the story takes place on the Hume farm, and appearances by any of the stars are minimal.
(In addition to the predictable story, Sontag's escape from prison was so easy, one wonders why everyone has not escaped, but it is a minor complaint about a small detail.)
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- wdavidreynolds
- Aug 3, 2021
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