Kind hearted, good intentioned Festus finds a very old Native American in a cave and does his best to help him because it seems the old fellow is ailing and sickly. Festus hauls him back to the doc in Dodge and does his best to "heal" the old gent. But the old fellow went to the cave for purpose of preparing to die and has no desire to be "healed". We will learn it is part of their culture to go to a solitary place and mentally prepare to leave this life. There are some clever twists to this episode and it might be considered an effort to show how the native people live. I know this aired in 1971 but I find it ironic it tried to pay respect to "indians" of America but not one "indian" played a part in this episode.
6 Reviews
"I found him, Ma... Can I keep him?"
grizzledgeezer20 September 2013
Warning: Spoilers
When the kind-hearted Festus finds an elderly Indian dying in a cave, he can't think of anything to do but bring him back to be doctored. The Indian shows no gratitude, as he's gone there to die, the his tribe fearing that if he dies in camp, his spirit will remain there to cause trouble.
Kitty is sympathetic, but Matt and the doctor warn Festus that he really should have left the man to die, as that's what he wanted. Kitty spits out "I hope //you're// not around when I'm in trouble!"
Festus goes all out, even buying a Hudson Bay trade coat to keep his friend warm. Festus is upset that the man is ungrateful, but when the Indian refuses a pill the doctor insists he should take, he smiles slightly at Festus, indicating that he understands what the good people of Dodge are trying to do.
It all ends "unhappily", with the Indian returning to the cave and dying. The only "good" thing that comes out of this tsimmes is that the Indian saves the life of a convulsing child by dunking her in the horse trough.
The "point" of this story -- which seems to be lost on some viewers -- is the need to respect other cultures. (It might also be interpreted as a defense of the right to commit suicide.) In "real life", few, if any, whites would have shown the least concern for the Indian, but "Gunsmoke" is, like most Westerns, guilty of projecting modern liberal values on people who lived more than a century ago. Of course, the four principals are consistently portrayed as kind-hearted, largely non-judgmental people, so Festus is acting as we'd expect him to.
The script's only real flaw is hammering home at the end the fact that the Indian saved the little girl's life. But the story plays out both with some surprisingly oddball humor, and honest sentiment. Note also that the writer correctly calls a cold "catarrh".
Definitely recommended -- unless you don't like episodes in which no one is knifed, or shot to death.
Kitty is sympathetic, but Matt and the doctor warn Festus that he really should have left the man to die, as that's what he wanted. Kitty spits out "I hope //you're// not around when I'm in trouble!"
Festus goes all out, even buying a Hudson Bay trade coat to keep his friend warm. Festus is upset that the man is ungrateful, but when the Indian refuses a pill the doctor insists he should take, he smiles slightly at Festus, indicating that he understands what the good people of Dodge are trying to do.
It all ends "unhappily", with the Indian returning to the cave and dying. The only "good" thing that comes out of this tsimmes is that the Indian saves the life of a convulsing child by dunking her in the horse trough.
The "point" of this story -- which seems to be lost on some viewers -- is the need to respect other cultures. (It might also be interpreted as a defense of the right to commit suicide.) In "real life", few, if any, whites would have shown the least concern for the Indian, but "Gunsmoke" is, like most Westerns, guilty of projecting modern liberal values on people who lived more than a century ago. Of course, the four principals are consistently portrayed as kind-hearted, largely non-judgmental people, so Festus is acting as we'd expect him to.
The script's only real flaw is hammering home at the end the fact that the Indian saved the little girl's life. But the story plays out both with some surprisingly oddball humor, and honest sentiment. Note also that the writer correctly calls a cold "catarrh".
Definitely recommended -- unless you don't like episodes in which no one is knifed, or shot to death.
A Change of Pace Story
wdavidreynolds12 August 2021
Festus Haggen takes refuge in a cave during a thunderstorm and finds an incredibly old American Indian inside. The man is in obvious poor health. Festus decides to take the man back to Dodge City for medical attention, as he does not realize the old man is following old customs of his people.
Dr. John Chapman and Matt Dillon attempt to tell Festus it would have been better if he had left the old man in the cave to die as he wanted, but Festus is too compassionate to accept such an outcome.
The episode deals with the various attempts by Festus to care for the dying man, despite the man's refusal to accept any help. Festus encounters obstacles from the people of Dodge, too, because many refuse to see the old man as a person.
Actor John Dierkes is credited as the unnamed "Indian" character in this episode. It is an interesting part because the character never speaks. The last appearance for Dierkes in a Gunsmoke episode is way back in Season 2. Longtime Westerns fans may remember Dierkes as the character Morgan Ryker in the George Stevens 1953 classic film Shane, or as Jocko Robertson in The Alamo with John Wayne. He also played the town blacksmith in a couple of episodes of The Rifleman in 1958. It is worth noting in an episode that so prominently featured an American Indian character, the character was played by a white man.
Pippa Scott appears in this story as a Dodge resident named Sarah Mather. Gunsmoke fans may remember Scott from her only other Gunsmoke appearance where she plays a woman that was taken captive by American Indians in Season 7's "Indian Ford" episode.
This is the last of eight appearances in a Gunsmoke episode by character actor Malcolm Atterbury. He plays another older man named Cob. Cob relates to the plight of the old man Festus wants so badly to help, because he is also advanced in age and often feels useless.
This is a slow, memorable, often touching story with moments of subtle humor. As all Gunsmoke fans know, the Festus Haggen character would often shift between being a conscientious deputy with shrewd tracking abilities and sharp instincts and being a loudmouth, bumbling fool providing comic relief. In this story, he is perhaps the most truly human we have ever seen the character portrayed. Although the viewer suspects Festus knows his efforts to help the old man are futile, his humanity is such that he seemingly has no choice in the matter.
With that said, it is easy to understand this episode might not please everyone. There is nothing in the way of the kind of action we often see in Gunsmoke episodes. It is an extremely simple, sentimental story, but it is an honest, sincere sentimentality.
Dr. John Chapman and Matt Dillon attempt to tell Festus it would have been better if he had left the old man in the cave to die as he wanted, but Festus is too compassionate to accept such an outcome.
The episode deals with the various attempts by Festus to care for the dying man, despite the man's refusal to accept any help. Festus encounters obstacles from the people of Dodge, too, because many refuse to see the old man as a person.
Actor John Dierkes is credited as the unnamed "Indian" character in this episode. It is an interesting part because the character never speaks. The last appearance for Dierkes in a Gunsmoke episode is way back in Season 2. Longtime Westerns fans may remember Dierkes as the character Morgan Ryker in the George Stevens 1953 classic film Shane, or as Jocko Robertson in The Alamo with John Wayne. He also played the town blacksmith in a couple of episodes of The Rifleman in 1958. It is worth noting in an episode that so prominently featured an American Indian character, the character was played by a white man.
Pippa Scott appears in this story as a Dodge resident named Sarah Mather. Gunsmoke fans may remember Scott from her only other Gunsmoke appearance where she plays a woman that was taken captive by American Indians in Season 7's "Indian Ford" episode.
This is the last of eight appearances in a Gunsmoke episode by character actor Malcolm Atterbury. He plays another older man named Cob. Cob relates to the plight of the old man Festus wants so badly to help, because he is also advanced in age and often feels useless.
This is a slow, memorable, often touching story with moments of subtle humor. As all Gunsmoke fans know, the Festus Haggen character would often shift between being a conscientious deputy with shrewd tracking abilities and sharp instincts and being a loudmouth, bumbling fool providing comic relief. In this story, he is perhaps the most truly human we have ever seen the character portrayed. Although the viewer suspects Festus knows his efforts to help the old man are futile, his humanity is such that he seemingly has no choice in the matter.
With that said, it is easy to understand this episode might not please everyone. There is nothing in the way of the kind of action we often see in Gunsmoke episodes. It is an extremely simple, sentimental story, but it is an honest, sincere sentimentality.
Festus -- A 10. There are some very good other 10's too, but this...
john_mitten-3794619 January 2018
Showed the kindness and tenderness of Festus, who Doc often made fun of. The let-him-go attitude of the others -- and Festus' can't quite grasp the Indian is quickly coming to his death, but he stood-by, watching him, feeding him. Very emotional. More than plain-old gun-fighting, it takes a lot of feeling out of the very good writers to come up with a story like this. This portrays Festus' softer side. He couldn't read or write, but he had a kind and gentle heart, and wasn't afraid to show it.
The regulars do well in this
bobforapples-401467 July 2023
Warning: Spoilers
As a Festus ep it has to be at least good. And it is. Festus finds a dying Indian in a cave and he takes him back to Dodge. Lukewarm results.
I really wish very comely Pippa Scott had a much bigger role here. That would get this a higherrating. She plays the mother of Mandy a sick little Dodge girl. Pippa is positively superb in what small part she has.
This is also a Dr. Chapman episode. One of six of that replacement physician character and he fits very well into it as the healer who monitors the health of the old Indian.
Disagree strongly with poster on here who claims whites were never good to Indians in real wild west.
I really wish very comely Pippa Scott had a much bigger role here. That would get this a higherrating. She plays the mother of Mandy a sick little Dodge girl. Pippa is positively superb in what small part she has.
This is also a Dr. Chapman episode. One of six of that replacement physician character and he fits very well into it as the healer who monitors the health of the old Indian.
Disagree strongly with poster on here who claims whites were never good to Indians in real wild west.
Festus tries to help an aging dying Indian
kfo94947 January 2013
Not too much remarkable about this episode when Festus, trying to escape a thunderstorm, finds an old Indian alone inside a cave. Festus did not know that the Indian ritual was when a old Indian is dying they place him in a cave so the spirits will not invade the reservation. So Festus tries to help the old Indian by taking him back to Dodge to see Doctor Chapman.
Well as you might guess the rest of the show deals with Festus trying so hard to help the Indian in spite of everyone telling him that he is harming rather than helping. Even when the Indian refuses to drink or eat, Festus still feels the need to try to prevent the death of the old man.
There really is nothing else about the show worth noting. Not to say it was a bad story or poor acting-- it just seemed like a long time to finally get around to the ending. There was some moments when the writing showed promise, as when Festus took the Indian back to the reservation and when the Indian placed the child in the water - but nothing else that really stands out. Just an average show at best.
Well as you might guess the rest of the show deals with Festus trying so hard to help the Indian in spite of everyone telling him that he is harming rather than helping. Even when the Indian refuses to drink or eat, Festus still feels the need to try to prevent the death of the old man.
There really is nothing else about the show worth noting. Not to say it was a bad story or poor acting-- it just seemed like a long time to finally get around to the ending. There was some moments when the writing showed promise, as when Festus took the Indian back to the reservation and when the Indian placed the child in the water - but nothing else that really stands out. Just an average show at best.
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