Hank Pate, Joe Glick, and a man named Robles catch Joe Digger with some of their horses. Pate and Glick decide to lynch Digger, but Robles wants no part of it. Although Robles protests, Pate and Glick are convinced Digger is guilty and tell Robles to leave.
Digger argues that he stole no horses, but his two executioners do not believe him. As his fate appears inevitable, Digger tells Pate and Glick that his father always said he was born to hang. Perhaps the man's father knew Digger was too big a fool to escape his destiny.
Pate and Glick proceed with the hanging, but they have no desire to watch a man die and quickly ride away. Robles had remained close and returns and frees the dangling Digger before he dies.
Now the tables are turned. As a newly freed man, Digger is determined to kill Pate and Glick for trying to lynch him. Since all this activity occurs in Matt Dillon's jurisdiction, Robles pays Dillon a visit and fills him in on the events. Matt is now challenged with trying to prevent needless killing.
Matt talks with Digger, and the young man agrees to give Marshal Dillon until midnight to capture Pate and Glick, or Digger will exercise his own justice.
This episode features a strong cast of character actors that will be familiar to any long time Gunsmoke fans, or anyone familiar with classic television of the 1950s, '60s, and '70s.
Wright King returns for his second Gunsmoke guest role. He portrays Joe Digger in this story. Viewers may remember King from his first appearance in Season 1's gruesome "Home Surgery" episode. King appeared in eight Gunsmoke episodes over the first eleven seasons of the series. King is an interesting choice for this role, because his natural, easygoing demeanor adds mystery to the character.
Mort Mills had appeared in two previous episodes of Gunsmoke. He portrays the Robles character in this story. Since Mills had played antagonistic characters in his previous appearances, he shows some extended range by playing something other than a villain in this performance.
The ubiquitous Ken Lynch makes the second of twelve Gunsmoke appearances in this episode where he portrays Ed Glick. Anthony Caruso appears for the first time in the series. He plays Hank Pate in one of the smaller performances he would provide in his extended history with Gunsmoke. By the time the series ended, Caruso appeared in fourteen different episodes and was a major character in most of those stories.
Dorothy Adams makes her second and final Gunsmoke appearance in this story as Mrs. Glick. In both of her series roles Adams played typical John Meston homesteader women -- deceptively strong, tough, and very loyal to a husband of dubious character. The performance by Adams -- despite the fleeting time she spends on the screen -- is a highlight of this episode. Her facial expressions say a lot without her having to speak much.
Buzz Kulik directs his second episode in the series, and some of his shot framing in this episode is noteworthy. There is one scene in particular where Marshal Dillon enters the Dodge House and asks Howie about Joe Digger's room. The camera is positioned so it is looking down into the hotel lobby from the second floor. The shot allows the viewer to see Dillon from the time he enters the hotel until he reaches the Digger's room. (The viewer can also see all the men dozing around the lobby of the hotel.)
When Matt enters Digger's room, the Marshal and Digger engage in conversation. Digger is facing the camera with a mirror behind him. Matt is shown in the reflection of the mirror. This allows the viewer to see both men as they speak in a clever manner. It is a small, nice touch.
This story is a rare case of writer John Meston trying to pack too much into thirty minutes. These events could have easily filled a one-hour episode, and it would have allowed better story development. As it is, everything seems rushed.
Another issue with this episode is the ending is supposed to be suprising, but the resolution of the story is telegraphed from the beginning. It is quite easy for the attentive viewer to see where the story is headed.
Matt's overconfidence in Chester's ability to perform what amounts to deputy duties is mentioned by other reviewers, and Chester's incompetence is a problem in this story. Perhaps it helps explain why Marshal Dillon never went as far as to officially make Chester a deputy.
Digger argues that he stole no horses, but his two executioners do not believe him. As his fate appears inevitable, Digger tells Pate and Glick that his father always said he was born to hang. Perhaps the man's father knew Digger was too big a fool to escape his destiny.
Pate and Glick proceed with the hanging, but they have no desire to watch a man die and quickly ride away. Robles had remained close and returns and frees the dangling Digger before he dies.
Now the tables are turned. As a newly freed man, Digger is determined to kill Pate and Glick for trying to lynch him. Since all this activity occurs in Matt Dillon's jurisdiction, Robles pays Dillon a visit and fills him in on the events. Matt is now challenged with trying to prevent needless killing.
Matt talks with Digger, and the young man agrees to give Marshal Dillon until midnight to capture Pate and Glick, or Digger will exercise his own justice.
This episode features a strong cast of character actors that will be familiar to any long time Gunsmoke fans, or anyone familiar with classic television of the 1950s, '60s, and '70s.
Wright King returns for his second Gunsmoke guest role. He portrays Joe Digger in this story. Viewers may remember King from his first appearance in Season 1's gruesome "Home Surgery" episode. King appeared in eight Gunsmoke episodes over the first eleven seasons of the series. King is an interesting choice for this role, because his natural, easygoing demeanor adds mystery to the character.
Mort Mills had appeared in two previous episodes of Gunsmoke. He portrays the Robles character in this story. Since Mills had played antagonistic characters in his previous appearances, he shows some extended range by playing something other than a villain in this performance.
The ubiquitous Ken Lynch makes the second of twelve Gunsmoke appearances in this episode where he portrays Ed Glick. Anthony Caruso appears for the first time in the series. He plays Hank Pate in one of the smaller performances he would provide in his extended history with Gunsmoke. By the time the series ended, Caruso appeared in fourteen different episodes and was a major character in most of those stories.
Dorothy Adams makes her second and final Gunsmoke appearance in this story as Mrs. Glick. In both of her series roles Adams played typical John Meston homesteader women -- deceptively strong, tough, and very loyal to a husband of dubious character. The performance by Adams -- despite the fleeting time she spends on the screen -- is a highlight of this episode. Her facial expressions say a lot without her having to speak much.
Buzz Kulik directs his second episode in the series, and some of his shot framing in this episode is noteworthy. There is one scene in particular where Marshal Dillon enters the Dodge House and asks Howie about Joe Digger's room. The camera is positioned so it is looking down into the hotel lobby from the second floor. The shot allows the viewer to see Dillon from the time he enters the hotel until he reaches the Digger's room. (The viewer can also see all the men dozing around the lobby of the hotel.)
When Matt enters Digger's room, the Marshal and Digger engage in conversation. Digger is facing the camera with a mirror behind him. Matt is shown in the reflection of the mirror. This allows the viewer to see both men as they speak in a clever manner. It is a small, nice touch.
This story is a rare case of writer John Meston trying to pack too much into thirty minutes. These events could have easily filled a one-hour episode, and it would have allowed better story development. As it is, everything seems rushed.
Another issue with this episode is the ending is supposed to be suprising, but the resolution of the story is telegraphed from the beginning. It is quite easy for the attentive viewer to see where the story is headed.
Matt's overconfidence in Chester's ability to perform what amounts to deputy duties is mentioned by other reviewers, and Chester's incompetence is a problem in this story. Perhaps it helps explain why Marshal Dillon never went as far as to officially make Chester a deputy.
