Old Time Radio Westerns: "Cold Fire" | Gunsmoke (02-03-57)

Podcast: Old Time Radio Westerns
Host: Andrew Rhynes
Episode Title: Cold Fire
Air Date of Original Drama: February 3, 1957
Podcast Release Date: February 15, 2026
Starring: William Conrad as Matt Dillon

Episode Overview

In this episode of the Old Time Radio Westerns, Andrew Rhynes presents the powerful "Cold Fire" episode from the classic radio series Gunsmoke. Digitally restored for clarity, this drama delves into the grim realities of frontier justice, the weight of suspicion, and the deep bonds between a mother and her son. The episode engrosses listeners in a story of a bank robbery, the tragic aftermath, and a mother’s unfaltering belief in her son’s innocence—even as Marshal Matt Dillon digs for the truth.

Key Discussion Points & Plot Breakdown

Introduction: Setting the Scene

• [03:02] The iconic Gunsmoke intro lays out the violent, lawless setting of Dodge City, with Matt Dillon presenting himself as the frontier's steadfast lawman.
  • "I'm that man. Matt Dillon, United States Marshal. The first man they look for and the last they want to meet." (03:41)

The Crime and Immediate Aftermath

• [04:30] Chester and Marshal Dillon discuss Marvin Gross, a quiet, likable young bank employee, and the hardship his mother, Ms. Gross, endures.

• [05:41] Dillon confronts Marvin about the disappearance of $20,000 in gold from the bank vault.

  • Suspicion arises as Marvin is the only one with access to the gold (07:10).
  • Marvin insists on his innocence, but a warrant is issued.
  • When confronted, Marvin panics and, in a struggle with a gun, is shot.

  Memorable exchange:

  • Matt Dillon: "Marvin, you're under arrest for grand larceny." (07:18)
  • Chester: "No, it's all wrong." (07:27)

Tragedy Strikes

• [08:24] Marvin, mortally wounded, dies before he can offer any explanation. His death devastates his mother, Ms. Gross, who cannot believe her son capable of theft.
  • Doc: "The boy's dead, though. Dead." (10:05)
  • Matt Dillon: "He was shot with his own gun. It happened about an hour ago in the bank." (11:07)

Quest for Truth and Justice

• [13:46] Dillon and Chester search Ms. Gross's house for the missing gold, finding nothing.
• [15:03] Weeks pass; Ms. Gross, publicly shamed, is still convinced of her son’s innocence.
  • Ms. Gross: "My son laying out there on Boot Hill branded criminal, but not one bit of proof to back it up." (15:22)
  • Dillon promises to keep looking, but every lead is exhausted.

A Mother's Grief and Determination

• [16:03] Ms. Gross announces her departure from Dodge, blaming Mr. Botkin, the bank manager, for her son’s death.
  • Ms. Gross: "I'll never forgive Mr. Botkin. Never in this life." (15:49)
  • Ms. Gross: "I want my boy's name cleared. And I'll never rest till it's done." (16:40)

The Turning Point: New Suspicion

• [17:18] Discussion at the saloon reveals how tightly Marvin’s life was controlled by his mother, and theories fly about his possible motive.
  • Doc speculates Marvin may have rebelled against his mother's control (19:37).

Revelation: The True Culprit Exposed

• [20:59] Dillon confronts Ms. Gross at the train depot as she prepares to leave town, her trunk suspiciously heavy.
  • Matt Dillon: "You know you nearly got away with it. Another hour or so and you'd have had it safe out of town." (21:03)
  • Ms. Gross denies involvement, but the evidence is clear: the gold was hidden in her trunk.
    • Matt Dillon: "Your things are packed right in with the gold. Things I saw in your house the day I searched it. Ms. Gross, you’re under arrest. Accessory to grand larceny." (21:34)

Ms. Gross's Cold Confession

• [21:45] Ms. Gross coldly admits she expected Marvin to take the blame and clear her entirely:
  • Ms. Gross: "That stupid young fool getting yourself shot. He could have swore to some story that had cleared me and took all the blame himself. I tell you, he'd have been glad to do it for his own ma." (21:47)
  • Dillon: "He died for you, didn’t he? What more do you want?" (21:55)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On parental devotion and denial:

  • Ms. Gross: "I know my son. I know my son." (13:30)

• On the shock of tragedy:

  • Matt Dillon: "Somebody's got to tell his mother." (10:32)

• On the peril of frontier justice:

  • Chester: "My, she just won’t give up, will she, now?" (17:00)
  • Dillon: "She's his mother, Chester, and even closer than most." (17:05)

• The twist revealed:

  • Dillon (to Ms. Gross): "You know you nearly got away with it... It's pretty heavy, I guess, with a hundred pounds of gold in the bottom of it." (21:03)
  • Ms. Gross: "I didn't know what was in it." (21:30), then bitterly: "He could have swore to some story that had cleared me and took all the blame himself... he’d have been glad to do it for his own ma." (21:47)

Key Timestamps

• [03:02] - Gunsmoke introduction
• [04:30–08:24] - Confrontation, accusation, and shooting of Marvin Gross
• [10:05] - Marvin’s death confirmed
• [13:30] - Ms. Gross denies her son's guilt and permits search
• [15:22–16:40] - Ms. Gross faces the townsfolk and announces her departure
• [19:37] - Saloon discussion: theorizing about Marvin's motives
• [21:03–21:55] - Ms. Gross confronted and arrested; her chilling response

Tone and Language

The episode brims with the characteristic sternness and emotional depth of Gunsmoke, punctuated by moments of tenderness, heartbreak, and the stark sense of frontier justice. The dialogue is spare but impactful, with a focus on duty, suspicion, family loyalty, and the tragic consequences stemming from misplaced trust.

Conclusion

"Cold Fire" is a gripping narrative of suspicion, familial bonds, betrayal, and justice, emblematic of classic Gunsmoke. Marshal Dillon’s relentless pursuit of the truth unearths a mother’s deception—and the devastating cost of her expectations for blind filial devotion. The drama wrestles with themes of guilt, innocence, duty, and the limits of loyalty, leaving listener and lawman alike pondering the high price of justice on the American frontier.