While not nearly as grim as some of the stories in Gunsmoke, Cheyenne was not in the same comedic vein as its sibling Warner Bros. Series, Maverick. The plots were typically on the serious side, with an occasional amusing line of dialogue here or there. The Mutton Puncher flips this formula completely, with a full-on comedy episode interlaced with a couple of scenes that were a bit more serious. While not my favorite episode of the series it is one of my top three, and despite seeing it more than a dozen times I still laugh throughout the show on repeat viewings.
The plot is a good one, Cheyenne gets caught between his unscrupulous boss Ben Creed (Wilke) and conniving sheepherder Thora Flagg (Windsor), who needs to cross Creed's land with 2000 stock to get to market. After winning Cheyenne's services as foreman from Creed in a card game, of course she neglects to tell Cheyenne that her "stock" are a bit shorter and woolier than the stock he typically deals with.
To begin, the cast is just great, including three repeat guests - Robert Wilke, Marie Windsor, and Lane Bradford.
Bob Wilke was one the most underrated and underappreciated actors in the business, but one look at his list of credits shows just how busy the man was. Although primarily cast in villainous roles due to his imposing size and gruff exterior, in The Mutton Puncher he shows off his comedic skills expertly. Wilke could've really made a substantial contribution to a sitcom had he been given the chance, and he proves it here as his timing was impeccable and his delivery was spot on.
Marie Windsor was still gorgeous at the age of 38, and although this role was not exactly the femme fatale type characters she was known for, she displays considerable guile throughout the story. Her talent for comedy was on full display as well, and she delivered line after line of amusing dialogue with ease.
Lane Bradford plays his typical role as the heavy, and his character balances the episode with a bit of a sinister edge.
The dialogue is top notch, and Wilke and Windsor play off each other magnificently. Their scenes together really deliver, containing some the best dialogue of the entire series. Even Clint Walker gets to deliver a few zingers as well, but the real treat in this one is the pairing of Wilke and Windsor.
I can say truthfully that Bob Wilke is very high on my list of actors that never got top billing, and it's great to see him survive to the end of the episode and actually come out on top for a change. The Mutton Puncher is an engaging episode with a great story, cast, and dialogue. Highly entertaining and recommended! My vote: 9/10.