Festus and the hermit come upon killer Gard Dixon dying in the desert, and when Festus helps him recover, the hermit forces both of them to tote water and gold dust.Festus and the hermit come upon killer Gard Dixon dying in the desert, and when Festus helps him recover, the hermit forces both of them to tote water and gold dust.Festus and the hermit come upon killer Gard Dixon dying in the desert, and when Festus helps him recover, the hermit forces both of them to tote water and gold dust.
William Watson
- Gard Dixon
- (as William C. Watson)
Regis Cordic
- Sheriff Grimes
- (as Regis J. Cordic)
- Director
- Writers
- Jim Byrnes
- Norman MacDonnell(uncredited)
- John Meston(uncredited)
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaThis two-parter marks the final appearances of the following actors. The numbers after each name indicate the total number of appearances each actor had as of this story. Strother Martin, 10-11; William Watson, 3-4; Hank Brandt, 4-5; Regis Cordic, 4-5;
- GoofsFestus and Ben see unconscious Dixon near the bottom of a hill. As they go down to him, they pass his hat. When they get to Dixon, his hat is still not near him. But after the commercial break, the hat is near his head.
Featured review
Festus and the Deranged Desert Hermit: Part 2
Note: This episode is officially listed as "Island in the Desert: Part 2," but the title in the broadcast version is "Island in the Desert Conclusion."
Festus Haggen is being treated as a human pack mule by a deranged hermit named Ben Snow. Snow found Festus after the man Festus was chasing, Gard Dixon, shot him and left him for dead. Snow has been living alone in the desert for many years. Although he nursed Festus back to health, he has taken Festus prisoner and is forcing him to carry his gold and a supply of water across the desert to the town of Ten Strike.
Matt Dillon learned that Dixon killed the sheriff in Cottonwood and escaped. He knows Festus went after Dixon, but he also knows Dixon is ruthless and will not be easily captured. The Marshal and Newly O'Brien leave Dodge City with the intention of finding Festus and Dixon.
As the second part of the story begins, Matt and Newly are continuing their mission to find Festus and, hopefully, Gard Dixon, while Festus and Ben Snow continue making their way slowly to the town of Ten Strike.
Festus and Ben soon find the horse Dixon was riding dying in the desert. They follow the tracks from the horse to discover Dixon, who is barely alive from dehydration. Festus insists on tending to Dixon, but Ben tells the Deputy that any water he gives Dixon must come from Festus's share.
Once Dixon is somewhat recovered, he presents an additional threat, as he has little to lose in trying to gain the upper hand. The three weary travelers are now fighting the desert as well as one another.
Can Matt and Newly find the three men before they either die from thirst or kill one another? The second part of the story is as tense as the first, but it is a more concentrated storyline.
There are a few questionable aspects to this story:
It would have been easy to allow the second part of the story to drag and include a lot of filler as everyone is struggling across the desert, but this taut Jim Byrnes script continually provides interesting twists and turns. The small cast includes outstanding performances all around.
Ken Curtis's performance is especially worth a mention, as he plays the Festus Haggen character with more restraint than usual. In fact, Martin's performance is significantly more the excessive of the two performances.
There are several excellent episodes in Season 20, and this story counts among them.
Note: This is the final multi-part episode in the series.
Festus Haggen is being treated as a human pack mule by a deranged hermit named Ben Snow. Snow found Festus after the man Festus was chasing, Gard Dixon, shot him and left him for dead. Snow has been living alone in the desert for many years. Although he nursed Festus back to health, he has taken Festus prisoner and is forcing him to carry his gold and a supply of water across the desert to the town of Ten Strike.
Matt Dillon learned that Dixon killed the sheriff in Cottonwood and escaped. He knows Festus went after Dixon, but he also knows Dixon is ruthless and will not be easily captured. The Marshal and Newly O'Brien leave Dodge City with the intention of finding Festus and Dixon.
As the second part of the story begins, Matt and Newly are continuing their mission to find Festus and, hopefully, Gard Dixon, while Festus and Ben Snow continue making their way slowly to the town of Ten Strike.
Festus and Ben soon find the horse Dixon was riding dying in the desert. They follow the tracks from the horse to discover Dixon, who is barely alive from dehydration. Festus insists on tending to Dixon, but Ben tells the Deputy that any water he gives Dixon must come from Festus's share.
Once Dixon is somewhat recovered, he presents an additional threat, as he has little to lose in trying to gain the upper hand. The three weary travelers are now fighting the desert as well as one another.
Can Matt and Newly find the three men before they either die from thirst or kill one another? The second part of the story is as tense as the first, but it is a more concentrated storyline.
There are a few questionable aspects to this story:
- In the first part of the story, Festus states that Cottonwood is about three day's ride southeast of where Ben Snow found him. Snow says Ten Strike is eighty miles due north of Cottonwood. These facts would indicate Festus and Ben are walking northeast. Dixon was supposedly on his way to Mexico, which would have been in a southern direction. It makes no sense that Festus and Ben would have encountered Dixon again. They should have been heading in opposite directions.
- Festus, Snow, and Dixon are on foot, carrying a heavy load, and moving slowly. Matt and Newly are on horseback. Why does it take the Marshal and his Deputy so long to catch up with the three men?
- With extraordinarily little water and no definite knowledge of the remaining distance to Ten Strike, why does Festus insist on taking on an unnecessary, difficult physical task?
It would have been easy to allow the second part of the story to drag and include a lot of filler as everyone is struggling across the desert, but this taut Jim Byrnes script continually provides interesting twists and turns. The small cast includes outstanding performances all around.
Ken Curtis's performance is especially worth a mention, as he plays the Festus Haggen character with more restraint than usual. In fact, Martin's performance is significantly more the excessive of the two performances.
There are several excellent episodes in Season 20, and this story counts among them.
Note: This is the final multi-part episode in the series.
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- wdavidreynolds
- Nov 8, 2021
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