User Reviews

This story required a strong actor to pull off the staring role, which in this case fell to Harry Morgan, who made an outstanding guest star contribution. The message of this episode is a warning against judgments and bullying. What it shows is that in the end, the people who are truly cheapened by such taunting and backstabbing are those who engage in it, not those who are victims of it.

Long before there were any organized efforts against bullying, there were prime time TV episodes like this that were unafraid to teach the proper moral lessons. This is exactly why William Paley was a supporter of Gunsmoke even after its ratings ebbed.

The script was very nuanced and fulfilling. It required a strong character actor like Morgan, someone who could project gravitas from a simple stare, or even a physical gesture.

Ultimately, the lesson of the episode, and the plot, is a warning against adopting false moral strictures and against making ignorant moral judgments against someone. The script also shows the triumph of true courage, as well as the morale fiber to make the right decisions to protect those who deserve protection., as well as the dangers of making false idols out of those who are really morally unfit. The details of how this script and the acting illustrate both deserve to remain unknown so that the texture of the episode can be fully enjoyed!

This is an outstanding episode, another high point of a series that to this day simply enjoys no rival. Paley's demand that the series continue in 1967 was rewarded in a resurgence of outstanding acting and moral plays such as this one.

If you like sweet stories then you might like this episode. But to me this is a perfect example of the downfall of the series. Not because it was a bad script or the acting was not performed well- it was that the regulars only do a cameo appearance in this show. Of course Matt was out-of-town and just came in near the end possibly on the screen less than three minutes while the guest actors had to hold this show together.

The story involves a mild and meek man named John Milligan (Henry Morgan) that fails to qualify for a loan to save his farm after a poor harvest. When the local bank is robbed, John rides with the posses to get the bandits.

One of the bandits was a likable person, Jack Norcross, that some citizens seemed to rally around as a folk hero. When John finds Norcross he has to shoot him. But the way he was shot looked as if John shot the bandit in the back. Even with him being a robber some of the townsfolk thought it was a cowards move to shoot someone in the back.

When he gets back to his farm people start harassing his family. They go as far as killing on of his daughter's favorite pets and hanging the carcass in a tree. With what seemed like the entire town against the humble man, John Milligan has to do something. But will it be turn and run or fight back.

The script was nice and the acting first class. Just got a bad taste about having the guest actors hold the show while the main characters make a peep-a-boo appearance. With that said, Harry Morgan does all he can to make this show entertaining.

A farmer named John Milligan tries to get a loan at the bank in Dodge City, but the loan is refused. Shortly after Milligan leaves the bank empty-handed and still broke, the Jack Norcross gang robs the bank. As the gang leaves, Norcross tosses one of the bundles of money to Milligan. During the getaway, Festus Haggen injures one of the thieves. Matt Dillon is out of town, of course. Festus and Newly O'Brien assemble a posse to go after the criminals.

Outside Dodge, Norcross sends the rest of the gang on their way so he can find a place to care for the injured man. They find a shack and take refuge there.

Some of the members of the posse are reluctant to continue to pursue Norcross and the gang because he has a reputation as a Robin Hood type who is known to distribute some of the loot to the lesser fortunate.

(This is an odd sentiment for the time. The deposits of banks today are protected by government agencies. If a bank is robbed, the depositors do not have to worry that their funds are in any kind of danger. This was not as true during the late 1800s. Banks at that time operated more independently, and the robbery of a local bank could result in depositors losing funds. One would think the citizens of Dodge City would not be sympathetic to a thief who robs their local bank.)

Some of the posse manages to capture the gang and recover the money, but Norcross is in the shack tending to his injured partner. John Milligan had tried to join the posse, but they left him behind with his slower farm horse. Milligan happens upon the shack where Norcross is located. Although Milligan is extremely frightened, he sneaks up to a window in the shack, draws his gun, closes his eyes, and fires several times. Norcross is shot in the back and killed shortly after his injured partner had succumbed to the gunshot wound he acquired during the robbery getaway.

(Milligan's shooting of Norcross would be considered murder in most circumstances. Norcross is the proverbial sitting duck, and Milligan opens fire with no warning. However, Norcross had a "dead or alive" bounty on his head. Matt Dillon accepts Milligan's actions as legal and warranted under the circumstances.)

Festus, Newly, Nathan Burke and the other posse members hear the shooting, and find Milligan standing over the two dead men. Upon the discovery both men were shot in the back, Milligan is labeled a coward and ostracized by many of the Dodge citizenry.

Harry Morgan makes his second appearance in the series. This time, he plays the lead character John Milligan. Morgan performed this role following his recurring portrayal of Officer Bill Gannon on the late 1960's Dragnet reboot and his iconic performance as Colonel Sherman T. Potter in M*A*S*H. He also began playing the character Doc Amos B. Coogan in the short-lived series Hec Ramsey with Richard Boone around the time this story was filmed.

Actress Lynn Carlin joins the guest cast here as Janet Milligan, John's wife. Young actress Patti Cohoon returns following the two-part season debut episode "The River" to play the Milligan's daughter Wendy.

Familiar actor Joseph Campanella appears for the second and final time in the series with this episode. Here he plays the outlaw Jack Norcross, and he does so with a weird, unnecessary southern accent. Charles Macauley appears for the first time as the banker named Dofeny. Macauley returns later in Season 18 as the same character in the episode titled "Talbott." Sorrell Booke participates in his only Gunsmoke role as the schoolteacher Gerald Pandy. Booke is perhaps best known for his portrayal of the character Jefferson Davis "Boss" Hogg on the Dukes of Hazzard and The Dukes series in the 1980s.

The plot of this story -- a man normally consider gentle and non-violent kills a notorious outlaw only to find himself shunned by the community because of the way the outlaw was killed -- is a common trope in the Westerns genre. Almost every Westerns series explores this theme in some form. In fact, Gunsmoke has explored this theme previously, particularly in Season 10's "The Pariah" episode. (There may be other examples, but this one immediately comes to mind.)

Although this episode is built on a story that is in no way unique, the treatment here is nuanced. A good portion of the story dwells on the profound impact the incident has on Milligan and his wife and daughter, which is, in a word, brutal. Many of the people involved consider Milligan a coward, but his responses demonstrate great courage. The performances by the guest stars are excellent, especially Harry Morgan's contribution.

There are a few problematic aspects to this story, however. As the bandits ride away following the robbery, Festus fires at their backs and even hits one in what will eventually be a fatal wound. Yet, when the Milligan character shoots Norcross in the back, his actions are viewed as cowardly. No one ever accuses Festus of being a coward. (I suppose an argument could be made that Festus was shooting at fleeing robbers, while Milligan was shooting at a stationary individual. It should also be noted that everyone assumes Milligan killed both men from the window of shack, and Milligan is not sure.)

The handling of the material often leaves something to be desired. For example, there is an animal featured prominently in the story, and it is immediately obvious where the portion of the story involving the animal is going. There are other aspects of the story that are telegraphed throughout, and it comes across as condescending and perhaps a little lazy.

While the episode is set in and around the Dodge City area, this is another example of a story that has minimal involvement by the regular Gunsmoke stars. They are tangentially involved, but not vital to the story details.

The desire to end the episode on a positive note comes close to ruining the story. If the last couple of minutes would have been edited out of the episode, it would be much better.

Milligan is another waste, a tired tale that was a bore to watch to the end. Harry Morgan is the titular Milligan who back shoots and kills a beloved bank robber. This episode started off well, but it devolved into formulaic drivel in no time. It was a predigested safe ride with no spontaneity, pudgy Harry Morgan does his best but it was not good enough. The only redeemable performance is by the stately Charles Macaulay and maybe Sorrel Booke as the head master.

I just hate aimless time wasters like this and Gunsmoke was pumping them out by the megaton at this point.