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Reviews
Gunsmoke: Double Entry (1965)
INSP Failed Gunsmoke Fans
This episode was on INSP today, so took a look here to check out the guest stars and reviews....as I usually do. And according to the current reviews, discovered that on this showing, two key scenes were cut out entirely. In an effort to squeeze in as many commercials as possible. Bad move INSP programming.
We we see Doc and Festus outside the jail in the opening segment, and then Doc says that they had been discussing coffee until Matt showed up on horseback. That discussion never appeared; apparently because INSP had cut it in order to perserve time. Not acceptable.
After another commercial break we see the big dinner scene at the Longbranch with Matt, Doc, Kitty, Festus, Brad, Botkin and the stage owner. During this scene the characters discuss how much fun the squaredance was and that ol' Doc did a great job calling and included Fesus dancing. However, the squaredance scene was ALSO cut, as it obviously occured before the dinner scene, and right after a commercial.
Cutting out a squaredance with Doc, Rudy, Chester and Sam is basically an unforgiveable sin where I come from! Two cuts is even worse.
There were slow paced portions of this episode that would have been acceptable to cut, however these used were both comming out of commercials, so the easy path was taken.
Reckon I'll have to pony down for the DVD set.
Daniel Boone: How to Become a Goddess (1970)
I Always Cry at Weddings
This is a 5 only because the final episode should take into consideration the great DB episodes of the past.
That said, this is a real turkey. Two problems; horrible script and possibly worse acting. Patricia Blair was a much better actress, however she faithfully followed the screenplay (maybe tongue in cheek).
Hey, I love Victor French, but in more restrained roles (Little House), and the focus of the story is two bumbling jerks, simple as that. 'I always cry at weddings' Really?
The rest of the cast was asleep at the wheel. And maybe that would be expected considering the circumstances. And Kudos to the folks that made DB a great show!
Gunsmoke: Comanches Is Soft (1964)
Most folks knows "Comanches is soft"
This is a go-to episode for most Gunsmoke devotees. Two of the most beloved Gunsmoke characters interact on a level that elevates the Kathleen Hite script and Harry Harris direction. Don't need to re-hash to story here, but rather to showcase how complete Ken Curtis had Festus Haggen nailed down. Just one little song says it all, in the context of the story and in his basic Haggen philosophy.....
"He said, Festus, don't take no pretty woman's word. Don't let her make no silly fool of you. He said the best to do is to build yourself a herd, and then you can cull one out if you...want...to." And most folks knows Ken Curtis was a magnificant vocalist in 'real life.'
Rawhide: Incident of the Four Horsemen (1962)
Outstanding Cast
For those of us that enjoy & appreciate the golden era of TV Westerns, this show contains a dream cast of the better known and most talented actors in the business. These folks appeared in Gunsmoke, Wagon Train, Bonanza, Rawhide, and many other series.
The great John Dehner, an amazing actor who played every character in the book...and well! Durable Claude Akins, who seems to show up in more episodes of every series than anyone; usually as a heavy but sometimes a good guy (Bonanza, 'Sam Hill' season 2). Likeable Ron Hays, and perpetual bad guy Bob Wilke; a seaonsed and wonderful actor. Character actor James Griffth, a chameleon who nailed playing weird and creepy as required....and Jena Engstrom, a huge and underrated talent who left acting all too soon. Catch Jena as 'Milly,' Gunsmoke, season 7 and you'll agree. As a bonus James Griffith plays a very sleazy and interesting charcter in that same episode. Ed Faulkner is always steady as a heavy...all this episode is missing is Harry Swoger!
Gunsmoke: Bad Lady from Brookline (1965)
Bad Episode from Hell
Not sure why they continue to run this turkey, but overall season 10 was pretty darn good! It is basically un-watchable except from a comedic view. Somehow Betty Hutton, way past her best, um, 'acting' phase, managed to bully her way into a Gunsmoke episode as a kick off for her career revival. Meston and MacDonnell should be ashamed to have put their names on the credits.
As for content, forget it. You can see the pain in Amanda Blake's performance as she has to put up with this overbearing POS. I wonder if they had a 'razzies' award then?
And poor Claude Akins tries, really tries to make it work.
Gunsmoke: Wind (1959)
Chester gets poked
Great story and wonderful performance by Whitney Blake....especially the scence at the stage coach. But the discussion in Matt's office between Chester, Doc and Matt is priceless.
After Matt finds out Chester forgot to tell Matt that Doc was looking for him that morning, Doc's response is "I should have just sent him a letter." Ouch. Then the converstion turns to the recent shooting:
Chester: "Did you go to the burying, Doc?
Doc: "What burying?"
Chester: "Well, that fella Garvey, you know, that they shot at the Long Branch yesterday. They buried him today."
Doc: "No, I didn't go."
Chester: "Yeah...buried him in his blanket."
Doc: "Well, how would you propose they bury him?"
Chester: "Well, well, I would at least think that they could make a pine box for him, instead of just putting him in the ground in a blanket."
Matt: "We wouldn't want to do that Chester. If we did that everybody would be coming to Dodge to get killed!"
Touche...