Matt Dillon and Chester Goode are on horseback in bitter freezing weather when they spot an abandoned wagon inhabited by an old buffalo hunter named Ira Pucket. Pucket and his skinner, Jed Larner, were hunting buffalo when Pucket injured his foot. Larner took the saddle horse and left Pucket stranded.
Matt and Chester take Pucket to Dodge, and Doc Adams treats his injury. The foot was so bad, Doc had to remove most of it, but Doc says Pucket should be able to walk with a cane once he has healed from the surgery.
Six weeks later, Pucket can get around using a cane, and he is still determined to find Larner and avenge his abandonment. In fact, Pucket is about as stubborn, prideful, ornery, and resolute as they come. Pucket's physical injury means he can no longer hunt buffalo, but his pride has suffered more than his body.
Marshal Dillon wants to avoid a situation where Pucket kills Larner and is hung for murder. He knows that finding a solution that will allow Pucket to regain a sense of purpose and self-esteem is the key helping the man.
Edgar Stehli was a popular radio voice, as he was a master of dialects. He moved into television in the earliest days of the medium and appeared in several television series in the 1950s and 1960s. He plays the Ira Pucket character in his only Gunsmoke participation.
The Jed Larner character is frequently mentioned in this story, but he only appears onscreen in a brief scene. Veteran film actor Grant Withers plays the character in his only guest appearance in the series.
The only other notable appearance in this episode is from familiar actor Richard Deacon, who plays the banker Botkin in the actor's only Gunsmoke appearance. Actor Wilfrid "Budd" Knapp played the Sam Botkin character in Season 1. This is the first appearance for the character in Season 2. The character only makes one more appearance in Season 2, and Kirby Swift plays Botkin in that episode.
Season 2 episodes broadcast in 1956 tended to be dominated by tragedies and episodes with heavy themes. The Gunsmoke producers chose a more lighthearted, feel-good episode to begin 1957, and it mostly succeeds. Stehli's portrayal of Pucket is a little excessive at times, but it clearly communicates Pucket's obstinate nature. It may be difficult for the viewer to sympathize with the character because he is not likable. In fact, it is surprising Matt goes to such extremes to help the man, but Matt seems more amused by Pucket than annoyed.
There are a few enjoyable snippets of banter between the characters that are now becoming commonplace and always add nice touches. Matt's frequent teasing of Chester about becoming "soft" because of city life is one example. In the opening scene, Chester is complaining about being hungry again. Chester grumbles when Matt tells him to make sure he keeps the fire going in the stove in the office, but only after Matt has left. Doc helps himself to Matt's liquor jug in lieu of drinking Chester's notorious coffee. There is even some flirtatious conversation between Kitty Russell and Matt where she tells the Marshal she expected to be in San Francisco.
Matt and Chester take Pucket to Dodge, and Doc Adams treats his injury. The foot was so bad, Doc had to remove most of it, but Doc says Pucket should be able to walk with a cane once he has healed from the surgery.
Six weeks later, Pucket can get around using a cane, and he is still determined to find Larner and avenge his abandonment. In fact, Pucket is about as stubborn, prideful, ornery, and resolute as they come. Pucket's physical injury means he can no longer hunt buffalo, but his pride has suffered more than his body.
Marshal Dillon wants to avoid a situation where Pucket kills Larner and is hung for murder. He knows that finding a solution that will allow Pucket to regain a sense of purpose and self-esteem is the key helping the man.
Edgar Stehli was a popular radio voice, as he was a master of dialects. He moved into television in the earliest days of the medium and appeared in several television series in the 1950s and 1960s. He plays the Ira Pucket character in his only Gunsmoke participation.
The Jed Larner character is frequently mentioned in this story, but he only appears onscreen in a brief scene. Veteran film actor Grant Withers plays the character in his only guest appearance in the series.
The only other notable appearance in this episode is from familiar actor Richard Deacon, who plays the banker Botkin in the actor's only Gunsmoke appearance. Actor Wilfrid "Budd" Knapp played the Sam Botkin character in Season 1. This is the first appearance for the character in Season 2. The character only makes one more appearance in Season 2, and Kirby Swift plays Botkin in that episode.
Season 2 episodes broadcast in 1956 tended to be dominated by tragedies and episodes with heavy themes. The Gunsmoke producers chose a more lighthearted, feel-good episode to begin 1957, and it mostly succeeds. Stehli's portrayal of Pucket is a little excessive at times, but it clearly communicates Pucket's obstinate nature. It may be difficult for the viewer to sympathize with the character because he is not likable. In fact, it is surprising Matt goes to such extremes to help the man, but Matt seems more amused by Pucket than annoyed.
There are a few enjoyable snippets of banter between the characters that are now becoming commonplace and always add nice touches. Matt's frequent teasing of Chester about becoming "soft" because of city life is one example. In the opening scene, Chester is complaining about being hungry again. Chester grumbles when Matt tells him to make sure he keeps the fire going in the stove in the office, but only after Matt has left. Doc helps himself to Matt's liquor jug in lieu of drinking Chester's notorious coffee. There is even some flirtatious conversation between Kitty Russell and Matt where she tells the Marshal she expected to be in San Francisco.
