Excellent episode which is enhanced by the hour-long format, allowing for a full, in-depth examination and appreciation of the fatalistic, character-driven drama that typifies the best of "Gunsmoke." This could not have been accomplished in the half-hour format, which often left me feeling dissatisfied. The mini-tragedy of Perce and Ida is beautifully written and paced, its development and resolution carrying the exact right emotional weight, thanks to the "time-span" of the viewing experience.
The show is filmed mostly in close-ups and tight shots, which keeps us involved in the characters. I'm not really a big Ed Nelson fan, but I was thoroughly captivated by his performance. My only reservation is the tendency to overplay the "comic" aspects of Chester Goode; the wake-up scene with the clock...a time-filler if there ever was one...stands out as the only unnecessary element in the film. Overall, though, it's a minor distraction.
Dialogue and direction are first rate, from the powerful, intense opening scene right through to the episode's denouement---a fancy term used in high drama, but which is surely justified here.
LR
The show is filmed mostly in close-ups and tight shots, which keeps us involved in the characters. I'm not really a big Ed Nelson fan, but I was thoroughly captivated by his performance. My only reservation is the tendency to overplay the "comic" aspects of Chester Goode; the wake-up scene with the clock...a time-filler if there ever was one...stands out as the only unnecessary element in the film. Overall, though, it's a minor distraction.
Dialogue and direction are first rate, from the powerful, intense opening scene right through to the episode's denouement---a fancy term used in high drama, but which is surely justified here.
LR
