During the 20-year run of Gunsmoke, the viewer learns more about Festus Haggen's family than any other character. In earlier seasons, a few of Chester Goode's family members make their way to Dodge City. Occasionally, old acquaintances of Matt Dillon and Kitty Russell are featured, but there is no Gunsmoke character where more family members are part of an episode than Festus.
In this episode, Eliab Haggen, who is a nephew to Festus, makes his way to Dodge City for the intended purpose of shooting off Festus's ear -- "just the hangy-down part." As a matter of fact, Eliab isn't the only person chasing Festus in this story. Widow Pearl Winton has set her sights on Festus with the goal of marriage, particularly if she can find a job for Festus.
Will Eliab succeed in his quest? Will Widow Winton win Festus over with her ham hocks and greens?
There is an element of seriousness introduced when Jake Craig, a gambler given to drunkenness, is killed by a gunshot "right between the eyes" after he and Eliab had harsh words with one another in the Long Branch. Eliab is immediately suspected, and Quint Asper, who is acting as the law enforcement in Matt Dillon's absence, arrests Eliab.
In an interview years after he left Gunsmoke, Burt Reynolds claimed he co-wrote this episode, although the show officially credits Will Corry as the author. Corry's only other writing credit is for the film Two Lane Blacktop, which starred singer-songwriter James Taylor. Corry appeared as an actor in two Gunsmoke episodes in earlier seasons. In the book "Gunsmoke: A Complete History" by SuzAnne and Gabor Barabas, they note this story was "inspired" by Reynolds and Ken Curtis.
James Hampton plays Eliab Haggen. He played a very similar character named Jeb Willis in the Season 8 episode, "Jeb." Hampton was a friend of Burt Reynolds and would later appear in films starring Reynolds, as well as in an episode of the television series that starred Reynolds, Evening Shade.
One of those films that starred Reynolds, "The Man Who Loved Cat Dancing," was directed by Richard Sarafian, who also directed this episode of Gunsmoke. Sarafian directed the cult classic film "Vanishing Point."
Other notable appearances in this episode include Gregg Palmer as Jake Craig and Dee J. Thompson as the Widow Winton. Palmer was a very familiar face in Gunsmoke episodes, as he appeared in over 20 different installments over the years. Thompson was a familiar face in television shows during the time this episode was filmed.