Throughout the run of "Gunsmoke", Miss Kitty was forced (all too frequently, it seems) to fend off crazy dudes who fell madly in love with her at first sight.
"The Dreamers", for the bulk of its running time, is a rather routine variation of this familiar plot device. However, the episode ends up being something rather special, thanks to its final act.
There is also a standout performance by the distinguished Irish actor Liam Redmond, whose role is unfortunately fairly one-dimensional...that is, until the final scenes.
The plot is somewhat contrived, since we are to believe that the presence of a competing saloon in Dodge City---even one that sells its whiskey at half the price of Miss Kitty's Long Branch---would almost immediately steal ALL of her customers except for Matt, Chester, and Doc.
But Act IV deals with the aftermath of Kitty's decision to close up and sell her saloon, and it is here that things become much more interesting. There is a touching scene with bartender Obie, nicely played by the fine actor/comic/Western singer and musician Shug Fisher. This is followed by the climatic scenes in the darkened, deserted Long Branch Saloon, where we are sure that Matt is FINALLY going to put the moves on Kitty (but..no.)
Next, we witness an over-the-top "flashback" scene (though newly filmed for this episode), beginning at 40:40, where a Miss Kitty voice-over recalls the "roarin' times" she has experienced at her beloved saloon. Check out the staging of this wild n' crazy vision, wherein we see the Long Branch in full swing, with Matt, Chester, Doc, and Kitty all taking part in the revelry. It's also filmed in one continuous shot- -sort of like a poor man's version of Welles' "Touch of Evil" opening.
The final confrontation brings some real conflict and tension into the plot, and the very last scene is genuinely moving, thanks again to the fine performance of Liam Redmond, and the typically high quality of Gunsmoke's acting and direction.
A good show that uphold the high quality of Season 7's latter half.
LR
"The Dreamers", for the bulk of its running time, is a rather routine variation of this familiar plot device. However, the episode ends up being something rather special, thanks to its final act.
There is also a standout performance by the distinguished Irish actor Liam Redmond, whose role is unfortunately fairly one-dimensional...that is, until the final scenes.
The plot is somewhat contrived, since we are to believe that the presence of a competing saloon in Dodge City---even one that sells its whiskey at half the price of Miss Kitty's Long Branch---would almost immediately steal ALL of her customers except for Matt, Chester, and Doc.
But Act IV deals with the aftermath of Kitty's decision to close up and sell her saloon, and it is here that things become much more interesting. There is a touching scene with bartender Obie, nicely played by the fine actor/comic/Western singer and musician Shug Fisher. This is followed by the climatic scenes in the darkened, deserted Long Branch Saloon, where we are sure that Matt is FINALLY going to put the moves on Kitty (but..no.)
Next, we witness an over-the-top "flashback" scene (though newly filmed for this episode), beginning at 40:40, where a Miss Kitty voice-over recalls the "roarin' times" she has experienced at her beloved saloon. Check out the staging of this wild n' crazy vision, wherein we see the Long Branch in full swing, with Matt, Chester, Doc, and Kitty all taking part in the revelry. It's also filmed in one continuous shot- -sort of like a poor man's version of Welles' "Touch of Evil" opening.
The final confrontation brings some real conflict and tension into the plot, and the very last scene is genuinely moving, thanks again to the fine performance of Liam Redmond, and the typically high quality of Gunsmoke's acting and direction.
A good show that uphold the high quality of Season 7's latter half.
LR
