User Reviews

Very good episode except for two things: 1) The "back and forth" music that keeps climbing the scale seemingly forever while the real outlaws are speeding away on horseback. Now whenever I see this episode I remember when to hit the mute button. 2) How in the heck does a guy with the temperament like Gruber manage to gain the trust of the Sheriff - and the townspeople for that matter - to represent the law?! I confess it was gratifying to see Festus win his fight with this bully.

Festus Haggen is camping near the town of Pierceville. Festus was hired to pick up some livestock in Holcomb and return it to Dodge. He willingly takes the job, because he knows there are some good places for fishing along the way.

Meanwhile, two men have robbed the bank in Pierceville. The town's Sheriff Bassett and a posse are pursuing the men, but the posse members refuse to listen to the sheriff and go off on their own. One of the robbers is severely injured and staggers into the camp where Festus is preparing food. As Festus begins to tend to the man, Sheriff Bassett finds them. Of course, the sheriff assumes Festus is the injured man's partner. While Festus tries to explain the situation, the injured outlaw starts to draw his gun, and the sheriff kills him and then hits the protesting Festus in the head and knocks him out.

Festus is arrested and jailed in Pierceville. Many of the men of the town want to lynch Festus, but Sheriff Bassett prevents it. Festus implores the sheriff to contact Matt Dillon to confirm his identity.

Sheriff Bassett has been the sheriff for over 40 years and is growing old. Several of the Pierceville citizens had started thinking the sheriff was well past his prime and should be replaced. Even the sheriff had started doubting his own abilities. The incident where he shot the outlaw and arrested Festus has made everyone reconsider. Suddenly, Sheriff Bassett has rebuilt the respect he thought was gone.

The sheriff's newfound status leads him to choose to ignore Festus's assertions of innocence, and he decides not to try to contact Marshal Dillon for confirmation. The viewer can easily see that Bassett knows what he should do, but his ego gets in the way.

To complicate matters, one of Bassett's deputies -- a man named Gruber -- wants to be sheriff and is willing to go to great lengths to get his way. Gruber sees this situation as an opportunity to boost his status as the leading candidate to replace Sheriff Bassett.

In this story we have another example of one of the Gunsmoke stars being held against their will as a result of some extraordinary circumstances. As a matter of fact, this is not the first, nor the last time Festus is mistaken for someone else and suffers as a result.

Despite the familiar plot devices, this is an entertaining, engaging story, and it is improved by the guest cast. Ralph Bellamy is the true star of this episode with his portrayal of Sheriff Bassett. This is his only Gunsmoke appearance. Also making her single appearance in the series is Anna Lee, who was a regular on General Hospital in later years. Here she plays the sheriff's wife. Lee and Bellamy work well together in this story.

The remainder of the supporting cast are no strangers to Gunsmoke. George Murdock is Gruber and Sam Gilman is Bates, both deputies in the town. Ken Mayer and Ted Gehring appear here as other citizens of Pierceville. Hal Baylor and Dennis Cross play the bank robbers.

Note that Rudy Sooter, who appears in many Gunsmoke episodes as the character named Rudy who works at the Long Branch Saloon is addressed by name in this episode, which is rare. There is also a series continuity error as Kitty Russell refers to Doc Adams as "Gus."

This is one of the first episodes in the series where the Newly O'Brian character accompanies Marshal Dillon as an assistant of sorts. He would later be deputized and frequently act as a deputy.

A sheriff who looks like Ralph Bellamy arrests Festus for being in on a bank robbery. Things get complicated because some of the sheriff's associates want to forgo a trail and hang the innocent Festus.

Good old Festus is in a real pickle and his exasperation is understandable since the misguided long arm of the law has impeded his desire to possibly ever going fishing again.

The episode also ponders retirement and when one should hang up the spurs and head out to pasture.

The thematic mixture of vigilante justice and retirement hesitancy makes for an engaging yarn.