This is the first ever acting credit for Wilhelm von Homburg, famous German wrestler and boxer that lead to long acting and celebrity career that culminated in the famous portrait and character of Vigo in Ghostbusters II. I was surprised to learn that this episode was in part based on his sports career and specially arranged for by Andrew V McLaglen, director. McLaglen knew what he wanted to say and consistently got excellent performances from his cast, and this outing is no exception! Great watch!
9 Reviews
Huge Cast of Familiar Faces
wdavidreynolds7 December 2020
Henry Huckaby is another poor dirt farmer who is sick of eating oatmeal and potatoes and struggling to make ends meet. Huckaby reminds me of Caleb Marr in episode 26, "Caleb." Both men are facing an existential crisis. While Caleb Marr seeks meaning in life, Henry Huckaby thinks money will solve his problems. Like Marr, Huckaby decides to make his way to Dodge City to seek a solution.
Huckaby isn't too concerned with the ethical ramifications of his quest. He wants to make his fortune with as little effort as possible. He considers gun running, stable tending, blacksmithing, and even tries gambling, and finds none of them particularly lucrative.
As Huckaby continues his quest for a moneymaking idea, he witnesses a fight between a man named Otto and an ornery cowboy named Jake. Jake picks the fight with Otto on the streets of Dodge, but Jake doesn't know Otto is a trained boxer. Otto easily wins the fist fight. Huckaby introduces himself to Otto, and Otto tells him he is willing to fight anyone, anywhere.
Huckaby recalls meeting a Fort Dodge soldier named Johnny Towers who is supposed to be very good with his fists, and Huckaby decides he will become a fight promoter, therefore the name of the episode. Huckaby is able to get Otto and Towers to agree to fight, and he manages to make all of the arrangements for the fight to take place in the Dodge City freight yard.
Of course, the events do not transpire quite like Huckaby expects, and the resulting situations move this John Meston story along.
The cast for this episode is huge compared to most Gunsmoke stories, as a matter of fact, it was the largest cast used in a single episode of the entire series up to this time. There are many lesser known but familiar faces among the cast, but most are uncredited.
Vic Perrin is the Henry Huckaby character. Perrin performed in many television episodes during the 1960s and 1970s. He had previously appeared in the Season 9 Gunsmoke episode "Now That April's Here," and he was featured in other Gunsmoke episodes. He played different roles in many different episodes of Dragnet and Adam-12 in the late 1960s and early 1970s. Later in his career he was noted for his voice work in animated features.
Wilhelm Von Homburg's Otto character was based on Von Homburg's career as a boxer, and director Andrew McLaglen had Von Homburg flown to the U.S. from Germany especially for this episode.
John Newman's performance as Johnny Towers is notable as an unusually non-stereotypical portrayal by a person of color during the time this episode was made. The Towers character is treated with dignity and respect, which was not always the case during this time.
Huckaby isn't too concerned with the ethical ramifications of his quest. He wants to make his fortune with as little effort as possible. He considers gun running, stable tending, blacksmithing, and even tries gambling, and finds none of them particularly lucrative.
As Huckaby continues his quest for a moneymaking idea, he witnesses a fight between a man named Otto and an ornery cowboy named Jake. Jake picks the fight with Otto on the streets of Dodge, but Jake doesn't know Otto is a trained boxer. Otto easily wins the fist fight. Huckaby introduces himself to Otto, and Otto tells him he is willing to fight anyone, anywhere.
Huckaby recalls meeting a Fort Dodge soldier named Johnny Towers who is supposed to be very good with his fists, and Huckaby decides he will become a fight promoter, therefore the name of the episode. Huckaby is able to get Otto and Towers to agree to fight, and he manages to make all of the arrangements for the fight to take place in the Dodge City freight yard.
Of course, the events do not transpire quite like Huckaby expects, and the resulting situations move this John Meston story along.
The cast for this episode is huge compared to most Gunsmoke stories, as a matter of fact, it was the largest cast used in a single episode of the entire series up to this time. There are many lesser known but familiar faces among the cast, but most are uncredited.
Vic Perrin is the Henry Huckaby character. Perrin performed in many television episodes during the 1960s and 1970s. He had previously appeared in the Season 9 Gunsmoke episode "Now That April's Here," and he was featured in other Gunsmoke episodes. He played different roles in many different episodes of Dragnet and Adam-12 in the late 1960s and early 1970s. Later in his career he was noted for his voice work in animated features.
Wilhelm Von Homburg's Otto character was based on Von Homburg's career as a boxer, and director Andrew McLaglen had Von Homburg flown to the U.S. from Germany especially for this episode.
John Newman's performance as Johnny Towers is notable as an unusually non-stereotypical portrayal by a person of color during the time this episode was made. The Towers character is treated with dignity and respect, which was not always the case during this time.
Huge cast, very engaging show
lrrap30 October 2022
A very well-crafted show, occasionally a bit slow and drab in the 1st act, but solidly constructed and directed thereafter. I especially appreciated the "follow-through" aspect of the scene where Vic Perrin, who decides to try his luck at gambling, first seeks advice and a quick "how to" session with a wily gambler that Matt has just thrown out of Dodge.
Somehow this scene lent the plot a lot of credibility, instead of just jumping into the scene with Vic and his ill-fated attempts at gambling. Similarly, the rest of the show progressed naturally and very effectively, always with a sense of tension, as things became increasingly complicated and even dangerous as the time for the big fight approached.
Lots of great interaction between the main characters, featuring real-life boxer Wilhelm von Homburg and Allen Case as the Lieutenant, who had a successful career as a SINGER, including a couple of Broadway shows (what a surprise to watch this episode and realize that I have the recording of the 1959 musical "Once Upon a Mattress", with Mr. Case playing the romantic lead, sitting on my shelf). He's very good in this episode....quiet, courteous, yet firmly in command. BIG fight scene is the high point of the show, with good ol' Shug Fisher (an excellent Western singer himself) in a featured role and Louie Pheeters pressed into service as Otto's "trainer".
There's a lot to enjoy here, worth more than one viewing. And the ending, thankfully, was a nice one. LR.
Somehow this scene lent the plot a lot of credibility, instead of just jumping into the scene with Vic and his ill-fated attempts at gambling. Similarly, the rest of the show progressed naturally and very effectively, always with a sense of tension, as things became increasingly complicated and even dangerous as the time for the big fight approached.
Lots of great interaction between the main characters, featuring real-life boxer Wilhelm von Homburg and Allen Case as the Lieutenant, who had a successful career as a SINGER, including a couple of Broadway shows (what a surprise to watch this episode and realize that I have the recording of the 1959 musical "Once Upon a Mattress", with Mr. Case playing the romantic lead, sitting on my shelf). He's very good in this episode....quiet, courteous, yet firmly in command. BIG fight scene is the high point of the show, with good ol' Shug Fisher (an excellent Western singer himself) in a featured role and Louie Pheeters pressed into service as Otto's "trainer".
There's a lot to enjoy here, worth more than one viewing. And the ending, thankfully, was a nice one. LR.
Name goof
rsmorris-0570215 December 2022
When Huckaby is at the bar with Miss Kitty as bets are being placed on the fight, the first time he calls her by name, he "Mistakenly" calls her a name that rhythms with Miss Kitty. I was wearing headphones, backed it up several times, no doubt about it. Wonder how many times that happened in the 20 year show history! Considering the actor Vic Perrin's voice over history, I don't see how it was an accident. Amanda Blake never flinched. Super surprised production people didn't catch it. This really isn't a review, it's a goof that I am pointing out. Six hundred characters, really. Gunsmoke was a great show!
Nice story
beckmitch21 January 2019
Sweet story about a man that thinks he wants more
kfo94949 January 2013
Warning: Spoilers
In a very nice tale, we get a man that thinks he can do better in the city than working his farm. When he gets to the city he finds out that it is harder than he thinks.
Henry Huckaby is going through a mid-life crisis. he has worked his farm for years only to get a sore back and very little to show for the work. He decides that he is leaving his wife and going to the city to make his way. He travels to Dodge to see the best way to make money.
After watching others in Dodge, he finally believes that his fortune may rely on gambling. But after the first try, he gets shot at -which only produced a minor cut to the arm.
When a man named, Otto, comes into town he displays that he is a natural boxer. Henry now believes that he can be a promoter and sell many tickets to people to watch a fight. He gets a Cavalry office to fight Otto and sell tickets to the event. The problems was that it was against the Dodge law to have a prize fight in the town limits so Marshal Dillon stops the fight which only leads to Henry having to pay people for a fight that was a draw.
Henry has to go home and realize that his farm and wife is all the riches that he will ever own.
A sweet story that was well acted. And a nice watch for viewers. -----There was one part in the show that was strange. When Henry was making his way to Dodge he was asleep on the ground early in the show, a group of Cavalry men came up looking for gunrunners. Henry is on the ground when he is told " One move and your dead mister." And from the ground, Henry throws off his blanket and stumbles to his feet to confront the men. Much more than one move.
Henry Huckaby is going through a mid-life crisis. he has worked his farm for years only to get a sore back and very little to show for the work. He decides that he is leaving his wife and going to the city to make his way. He travels to Dodge to see the best way to make money.
After watching others in Dodge, he finally believes that his fortune may rely on gambling. But after the first try, he gets shot at -which only produced a minor cut to the arm.
When a man named, Otto, comes into town he displays that he is a natural boxer. Henry now believes that he can be a promoter and sell many tickets to people to watch a fight. He gets a Cavalry office to fight Otto and sell tickets to the event. The problems was that it was against the Dodge law to have a prize fight in the town limits so Marshal Dillon stops the fight which only leads to Henry having to pay people for a fight that was a draw.
Henry has to go home and realize that his farm and wife is all the riches that he will ever own.
A sweet story that was well acted. And a nice watch for viewers. -----There was one part in the show that was strange. When Henry was making his way to Dodge he was asleep on the ground early in the show, a group of Cavalry men came up looking for gunrunners. Henry is on the ground when he is told " One move and your dead mister." And from the ground, Henry throws off his blanket and stumbles to his feet to confront the men. Much more than one move.
Trivia section seems to be mistaken
LukeCoolHand3 December 2021
The trivia section here is saying that Vic Perrin was also in the previous episode called "Kitty Cornered". I did not see him in that episode and he is not listed in the credits. There was an actor in that episode named Joseph Sirola that closely resembles Vic Perrin and I think that is where the mix-up is. Anyway this a fair episode , not the best and not the worst.
Waste of Space
Johnny_West30 December 2022
Henry Huckaby, the guest star of this episode, was played by Vic Perrin. Perrin usually played shifty characters like Huckaby, who comes to Dodge City hoping to find a way to make money without working. He first meets Quint (Burt Reynolds) and tells him that he wants to make a lot of money without too much work. I always hoped Quint Asper would beat up some of the sleazy characters that were often guest actors on Gunsmoke, but it never happened.
Perrin goes from Asper's blacksmith shop to the Long Branch, trying to meet people to help him make money without working. Eventually he meets the true star of this episode, Wilhelm Von Homburg, a wrestler from Germany who was a big celebrity in Europe. Andrew McClagen, the director, was a fan, and had this episode written so that he could bring Homburg to guest star as the boxer. Homburg was going to fight a black boxer, played by Johnny Towers. He was the first black performer to be credited on Gunsmoke. So this episode had a celebrity German wrestler playing a boxer, and the first black actor in a major role.
As usually happened in a story written by John Meston, nobody was happy at the end. Marshal Dillon shows up to stop the fight, nobody makes any money, and just before that the boxer got bribed to throw the fight. So instead of anything positive coming from the Henry Huckaby adventure, it was a big trainwreck.
Perrin goes from Asper's blacksmith shop to the Long Branch, trying to meet people to help him make money without working. Eventually he meets the true star of this episode, Wilhelm Von Homburg, a wrestler from Germany who was a big celebrity in Europe. Andrew McClagen, the director, was a fan, and had this episode written so that he could bring Homburg to guest star as the boxer. Homburg was going to fight a black boxer, played by Johnny Towers. He was the first black performer to be credited on Gunsmoke. So this episode had a celebrity German wrestler playing a boxer, and the first black actor in a major role.
As usually happened in a story written by John Meston, nobody was happy at the end. Marshal Dillon shows up to stop the fight, nobody makes any money, and just before that the boxer got bribed to throw the fight. So instead of anything positive coming from the Henry Huckaby adventure, it was a big trainwreck.
Not the Best
championbc-99-500514 October 2014
I think we are supposed to like Henry Huckabee (Vic Perrin) as a type of sympathetic character in this one. He feels like he's doing nothing with his life and decides to come to Dodge to see if he can make something out of himself. Maybe that's part of the problem; it's overdone this season. It happened once before in this season ("Caleb") and afterward ("Trip West"). This must be the season of "finding yourself." Of the three mentioned, this one is the worst.
I tried to like Vic, really I did. I knew I was supposed to, but he really got on my nerves as a whiny little man without any sense. If you read Perrin's filmography, you will find that he had an excellent career as a voice in many animated and non-animated features. He was even the voice of "Nomad" in the Star Trek episode. I congratulate him on being a great voice actor, but outside of remotely looking like "Laugh-in's" Henry Gibson, there is nothing interesting about him in real life.
Like "Caleb," he keeps thinking he's found something to do, but falls flat. He finally settles on something that might make him a lot of money, which in his small world, is "finding himself." Maybe I should give this episode more than for stars simply because it is a milestone episode. After having lots of Indians, Orientals, northern and southern Europeans, we see our first African-American in this episode. Not only that, but he is NOT a butler, slave (even former slave), singer, or dancer, but actually a soldier, and OFFICER, yet, from Fort Dodge. Oh, yes, he is a boxer, but he has other skills, too. No one in the entire episode looks down on him, makes fun of him, or even mentions his difference in skin tone, which by itself makes this an amazing episode from 1964, which, if I remember correctly, is when "Mississippi was burning." I wish more shows of the 60's could have done this -- featured a Black character as a human being, and just let him be one. Lieutenant Uhura will have the same opportunity in "Star Trek," but that's about it. For that alone, the episode deserves recognition.
Outside of that it was terribly boring (at least to me), but I won't forget it because of the above mentioned reason.
I tried to like Vic, really I did. I knew I was supposed to, but he really got on my nerves as a whiny little man without any sense. If you read Perrin's filmography, you will find that he had an excellent career as a voice in many animated and non-animated features. He was even the voice of "Nomad" in the Star Trek episode. I congratulate him on being a great voice actor, but outside of remotely looking like "Laugh-in's" Henry Gibson, there is nothing interesting about him in real life.
Like "Caleb," he keeps thinking he's found something to do, but falls flat. He finally settles on something that might make him a lot of money, which in his small world, is "finding himself." Maybe I should give this episode more than for stars simply because it is a milestone episode. After having lots of Indians, Orientals, northern and southern Europeans, we see our first African-American in this episode. Not only that, but he is NOT a butler, slave (even former slave), singer, or dancer, but actually a soldier, and OFFICER, yet, from Fort Dodge. Oh, yes, he is a boxer, but he has other skills, too. No one in the entire episode looks down on him, makes fun of him, or even mentions his difference in skin tone, which by itself makes this an amazing episode from 1964, which, if I remember correctly, is when "Mississippi was burning." I wish more shows of the 60's could have done this -- featured a Black character as a human being, and just let him be one. Lieutenant Uhura will have the same opportunity in "Star Trek," but that's about it. For that alone, the episode deserves recognition.
Outside of that it was terribly boring (at least to me), but I won't forget it because of the above mentioned reason.
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