User Reviews

I caught this episode today just as Zerbe/Fr. Hernando was speaking Latin. Zerbe spoke it well, very well.

I wonder if Mr. Zerbe comes from a Catholic background - not that it really matters - but he spoke Latin fluently and correctly.

The main thing is Mr. Zerbe did a great job. It seems like he usually plays weasels, reptiles, heavies and just plain nogoodniks. Heracalio was such a character. Glad to see the other side of Mr. Zerbe's acting ability as a priest.

Heraclio Cantrell is a despicable crook. He poses as a priest to rob a gold shipment being transported by mule and guarded by U. S. Marshal Bones Cunningham. Heraclio uses his priestly façade to get close and then shoots the Marshal and steals the gold. He then travels to the church where his twin brother, Father Hernando Cantrell, is the priest.

Marshal Matt Dillon is dispatched to the area to investigate. He speaks with Marshal Cunningham before he dies from the gunshot wound and learns the perpetrator was the Padre at a mission parish. Matt travels on to the mission and discovers the unique situation with the twin brothers. He also learns that Heraclio had planned to join the priesthood earlier in life, but ultimately chose a life of crime instead. This obviously allowed the outlaw to act convincingly as a priest.

The situation is further complicated when Heraclio seeks sanctuary at the mission. He promises his brother he will offer a confession, but he must first prepare his heart. Both Father Hernando and Marshal Dillon are skeptical, but the Padre wants to give his brother every opportunity to receive absolution for his sins.

Anthony Zerbe plays the parts of both Heraclio and Hernando. Zerbe guest starred in three different Gunsmoke episodes, and in each he either played characters that were neither fully villainous nor virtuous, or -- as in this episode -- two characters that look alike but one is a villain, and one aspires to be benevolent.

At its root, this is a classic tale of good versus evil with the two forces played by a single person, which adds significant interest to the situation. Zerbe's performance (performances?) is clearly the attraction here. The conflict between the brothers is wrapped in the story of Matt Dillon trying to see a killer is brought to justice. The conclusion to the story is more than a little disquieting and leaves some question as to the outcome.

This is the second episode in a row that takes place outside of Dodge City, although there is a short scene at the end with Matt and Doc Adams together, presumably in Dodge. Amanda Blake, Ken Curtis, and Buck Taylor are all absent once again.

I agree with other reviews that praise Zerbe's work in this episode. However, I do not rate this episode as highly as other reviewers, because the plot strikes me as a classic tale that was more or less "shoehorned" into a Gunsmoke episode. There is nothing about this episode that requires anything about Gunsmoke to be involved. The final scene with Matt and Doc discussing the story is odd. It appears it was tacked on to try to offer closure, but it leaves a lot of questions unanswered.

TV programs do not seem to be know for editing & direction - but this time - it was done with such skill - along with a great performance by Mr. AZ - that it looked as if the brothers were separate actors.

One of the oldest plots in TV history is played in this episode that features two look-a-like twin brother with one being a bad guy and the other a good guy. Anthony Zerbe plays the twin roles as one brother has robbed a shipment of gold killing a sheriff and the other brother a priest. Now Marshal Dillon is on the trail of the bad brother that just so happens takes him to the church which the good brother leads.

The rub here is that both brothers were in training to be priest so both know the ways of the church. The bad brother, Heraclio, decided to leave the church before taking his vows of priesthood while the good brother, Hernando, went on and became a valuable asset to the church.

So when Marshal Dillon is on the trail of Heraclio, the near clergyman knows that a Priest must offer sanctuary for absolute confession. So now Matt is placed in the middle between one brother with the qualities of God another with the qualities of Satan. Or as we have heard all our life, it is good versus evil.

Even with the old plot, this episode was a breath of fresh air. The story was played in such a different way that the plot was extremely interesting. I was expecting very little from this rehashed plot but was very surprised and entertained to have such a nicely completed episode.

Ironically, just as smother reviewer stated, I too caught the episode just as Anthony Zerbe okaying the priest was speaking Latin. I agree that he spine it well (although I do not speak it myself) but my take was that they let it go on a long time and it was appropriate. The episode was well written and acted, especially by Anthony Zerbe who had long been a favorite character actor of mine. I believe he is retired now but he has given us many great performances of which this is one! James Arness also does a fine job as he usually does!