Bloody Hands: The Marshal’s Breaking Point episode artwork

EPISODE · Jan 13, 2026 · 21 MIN

Bloody Hands: The Marshal’s Breaking Point

from Gunsmoke: Old West Stories

Originally Aired: July 14, 1957 In Gunsmoke #275, “Bloody Hands,” Marshal Matt Dillon brings in notorious outlaw Jack Brand, killing three of his gang in a brutal shootout. But the bloodshed haunts him, and when another killer, Joe Stanger, provokes him to a showdown, Dillon hesitates—and resigns. For a brief moment, he tries to live a peaceful life, free from violence. But when Stanger murders a woman and another innocent man, Dillon faces the truth: some men are born to fight the darkness, whether they like it or not. A powerful tale of duty, fatigue, and reluctant heroism. Cast: William Conrad, Parley Baer, Howard McNear, Georgia Ellis, John Dehner, Lawrence Dobkin Tags:Western, redemption, burnout, WilliamConrad, reluctanthero, justice, JoeStanger, bloodshed, marshal, resignation, gunsmoke, oldtimeradio, 1950sradio, classicwestern, morality, gunslinger

Episode metadata supplied by the publisher feed · Published Jan 13, 2026

Embed this episode

NOW PLAYING

Bloody Hands: The Marshal’s Breaking Point

0:00 21:59

No transcript for this episode yet

We transcribe on demand. Request one and we'll notify you when it's ready — usually under 10 minutes.

No similar episodes found.

No similar podcasts found.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long is this episode of Gunsmoke: Old West Stories?

This episode is 21 minutes long.

When was this Gunsmoke: Old West Stories episode published?

This episode was published on January 13, 2026.

Can I download this Gunsmoke: Old West Stories episode?

Yes. Use the download control on the episode player to save the publisher-provided media file.
URL copied to clipboard!