The Best Episodes of Gunsmoke Season 10

As Matt takes a convicted man to Hays City for hanging, Matt and the prisoner are waylaid and the prisoner lynched. Matt is framed for the killing, then arrested by a sergeant with a grudge against him.

Director: Mark Rydell

Writer: John Meston

Mistakenly hailed as a hero who downed four robbers, a man rethinks his decision to let folks regard him as a gunfighter when protecting the woman he wants calls for a gunman's skill.

Director: Andrew V. McLaglen

Writer: John Meston

Cyrus Degler is determined to keep Quint away from his 19-year old daughter, but no threats or beatings can keep them apart. They are about to leave town to get married when cousin Praylie comes to town bent on putting a stop to their plans any way he has to.

Director: Andrew V. McLaglen

Writer: N/A

Art and Bob both have an eye on a new girl in town. She works at the Long Branch but only has eyes for the most well-liked man in town. On the eve of their marriage, it all comes to a head and the town is out for blood.

Director: Harry Harris

Writer: John Meston

A runaway kid and a wanted man from East Texas team up to first find the kid's mother and second to shake those who have been chasing the man about a murder in Carver County and robbery he just didn't commit.

Director: Michael O'Herlihy

Writer: N/A

There's trouble for Doc Adams, and perhaps for Dodge, when a new doctor and his wife arrive in town and the wife resorts to spreading a nasty rumor about Doc to get the new practice started.

Director: Harry Harris

Writer: George Eckstein

Chief Joseph has come to town suffering from pneumonia. When he and his party are refused lodging at the hotel, a stranger steps in offering his room. Local sentiment is against this and like a boiling over teapot, trouble begins to brew.

Director: Mark Rydell

Writer: N/A

A woman and her adult, attractive niece stop in Dodge to earn some money to complete their journey to San Francisco. When an offer of marriage to her aunt threatens to derail those plans, the niece takes action.

Director: Mark Rydell

Writer: John Mantley

Having already rescued an old man once, Danny may have to try to save him again when his friend is framed for murder.

Director: Harry Harris

Writer: John Meston

A violent killing appears to be the work of Indians, but Matt doubts it. Someone accuses Quint of it and the solution involves secret motives and revenge in Indian country.

Director: Harry Harris

Writer: N/A

On their way out of town, some cousins of Festus come across a badly injured man whom they assume is dead, so they flee, pursued by Festus, who believes his cousins attacked the man.

Director: Harry Harris

Writer: N/A

Anderson, a stylish bounty hunter, rides into Dodge City. He informs Matt that his partner has a wanted criminal at an ice house. The locale is a two-day ride from Dodge; Anderson wants Matt's help to bring the criminal in. The outlaw's brother intends to go gunning for Matt and Anderson. There's also a twist: Matt finds out Anderson didn't tell him the truth about what happened. Both Anderson's partner and the outlaw lie dead at the ice house.

Director: Joseph H. Lewis

Writer: N/A

Festus's ornery aunt arrives, squats on a piece of land, sets up a still, and comes to the rescue of a pair of star-crossed lovers. At the time he appeared in this episode, Howard McNear was appearing on The Andy Griffith Show as regular, Floyd Lawson the town barber.

Director: Sutton Roley

Writer: Kathleen Hite

Festus takes part in a horse race in which big money is at stake, tempting some to sabotage the race in order to make sure of the outcome.

Director: Christian Nyby

Writer: N/A

Kitty welcomes her mentor to town, but her friend is burdened by a secret: she's here to deliver the child of her outlaw son, a man willing to take his own mother hostage.

Director: Joseph H. Lewis

Writer: Robert Lewin

A man comes to town and tells Sam he's going to shoot Matt. It's soon understood he is an old friend of Matt's. Soon this drifter is Involved in shooting and killing a man, and his and Matt's friendship is stretched as he claims self defense even though he was the only one armed.

Director: Vincent McEveety, Harry Harris

Writer: John Meston

Matt is ordered to Ridge Town to reopen the case of an army major who was murdered 12 years before, when a dying outlaw he shot swears he did not commit the crime, and it appears the whole town is hiding something.

Director: Joseph Sargent, Harry Harris

Writer: John Meston

The goofy nephew of Festus, Eliab Haggen, comes to Dodge with the hope of shooting off a tiny piece of his ear, because Festus bit off a piece of his dad's ear years ago in a fight.

Director: Richard C. Sarafian

Writer: N/A

A buffalo hunter who doesn't hold with ranching is acquitted of shooting the man who tries to stop him from stealing a calf, but he isn't finished with stealing to get his way.

Director: Vincent McEveety, Harry Harris

Writer: N/A

When a shiftless farmer offers his daughter to Matt, Matt demurs, but the smitten girl comes after Matt, bringing danger with her.

Director: Harry Harris

Writer: Kathleen Hite

Ellie Merchant, the wife of farmer Joe Merchant, is having a passionate affair with outlaw Pike Beechum. Beechum intends to remove Joe and any other obstacle between him and Ellie.

Director: Michael O'Herlihy

Writer: John Mantley

On a stagecoach returning to Dodge, Kitty and her traveling companions are waylaid and held for ransom.

Director: Mark Rydell

Writer: N/A

Drought and crop failure leave Dodge without fruit or vegetables and a farming widow and her son very ill with scurvy.

Director: Harry Harris

Writer: Kathleen Hite

Doc, carrying money on an errand for Matt, is found near death. In Matt's absence, the townsfolk figure there's no need to wait for official justice to deal with those deemed responsible.

Director: Vincent McEveety

Writer: N/A

When a young pregnant woman seeks Kitty's aid in escaping from the child's father, the two women take the stagecoach from Dodge and meet with greater danger.

Director: Harry Harris

Writer: Kathleen Hite