Matthew Johnson, U.S. Marshal: A Circle V Western

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They sing songs about Matthew Johnson, a once-heroic figure who gained fame during a range war in Idaho after killing an outlaw and former friend. However, the past seventeen years have been clouded by alcoholism, overshadowing his days as a free-spirited cowboy. By 1894, Matt arrives in Denver as the new U.S. marshal for Colorado, facing a state on the brink of collapse due to a silver crash, rampant corruption, and looming violence over a rumored gold strike on the Southern Ute reservation. His appointment is seen as a joke; his supporters believe he will either remain too drunk to act or accept bribes. The songs sung about him have turned from admiration to mockery, portraying him as a man who murdered his best friend for power. Yet, amid this turmoil, a woman who has faced her own struggles enters his life, igniting hope. Matt's journey is not just about overcoming his demons but also about reclaiming his dignity and self-respect. If he can rise above his past, perhaps the children of the future will sing a new verse to his story.