The Best Episodes of Gunsmoke Season 20

Festus, in the desert hunting escaped killer Gard Dixon is wounded by the outlaw. He is found by Ben Snow, a half-crazy hermit who has been living in the desert with his gold for many years.

Director: N/A

Writer: N/A

While Matt and Newly hunt for Festus, Ben Snow and Festus attempt to haul his gold out of the desert.

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A series of seemingly random killings have the citizens of Dodge City in near panic, but Dillon believes they are part of a pattern in which Doc is slated to be the next target.

Director: Bernard McEveety

Writer: N/A

Matt is frustrated by Judge Kendall's insistence that the letter of the law be maintained, which could result in Emmett Kaysinger and his boys, all known outlaws, be set free unless there is solid evidence to hold them for a double murder and robbery they committed.

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Two bronco busters try to raise money for a ranch in Montana, only to have the dream ruined when one of them gets a death threatening head injury when thrown off by a wild stallion.

Director: Vincent McEveety, Bernard McEveety

Writer: N/A

Matt's friend, Sheriff Harker runs his town ruthlessly, punishing anyone disobeying him.

Director: Michael O'Herlihy

Writer: N/A

Fleeing from both Matt Dillon and his double-crossed partners, outlaw Gristy Calhoun discovers that his survival in the badlands depends on an Indian woman.

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Matt houses a drunk Will & Friends in the jail they go looking for $300 that they think Bill took. Matt thinks it was a misunderstanding. Will doesn't want to tell Matt that they shot Curly Wills (They buried him before going to Dodge. Doak stops to see his girlfriend and says marriage will need to wait, as Will & Quincy leaves without Doak Quincy and the storekeepers are shot.

Director: Bernard McEveety

Writer: Jim Byrnes

Festus is caught in the middle when an Eastern preacher (David Wayne) wants to build a church for the Indians and the townspeople to share, but by all of whom that are filled with prejudice.

Director: Vincent McEveety

Writer: Earl W. Wallace

A mountain family in an attempt to avenge the death of one of their own capture Matt.

Director: Victor French

Writer: Ray Goldrup

Henry Decory is a schoolteacher who makes a strong statement for compulsory education for frontier children as a stubborn father feels that books and education are a waste of time and tries to keep his son Tommy out of school.

Director: Victor French

Writer: N/A

Matt takes a young orphan Bessie Sutherland after her parents were killed on the prairie, to live with her Aunt Rachel. Rachel tells Matt that because of the devastating experiences that she has had, does not want to take in her niece, besides she wants to sell her land.

Director: Bernard McEveety

Writer: N/A

Lee J. Cobb and his daughter Julie Cobb appear together for the first time when Cobb guest-stars as a once-proud military officer who is suddenly faced with a painful and unplanned reunion with his daughter.

Director: Bernard McEveety

Writer: N/A

Matt, Festus and Newly attempt to rescue Doc and Lyla from Shindrow's camp.

Director: Gunnar Hellström

Writer: Paul Savage

Matt and former lawman now turned alcoholic, Chauncey Demon go up against land baron Carl Ryker.

Director: N/A

Writer: John Mantley

Newly finds himself in a strange alliance with a professional killer as he tries to return to Dodge City with his prisoner (Jaeckel) before they are both killed by a trio of bounty hunters.

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A farmer comes by and asks Sharp where is cow is, Matt tells the milk cow owner that he has no proof to arrest ""the hiders."" The farmer wants to go after them himself. Matt tells the men that will leave Dodge if anyone else complains. Dink escapes from Carp after being hurt, Festus finds Dink and treats his wounds. Dink tells Festus he likes waking up in the morning, Martha warns Dink to watch for Carp. Carp asks Dink to help kill Festus.

Director: Victor French

Writer: Paul Savage

Doc and fellow stage passenger, Lyla are captured by renegade comancheros.

Director: Gunnar Hellström

Writer: Paul Savage

Matt Dillon is sentenced to life imprisonment of hard labor for shooting a fugitive in the town of Bedrock.

Director: Bernard McEveety

Writer: Earl W. Wallace

A group of bandits attempt to rob a town while masquerading as soldiers.

Director: Bernard McEveety

Writer: Ron Bishop

A comedy of errors puts Festus behind a plow, farming for a family of shiftless sharecroppers.

Director: Leonard Katzman

Writer: Earl W. Wallace

Jed Hockett(Harry Morgan), a farmer, orders his three boys to go to town and return with prospective brides.

Director: Victor French

Writer: Earl W. Wallace

Manolo (Robert Urich)is a Basque youth who is not recognized as a man in the eyes of his people because he refuses to fight his father Alejo (Nehemiah Persoff), a traditional Basque custom to prove one's manhood.

Director: N/A

Writer: Earl W. Wallace

Farmer Jed Hackett (Harry Morgan) decides it's time for his three sons marry the women they brought back from Dodge City.

Director: Victor French

Writer: Earl W. Wallace