"Gunsmoke" Old Flame (TV Episode 1960) Poster

(TV Series)

(1960)

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8/10
Matt learns that Kitty's intuitions are usually correct.
kfo949415 September 2013
Dolly Winters, an old flame of Matt, comes into town with a story she wants to tell her old friend. She claims to be married to a horrible man named Rad Meadows that has beat her and stole all of her money. She comes to Matt saying that Rad has been tracking her every movement and is somewhere around Dodge.

It is not long until Doc Adams advises Matt that he had a run-in with Rad Meadows. He tells Matt that he had to go out and mend Rad's wife, Mary, after she took a small fall from a ladder. Dolly is up-in-arms saying that the woman is not his wife and that Rad actually beat her and claimed she fell from the ladder.

Matt rides out to check on the matter and finds that Rad is nothing like he expected. He is gracious, kind and a loving husband for his wife that is expecting a baby. Matt believes that Dolly intentions are not so honorable.

A very interesting story that featured Lee Van Cleef playing a different kind of character than we are use to seeing. The characters were interesting and the story entertaining. Plus we also learn that Matt owes Kitty a barrel of whiskey at the end of the show. Kitty does know a lot about women's ways. Good watch.
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8/10
Takes one to know one...
jaimhaas17 March 2022
This old flame of Matt's shows up trying to get evil accomplished. My favorite part of th show is when Kitty approachs Matt and basically says I don't believe her because it takes a prostitute to know a prostitute . I am taking a few liberties with the dialogue but you know that is exactly what she implies.
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10/10
Kitty Russell, Stalk-Buster
darbski18 October 2017
Warning: Spoilers
Very good episode, and I agree with Kfo9494 about Kitty's instincts, although, she's not perfect, either - I'll bet she NEVER lost a barrel of whiskey to anyone, ever. Good to see Lee Van Cleef in a different role, and those of us who watch this series have come to expect seeing actors in very uncharacteristic roles. Good episode, with pretty Marilyn Maxwell in the character of the obsessed nutcase. Anyone else think she's not done with Lee?
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On the Tame Side
dougdoepke31 May 2013
Busty blonde Dolly arrives in Dodge. Turns out she's an old flame of Matt's. So naturally, she looks him up, but turns out it's not just for old time's sake. Instead she wants Matt to kill her husband, Rad, who, she says, has beaten her and run off with another woman with whom he now homesteads in the Dodge area. Matt's a little put off by her request, while Kitty plain doesn't trust her, but maybe that's because Kitty sees her as a rival for Matt's affections. So what's Matt to do for old time's sake.

Rather tame episode. Maxwell (Dolly) looks good but is a little short in the acting department. Entry is helped by Chester's awkward attempts to ingratiate himself with Dolly, which amount to a real hoot. In fact, Weaver's comedic talents enlivened many an episode and were too often underrated. Then too, can't miss the villainous looking Lee Van Cleef as Rad, which means he must be a bad guy. Also, should note presence of Peggy Stewart, who appeared in many oaters and serials of the 1940's, in brief role as Rad's wife.
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9/10
Another Old Flame Of Matts
csmith-9961527 May 2020
Every time and old flame is involved you sort of know where the story is headed. No exception here but still a good watch. I do agree with the reviewer when was questioning the legalities of 1870 Kansas. Chester and Kitty were in top form, except I thought Chester whimpered a little too much when wounded.
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2/10
The Wicked Wiles Of Women
StrictlyConfidential5 December 2020
(*Dolly Winters quote*) - "I found out what a cruel man he really was."

I didn't like this episode of TV's "Gunsmoke" at all.

The manipulating woman in "Old Flame" was pretty awful about what lengths she went to to get Marshal Dillon on her side. Yep. She was very devious.

I'm glad that Dillon saw through Dolly's phony ploy pretty quick - But, I only wish that this episode was just 10 minutes in length 'cause this nonsense with this woman went on for far too long for my liking.
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4/10
Matt you're supposed to prevent stuff like this
cartjos17 May 2017
Warning: Spoilers
This is the episode where I have decided to give up watching. Not that this episode is any worse than quite a few others, just the weight of them all has taken it's toll. In this episode Matt at the end locks up Dolly and replies to her question regarding the length of her detention something about that depended on whether the man she shot and wounded makes a complaint. Matt and Chester were both present and saw her shoot the Van Cleef character, pretty sure a complaint would be unnecessary. After she shoots Van Cleef, Matt attends to him and Chester lets her leave the barn, where the shooting occurred, without detaining her. Matt knew before the shooting that Dolly meant the Van Cleef character harm, but didn't do anything to prevent it. The only reason he and Chester got there before the shooting is that Chester happened to see her ride out of town in a buggy headed in the direction of Van Cleef's spread. I have the opportunity to listen to the radio version a lot and William Conrad's Matt Dillon is much more consistent in the way he handles things. The people that brought us the radio show also made the TV show, so I am somewhat at a loss as to why I can listen endlessly to the radio Gunsmoke and pull my hair out with the TV Gunsmoke.
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