One Man’s Justice (1994)
James Arness originated the television role of Matt Dillon in 1955 and brought the upstanding character to life on Gunsmoke for 20 years, followed by the TV movies that after the series end. One Man’s Justice is the final movie of the five and marks the end of Arness’ acting career. What better way to exit than to play Matt Dillon, the part that defined that impressive career.
Though markedly aged (Arness was 71 when the movie was released), the Dillon character still bears the stature, sense of duty and justice, ruggedness, and empathy of the man who wore the badge in Dodge. The storyline is reminiscent of John Wayne’s True Grit in which young Mattie Ross, determined to avenge her father’s murder hires crusty, one-eyed U.S. Marshal Rooster Cogburn to help her. Along the way they pick up a Texas Ranger who has his own secret motives for joining the hunt. Here, bent on revenge, 15-year-old Lucas Miller takes off after Sean Devlin, leader of the vicious gang who killed his mother in a stagecoach robbery. It’s up to Matt and questionable barbed wire salesman, Davis Healy to find the boy before he does something foolish, or worse—meets his maker, too!
Tearjerker quote that seems to pay tribute to Matt Dillon’s last hurrah!
Davis Healy (Bruce Boxleitner, Arness’ co-star on How the West Was Won) speaking to Lucas Miller about Matt Dillon:
“You can’t see it, but he still feels that star on his chest.”