![]() It seems quite unlikely a restaurant in Dodge City, Kansas during the time this episode is set would go to the trouble of acquiring raw oysters, keeping them on ice - considering the difficulty of making ice during the time, and then offering them at that price. ![]() The chalkboard in the restaurant reads, "Today's Special, Oysters $2 per dozen." Two dollars in 1875 would be more than fifty dollars today! The price probably makes sense under the circumstances. (A mildly curious side note to this episode: Early in the story, the drunken Corley character is shown shucking and eating raw oysters. This is a highly recommended, thought-provoking installment of Gunsmoke. It is not often the Gunsmoke writers and producers would delve into historical events in this manner. Those looking for a lot of action and gunplay are likely to find this episode disappointing. One of the oddest guest performances is from Stanley Clements as the character McInnerny, who snores through most of every scene where he is present. This was Coughlin's first participation in the show, but he would eventually appear in four other episodes before he was hit by a speeding car and killed when he was only 31 years old. Another fine talent, Kevin Coughlin, plays Tom Driscoll, the son of Tim and Louise. DoQui's only other Gunsmoke performance was in the episode "The Good Samaritans" later in the season. Talented actor Robert DoQui makes one of his two Season 14 appearances in a Gunsmoke episode as one of Corley's companions named Sadler. Louise Latham, who previously appeared in that Robert Totten directed "Waco" episode earlier in Season 14, is Louise Driscoll, Tim's wife. He contributed the story for one Gunsmoke epsiode, Season 13's "Nowhere to Run." A vastly different looking Bob Totten sans facial hair would star in another Season 14 episode, "The Long Night." Nehemiah Persoff makes another of his many Gunsmoke appearances as the Tim Driscoll character. Totten guested in eight different Gunsmoke episodes over the years, and he directed twenty-five episodes between season 11 and 17, including the "Waco" episode from earlier in Season 14. Robert Totten's performance as Corley truly shines among a strong cast of guests. As such, this episode can be interpreted as a statement about the horror of war and its lingering effects. The strength of this episode is that Tim Driscoll's situation is resolved, but the larger issue is not. I also agree with the reviewer grizzledgeezer. Today multi-murders rampaging in our communities and throughout "our land of the free and home of the brave," is perpetuated by psychopathic romanticizing of human suffering.As for the plot of this story, I recommend reading the excellent historical perspective provided by kenstallings-65346. How is it that we find such a perilous time for life to be so entertaining? Sitting in the comfortable amenities of our homes with a radio or TV, made possible entertainment from this tenuous and dangerous period of our history. It was a dangerous and life-threatening time. With the absence of law enforcement, it was incumbent on each citizen to ward off freelance invaders - gangs, thieves and desperados. The people at once faced invasive threats to their property, livelihood and well-bring. ![]() The lawless society with all its unchecked human waywardness, selfishness, and greed, created a hellacious time and place in American history. That particular social setting has accommodated an unbridled fantasy and fabrication. ![]() The free-lance 19th century American lawlessness afforded every opportunity for wholesale crime, violence, murder, theft, and overall chaos. The radio, and then TV show was "Gunsmoke " it reigned for 20 seasons as "must-see TV." We found the wild west setting of Dodge City, Kansas, intriguing and quite entertaining. May 14-The painful lawlessness of America's 1800s came alive on the radio, 1952-1960, and then again on TV from 1955-1975.
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