User Reviews

Even though the episode started off kind of slow, it picked up at the end to make a good program. A very clever idea by the writer and well played by John Abbott.

It begins as former Shakespearean actor Edward Vanderman (Abbott), which is now down-on-his-luck, is cheating in a card game. Instead of running him out of town, Matt take a shine to the out of work actor and tries to get him a job cleaning dishes. But that last all of one day as he steals money from the place and is back at the Long Branch quoting lines from plays.

This time Matt has to place Edward in jail right beside a dangerous killer named Brad Tyler. Brad is set for trial but believes his brother will bust him out before court. Matt and Chester will have deal with two problems and possible a third if Brad's brother makes an appearance.

This was a show that had two plots going and was not sure which way the story was going to play. But in the end the entire episode comes together to make for a nice show. A very unique way for a Shakespearean actor to end a show. Nice watch.

... is the nagging cry from the murderer sentenced to hang who is currently jailed in Dodge City. He is constantly taunting Chester about how his brother will come get him out of jail, shoot Matt, and maybe shoot Chester too. What is unexplained is why the actor portraying the condemned murderer is sporting a Bronx accent. Those trailing r's get them every time.

In a parallel story, a failed thespian gets caught cheating at cards and confesses to Dillon when caught that he is broke and hungry, thus the cheating. Matt decides to give him a fresh start and gets him a job cooking at a local restaurant.

The failed actor becomes restless and longs for the stage. The murderer's brother is spotted in Dodge by Chester getting off of the stage, but he loses his trail. And somehow these two stories collide. How? Watch and find out.

It's a well done little tale of how two completely different men come to understand each other thoroughly - The stoic midwestern marshal of few words and the more urbane man for whom acting and words are his lifeblood.

If I could go back in time I'd bring Marshal Dillon a bullet proof vest. He'd probably rest and patrol easier knowing outlaws couldn't shoot him in the back.

Okay episode. Shakespearean actor John Abbott (who specialized in eccentric roles) is down on his luck and tries cheating at cards but is caught. Matt sympathizes and gets him a menial job at Howard McNear's (Floyd, the barber, of Andy Griffith Show) eatery. Unable to resist the lure of alcohol, however, Abbott steals from the cash register. Meanwhile, Matt has jailed the ornery brother of known outlaw, who in turn has vowed to free him.

Suspense comes from how Matt will deal with outlaw brother, and how these two story strands will finally merge. They do, and in a rather predictable way. Shakespeare spouting thespians were always an interesting mix amidst the ruffians of a frontier town. This episode could have used more of that promising mix and less of the hoary outlaw subplot, especially when the brother, Stanley Clements, sounds as though he's just stepped off the mean streets of Brooklyn.

John Abbott plays a down-on-his-luck drunk, who was once a Shakespearean actor that toured Europe. Abbott appeared on Gunsmoke twice. The first time was in 1956, as Professor Lute Bone. Abbott always seemed to be a good guy in most of the appearances that I saw.

Matt Dillon catches Abbott cheating at cards. Instead of forcing Abbott to leave town, as he normally does with card sharps, he gets Abbott a job at Delmonico's Restaurant. This week it is owned by Howard McNear (he is best known as Floyd the Barber from Mayberry, on The Andy Griffith Show). McNear was a guest on Gunsmoke six times between 1956 and 1964.

Two wacky loons cannot work together. The next day it turns out Abbott robbed Floyd, and went to the Longbranch Saloon to get drunk. So Dillon arrests Abbot again, and this time he takes him to jail.

The secondary story involves a guy named Brad who is in jail, and keeps threatening that his brother will kill Dillon. Brad was played by Stanley Clements, who appeared on Gunsmoke four times. This was the story that I wanted to see. The shoot-out between the brother and Matt Dillon. Instead, we get a depressing and under-whelming confrontation between the shrimpy Brad and Matt Dillon. We also get a dramatic death monologue from John Abbot.

Presumably Dillon goes outside to confront Brad's brother after the episode ended. These kind of stories, where the best part happens off camera, always frost my ass. Really lame. I would rather see Dillon face down a hired killer than watch the whiny John Abbott complain about his life as he dies.

Another issue that I have is why is Doc Adams's office on the second floor? Every time someone is injured or killed, a whole crowd of people have to hoist the body up the stairs to the second floor. How many people with gunshot wounds died getting dragged up the stairs?? It never made sense that a doctor would have his office on the second floor in a Western TV series.