Unlike many sitcoms, laughs were not the main aim of the writers of "The Andy Griffith Show". Instead, characters were paramount and the making the town and its people made this as stand-out show. Here, we see big city folk looking for a desperate criminal. They pretty much treat Andy and Barney like rubes and discount them at every turn. So, when Andy is able to show that despite his country background that he is a man of common-sense and integrity, it does a lot to make the show more than some hick comedy--which it certainly wasn't. Well-crafted and exciting--this is yet another exceptional episode of an exceptional series.
By the way, although he was never a series regular, this is the first appearance of the world's greatest supporting actors of the era--a guy who gave great color to every show in which he appeared (and they were many). Burt Mustin is in a typically small role, but as usual, every second is like gold. Too bad he wasn't in the show more often, though the series seemed to get along pretty well despite this!
By the way, although he was never a series regular, this is the first appearance of the world's greatest supporting actors of the era--a guy who gave great color to every show in which he appeared (and they were many). Burt Mustin is in a typically small role, but as usual, every second is like gold. Too bad he wasn't in the show more often, though the series seemed to get along pretty well despite this!
