Ep 39. Alarm at Pleasant Valley

In "Alarm at Pleasant Valley," the 39th episode of Gunsmoke's first season, tensions run high in Pleasant Valley when its citizens become increasingly fearful for their safety. The episode begins with Deputy Festus Haggen (played by Ken Curtis) patrolling the area, but he soon stumbles upon the body of a man who has been robbed and murdered. When Matt Dillon (played by James Arness) arrives to investigate, he realizes the killer was likely one of three drifters who had been passing through town.

With the threat of danger looming over Pleasant Valley, its residents begin to panic. The town's leader, Finney (played by Parley Baer), decides to form a vigilante group to protect the community. However, as the group becomes more aggressive and starts to take justice into their own hands, Matt tries to intervene before more harm is done.

Meanwhile, the three drifters make their way into town and are immediately met with suspicion. Though they profess their innocence, the vigilante group is convinced they are the killers and begins to hound them. One of the drifters, a young man named Billy (played by Mark Allen), is eventually captured and falsely accused of the crime. Matt sees through the group's unjust actions and tries to help Billy, but the vigilantes have already decided on a swift and violent punishment.

The episode escalates as Matt attempts to diffuse the situation before it spirals further out of control. However, tensions between the town's citizens and the vigilante group continue to rise, leading to a climactic showdown and a tense finale.

"Alarm at Pleasant Valley" is a classic episode of Gunsmoke, featuring all of the hallmarks of the Western genre: high stakes, dangerous outlaws, and rugged, righteous lawmen. As always, James Arness brings a powerful presence to his role as Matt Dillon, and the supporting cast delivers standout performances as well.

Overall, this episode is an intense and thrilling addition to Gunsmoke's first season. It perfectly captures the sense of danger and unpredictability that defined the Wild West, and showcases the strength and integrity of Dillon and his fellow lawmen. For fans of classic Westerns, "Alarm at Pleasant Valley" is not to be missed.