User Reviews

That pretty much sums it up. Think "The Court Jester" crossed with "Ben-Hur", and you've got it.

Benny Rubin plays a doctor friend Doc attended medical school with. He's now promoting "mesmerization" to make surgery painless. Only he has other plans in mind...

Dr Schultz's first subject is Festus, whom he mesmerizes not to feel pain when Doc yanks a bad tooth. We learn that Festus "has 36 teeth, four more than a human being." We also learn that Doc's first name is Galen. (This appears to be the first episode in which it's revealed.) Dr Schultz's plan comes undone when Festus -- whom Schultz considers empty-headed -- does something genuinely clever and unexpected. As for the Ben-Hur stuff, you'll have to watch the episode.

Even if Schultz weren't played by Benny Rubin, a once-famous comedian, the story is hard to take seriously. You can't hypnotize people why swinging a sparkly bauble in front of their eyes. And the effects of hypnosis wear off after a person awakes from regular sleep.

At least there are a few genuinely funny moments, and (if one ignores the medical errors), this episode isn't anywhere nearly as lame as most of "Gunsmoke"'s other attempts at "humor".

Loved this one but the old 30 min Black and White episodes are the best.

No matter how bad other reviewers think the plot and execution is, this episode is worth its weight in (stolen) gold just for the scene when Festus is in the dental chair at Doc's! Ken Curtis' expressions are priceless! If you're a new Gunsmoke fan, PLEASE go watch Season 9 Episode 2 "Lover Boy"! You'll see Mr. Curtis in an almost unrecognizable role - one that I think is how the actor really was in real life.

As for the other "reviewers" (or as they should be known, SPOILERS); oh, how I hate that they consider the (correct) depiction of hypnosis as junk science, but its best application _is_ to make subjects act like chickens (as we all know.) Also notable here is that Festus has several extra teeth, and donkeys have 16 to 44 teeth... Jus'sayin'... 'em Haggens was a-reeeal close with their 'mounts'! XD Not to mention that his steed, "Ruth" was a MALE!!

Great, entertaining installment of a classic TV show.

The namesake of the title of this episode is a visitor in Dodge City. He claims to be able to offer painless medical treatment using what he calls "mesmerization," which is a form of hypnosis. However, the truth is the doctor has plans to use his skills for less admirable purposes.

When Doc Adams first learns there is another doctor in Dodge, he is angry, but once he finds Dr. Schultz, he realizes they are old friends. Incidentally, this is the second episode in the series where the first name of Doc Adams is used, as Dr. Schultz refers to Doc repeatedly as Galen. (Doc's first name was revealed initially in Season 10's "Song for Dying.")

The primary story plot concerns Dr. Schultz's efforts to use hypnosis to accomplish his nefarious purposes.

Benny Rubin was a veteran actor whose career spanned over half a decade. He was known more for comedic roles. He appeared numerous times on The Jack Benny Show, and -- in a role that foreshadows his turn here as Herman Schultz -- he played a hypnotist in the television series The Joey Bishop Show. He also hosted his own television show at one point in his career.

Rubin is the only true guest star in this episode. Several Dodge townspeople make appearances: Ted Jordan as Nathan Burke, Glenn Strange as Sam Noonan, and Howard Culver as Howie Uzzell. Festus Haggen also plays a key role in this episode, as Matt Dillon leaves shortly after the episode begins to investigate a strange robbery in Garden City. We also learn during the episode that Newly O'Brien is out of town, leaving Festus as the only law enforcement present.

This is a mildly entertaining episode with some funny moments, but it is based on a ridiculous premise. Hypnosis does not work as it is portrayed in this story. The episode was based on an idea provided by Rubin, and it plays like a bad sitcom plot more worthy of Gilligan's Island than Gunsmoke.

This episode marks the fifth straight episode in Season 15 that falls short of the lofty standards set by this series.