Not the greatest episode but I found it interesting and I thought it had a nice happy ending! I own every episode of gunsmoke and over the years there have been some pretty horrible sad endings that almost make watching an episode seem pointless. On a negative note I will say that the fight scenes were atrocious, very obvious that there was stunt doubles! Almost laughable
8 Reviews
Some family rituals should be kept off TV- this was one of them
kfo949412 September 2012
Warning: Spoilers
After some good shows, this episode featured an uninteresting family that showed their love in a disturbing way. One family of a group of Basque sheep farmers is the concerning figures in this plot. Alego has two sons- Manolo played by Robert Urich and Joachim played by Mark Shera. A ritual in the family is that to be considered an adult the son must beat the father in a fight. The older brother refuses to fight because of a death that happened years ago after a school yard fight, the younger son fought his father during a party and won. So the father is praising the younger son and has disdain for the older son.
It gets worse when Manolo breaks a window in town and the family must pay for repairs. Then later that day, Manolo was watching the herd and acted too late to avoid the death of sheep and a dog from an attacking wolf.
Manolo runs off and gets a job at the Long Branch. The younger brother, Joachim comes to get Manolo and a fight breaks out. But at the end of this fight someone does not end up dead. Perhaps the fears of fighting his father may end- but will he be accepted back to the group. That will be the situation that must be faced.
For what ever reason this episode seemed slow. Even though other ethnic people have different rituals- at times this does not make for a entertaining show. This show was more disturbing than entertaining.
It gets worse when Manolo breaks a window in town and the family must pay for repairs. Then later that day, Manolo was watching the herd and acted too late to avoid the death of sheep and a dog from an attacking wolf.
Manolo runs off and gets a job at the Long Branch. The younger brother, Joachim comes to get Manolo and a fight breaks out. But at the end of this fight someone does not end up dead. Perhaps the fears of fighting his father may end- but will he be accepted back to the group. That will be the situation that must be faced.
For what ever reason this episode seemed slow. Even though other ethnic people have different rituals- at times this does not make for a entertaining show. This show was more disturbing than entertaining.
A very disappointing "last" show
midnight_raider20014 August 2009
Warning: Spoilers
Despite their Academy Award for writing "Witness" (and their very barbed comments on the stage implying that the director had rewritten their script into hash), I am no fan of writers William Kelley and Earl Wallace. Kelley had served up some terrible scripts such as "Captain Sligo" earlier in Gunsmoke's run; then in the final season Wallace turned out some clunkers like this. The moral premise of the show -- that you only can be considered a man through a violent deed, specifically beating your father in a fist fight -- is very dubious, especially for Family Viewing Time. The execution of the premise is just as bad or perhaps worse. Manolo, who immigrated with his family from Basque country some years ago, doesn't want to fight his father because one time in the old country Manolo fought a neighbor boy and gave him a fatal beating. This sensible notion is treated as having absolutely no credibility by the Basque community. Things get worse (a lot) when younger brother Joachim fights his father instead -- and wins by cheating (ramming Dad's head into a cast-iron water cooler!). Manolo goes on a serious bender, sees his own image in a storefront window and smashes it with his fist (ouch!). And that's just Act One. After Manolo's father pays $10 to replace the broken window -- a laborer's pay for a week an a half in those days -- Manolo tries to court his girlfriend and ignores the wolf going after the sheep herd until it's too late. And that's only the end of Act Two! Then Manolo runs off and gets a job sweeping up the Long Branch saloon, calling owner Miss Hannah "woman" (Hannah is remarkably tolerant, and Fran Ryan's scenes are about the only parts worth watching in this mishmash). Joachim comes to get Manolo and there's another fight, which Joachim laughs off because he's still alive. Then Manolo takes on Dad, who's still healing from the fight with Joachim. When he wins, all is forgiven and they throw a big barn party! I ... don't ... THINK ... so! Compunding the felony is Robert Urich giving an absolutely leaden performance in the title role and also struggling (as do the other actors) with a so-called accent that sounds generically "foreign." Mark Shera as Joachim is better (and certainly a lot livelier), while Nehemiah Persoff and Alma Leonor Beltran as the parents are true professionals in any role, but overall this show is extremely depressing.
This is the oddest episode yet, and I only have one left.
sputinc16 December 2019
This is an odd episode in many ways. I have watched this great show from season 1 episode 1 straight through to here in the last 2-1/2 years ( Since the intro to episode 11 and I gotta say, this is probably the oddest one. It seemed very contrived and offbeat, even for Gunsmoke. (Consider it had Dirty Sally among many other oddballs over the years)
Many seem to complain over the comic episodes like they don't fit but this show has had it's 2-3 comedic episodes every season since the first one. Some were actually funny, others just goofy but this one is not a comic one yet is much stranger than the ones which were.
It's a strange one.
I only wish they had a season's notice to cancellation, but they did make the movies, so there's that. I have one left, and it's been a great run. 634 episodes...
Some Traditions Need to Be Abandoned
wdavidreynolds19 November 2021
A community of Basque immigrants have established residence near Dodge City where they raise sheep. The Etchahoun family observes a bizarre ritual where sons must defeat their father in a fight to be considered a man. (There seems to be no historical accuracy to this ritual being a customary practice among the Basque people.)
Manolo Etchahoun refuses to fight his father, Alejo, because Manolo fought and killed another man before the family immigrated to the United States. Alejo is ashamed of Manolo's refusal to fight, and the entire community is critical of Manolo, including Kattalin Larralde, the woman Manolo loves. When Joachim, Manolo's younger brother, defeats Alejo in a fight, it puts even more pressure on Manolo.
This episode features another stellar guest cast. Manolo is played by Robert Urich, whose Hollywood career was just beginning. Urich was a close friend of Burt Reynolds. Reynolds encouraged Urich to move to California in the early 1970s and began recommending him to producers. Prior to playing Manolo, Urich had appeared with another recent Gunsmoke guest David Soul as part of a group of young vigilante cops in the film Magnum Force. Around the time of this performance, Reynolds recommended Urich to producer Aaron Spelling for a part in the series S. W. A. T., which also starred another memorable Gunsmoke guest Steve Forrest. S. W. A. T. Only lasted one-and-one-half seasons, but Urich's participation directly led to the actor being cast as Dan Tanna in the more popular series Vega$. This was the only Gunsmoke part Urich played.
Nehemiah Persoff was no stranger to Gunsmoke fans, as he appeared in six different episodes of the series. In his final series appearance, he plays the Etchahoun patriarch, Alejo.
Like Urich, actor Mark Shera was just beginning his acting career when he made his only Gunsmoke appearance in this episode as Joachim Etchahoun. Shera would join Urich in the S. W. A. T. cast where he played a fellow officer to Urich's Jim Street. Shera is best known for playing Barnaby Jones's nephew and protégé Jedediah "J. R." Jones later in the popular detective series Barnaby Jones.
Alma Beltran portrays the matriarch of the Etchahoun family, Engrace. Along with Urich and Shera, this is her only Gunsmoke role.
In a surprising bit of casting, Jess Walton returns to Gunsmoke in this story where she plays Manolo's love interest Kattalin Larralde. Walton's other Gunsmoke role was as Newly O'Brien's terminally ill wife Patricia in the Season 18 episode named after her character.
Watch for a brief appearance by actor Brion James as a patron of the Long Branch Saloon who taunts Manolo in a short scene. James was just beginning what would be a prolific career in numerous films and television shows.
This is another of the many late-series episodes where the regular Gunsmoke cast has little to do. The contrived scenes where they do appear are not important to the story and appear to be included just to lend some Gunsmoke flavor to the proceedings. There is a scene inside the Long Branch where the unlikeable Nathan Burke further proves his unlikability.
This story must rank as one of the strangest in the twenty-year run of Gunsmoke. The entire premise of a young man reluctant to fight his father to verify his manhood is as uninteresting as it is unpleasant. There is no reason to care about Manolo's fretting over not wanting to engage his father in a fight. In fact, there are plenty of reasons to NOT care.
There are several awkward scenes, but the scenes where Kattalin is trying to convince Manolo how important it is that he fight his father are truly bizarre.
Perhaps the producers were looking for something fresh and original, but this story is just boring. There are numerous dialogue-heavy scenes, and many of the actors are required to try to talk in some sort of faux European accent with varied degrees of success. It is a complete waste of the fine acting talent assembled.
(Footnote: Sheep herders were often resented by cowboys and cattlemen. Dodge City was certainly "cattle country" both historically and in the Gunsmoke world. It is odd to learn that this entire community of Basque shepherds are suddenly introduced to the Gunsmoke world with no apparent resistance from the cattle folks in the area.)
Manolo Etchahoun refuses to fight his father, Alejo, because Manolo fought and killed another man before the family immigrated to the United States. Alejo is ashamed of Manolo's refusal to fight, and the entire community is critical of Manolo, including Kattalin Larralde, the woman Manolo loves. When Joachim, Manolo's younger brother, defeats Alejo in a fight, it puts even more pressure on Manolo.
This episode features another stellar guest cast. Manolo is played by Robert Urich, whose Hollywood career was just beginning. Urich was a close friend of Burt Reynolds. Reynolds encouraged Urich to move to California in the early 1970s and began recommending him to producers. Prior to playing Manolo, Urich had appeared with another recent Gunsmoke guest David Soul as part of a group of young vigilante cops in the film Magnum Force. Around the time of this performance, Reynolds recommended Urich to producer Aaron Spelling for a part in the series S. W. A. T., which also starred another memorable Gunsmoke guest Steve Forrest. S. W. A. T. Only lasted one-and-one-half seasons, but Urich's participation directly led to the actor being cast as Dan Tanna in the more popular series Vega$. This was the only Gunsmoke part Urich played.
Nehemiah Persoff was no stranger to Gunsmoke fans, as he appeared in six different episodes of the series. In his final series appearance, he plays the Etchahoun patriarch, Alejo.
Like Urich, actor Mark Shera was just beginning his acting career when he made his only Gunsmoke appearance in this episode as Joachim Etchahoun. Shera would join Urich in the S. W. A. T. cast where he played a fellow officer to Urich's Jim Street. Shera is best known for playing Barnaby Jones's nephew and protégé Jedediah "J. R." Jones later in the popular detective series Barnaby Jones.
Alma Beltran portrays the matriarch of the Etchahoun family, Engrace. Along with Urich and Shera, this is her only Gunsmoke role.
In a surprising bit of casting, Jess Walton returns to Gunsmoke in this story where she plays Manolo's love interest Kattalin Larralde. Walton's other Gunsmoke role was as Newly O'Brien's terminally ill wife Patricia in the Season 18 episode named after her character.
Watch for a brief appearance by actor Brion James as a patron of the Long Branch Saloon who taunts Manolo in a short scene. James was just beginning what would be a prolific career in numerous films and television shows.
This is another of the many late-series episodes where the regular Gunsmoke cast has little to do. The contrived scenes where they do appear are not important to the story and appear to be included just to lend some Gunsmoke flavor to the proceedings. There is a scene inside the Long Branch where the unlikeable Nathan Burke further proves his unlikability.
This story must rank as one of the strangest in the twenty-year run of Gunsmoke. The entire premise of a young man reluctant to fight his father to verify his manhood is as uninteresting as it is unpleasant. There is no reason to care about Manolo's fretting over not wanting to engage his father in a fight. In fact, there are plenty of reasons to NOT care.
There are several awkward scenes, but the scenes where Kattalin is trying to convince Manolo how important it is that he fight his father are truly bizarre.
Perhaps the producers were looking for something fresh and original, but this story is just boring. There are numerous dialogue-heavy scenes, and many of the actors are required to try to talk in some sort of faux European accent with varied degrees of success. It is a complete waste of the fine acting talent assembled.
(Footnote: Sheep herders were often resented by cowboys and cattlemen. Dodge City was certainly "cattle country" both historically and in the Gunsmoke world. It is odd to learn that this entire community of Basque shepherds are suddenly introduced to the Gunsmoke world with no apparent resistance from the cattle folks in the area.)
Prove You're The Man Of The Family
nlathy-839-30067714 July 2023
I agree with those who don't understand all the poison darts thrown at this episode. Maybe this movie does seem corny. Walt Disney said, "I like corn." And if you're resistant to corn than why are you watching Gunsmoke or any TV Western from the Golden Age of television. This is a fine look at the importance of manhood and family. Two themes well worth celebrating today. It's a great part and performance for Fran Ryan, also. I don't think Amanda Blake could have played the part any better. And there are a pair of fight scenes that are well worth watching. John Wayne was taken aback by the thought of a friendly fight in Cahill United States Marshall. This oater shows its possible and necessary.
A Totally Absurd & Miscast Penultimate Episode
johnbyrne-6758827 March 2020
Where to begin?? This penultimate episode in Gunsmoke's 20-season run is so bizarre and offbeat but in a completely incredulous way. Firstly, why would a group of Basque sheepherders exist near Dodge City of all places and why would their presence never be shown prior to this 633rd(!!) episode in the series' long run? To then cast a young pre-S.W.A.T. white-as-snow Bob Urich as the primary Basque protagonist makes all this the more difficult to believe. As if that wasn't enough, the storyline is just plain silly but would've been far more plausible had it been a group of, say, rustlers or wagon train caravan passing thru the territory with their own odyssey's inner turmoils spilling into and effecting the fine folks of Dodge City. Another issue I had with this episode was how little effort they seemed to make towards achieving a true western feel to things. Everybody looked like more 1975 (when this aired) than 1875 except for a few main characters. It just lacked any believability any which way with some ridiculous dialogue and scenarios throughout. All that said, I would watch this episode again just to indulge in how bad it truly was. Bob Urich would've made a great, young cowpoke instead of a misplaced beret-wearing Spaniard without even a trace of any genuine foreign accent. He & us deserve(d) better than this silliness.
Odd next to last episode
chchurch13 July 2023
The cast and crew didn't think they were near the end, thus this odd Basque people's episode. Matt and Doc had only a handful of lines and the story was goofy but after 600+ shows a few stinkers were inevitable. The family fights are poorly staged and the dialogue is a bit stilted; I'm guessing the writers were tired. I don't remember if Festus was even in this one, but he will be in the last episode (The Sharecroppers) originally aired back in 1975. I started watching Gunsmoke reruns about 5 years ago and I'm excited it's about to "rollover" on Sat on MeTV. Bring back the good old days with Matt philosophizing on Boot Hill, Chester limping, and Miss Kitty looking really hot! Doc looks younger and we'll get to see two shows a day for over four months.
See also
Awards | FAQ | User Ratings | External Reviews | Metacritic Reviews
