Festus Haggen receives a check for $500 from a man he had helped a few years earlier. The would-be prospector passed through Dodge City, and Festus gave him $10 to buy supplies. After he moved west, the prospector found gold and became wealthy.
Festus decides to invest his money in a freight business. He even has the wisdom to consult with Kitty Russell, Matt Dillon, and Doc Adams, and they all agree the business venture sounds like a promising idea.
Festus has little knowledge of what is needed to start the business, so he partners with a friend named Titus who is more familiar with the business and the need for a freight line. Unfortunately, Festus empowers Titus to take care of the equipment needs. Titus orders a ridiculously expensive wagon equipped with a calliope and white horses that takes most of Festus's newfound wealth. (Haggen's name is also misspelled as "Haggin" on the side of the wagon.) Titus convinces Festus to buy some "fancy duds" befitting a businessman.
On their first freight trip, Festus and Titus encounter a family demanding a toll to allow the wagon to pass through their property. The Fowler family is portrayed as a bunch of stereotypical ignorant country bumpkins driven by an enterprising matriarch known as "Ma." Between the scheming machinations of Titus and Ma, Festus finds himself in a situation that quickly spirals out of his control.
There is an additional subplot involving Dora Lou Fowler, Ma's daughter, and a neighbor named Clarence Carver who are in love. Never one to miss a possible profit-making opportunity, Ma decides Dora Lou's future will yield more money if she is married to Festus, and she is determined to make that happen through any means necessary.
The part of Titus is played by Shug Fisher in another of his twenty-seven different Gunsmoke appearances. Fisher almost always played the same character in every appearance on Gunsmoke, as well as appearances in other television shows and the few films in which he was cast. One question about the Titus character in this story is whether this is the same character as Uncle Titus that was also played by Fisher in Season 15's "The Still." It is never made clear, but it is obvious that the Titus and Festus characters are well acquainted before the beginning of this story. Fisher was close friends with Ken Curtis in real life, and Curtis was present when Fisher passed away in 1984.
This episode is the final Gunsmoke appearance for Nora Marlowe, who plays Ma Fowler. Marlowe could play both jolly, motherly types and sinister, scheming types, as she does in this story. She had the rare ability to play widely diverging types of characters in such a way that she is almost unrecognizable in the various roles. Contrast her performance as Ma Fowler in this story to her portrayal of Flossie Brimmer on The Waltons as an example.
Gwynne Gilford portrays Dora Lou Fowler. Gilford had married actor Robert Pine -- another occasional Gunsmoke guest -- not too long before this episode was filmed. Gilford and Pine are the parents of actor Chris Pine.
Actors John Beck and James Minotto play the dimwitted Fowler sons, Moody and Amos. This is one of three Gunsmoke appearances by Beck, and the only appearance by Minotto. In fact, this is one of only three acting credits for Minotto in anything.
Lanky actor Herman Poppe plays the part of Clarence Carver. Poppe would appear twice more in Gunsmoke episodes as the similar character Luke Hockett in "The Wiving" and its sequel "Brides and Grooms," from Season 20.
Gunsmoke fans have seen Charles Wagenheim play Dodge City resident Ed Halligan in numerous episodes, but here he is cast as Parson Mueller.
The theme of Festus Haggen being thrust into a semi-humorous situation where he is victimized by extremely frustrating circumstances has been used a few times previously, and it usually results in a less-than-stellar outcome. This script was written by Robert Vincent Wright, who had a penchant for stories with a humorous bent, although his only other Gunsmoke contribution was more serious in nature.
Fans who enjoyed episodes such as "Hard-Luck Henry" from Season 13, or "Uncle Finney" from Season 14 might enjoy this story, too.
Festus decides to invest his money in a freight business. He even has the wisdom to consult with Kitty Russell, Matt Dillon, and Doc Adams, and they all agree the business venture sounds like a promising idea.
Festus has little knowledge of what is needed to start the business, so he partners with a friend named Titus who is more familiar with the business and the need for a freight line. Unfortunately, Festus empowers Titus to take care of the equipment needs. Titus orders a ridiculously expensive wagon equipped with a calliope and white horses that takes most of Festus's newfound wealth. (Haggen's name is also misspelled as "Haggin" on the side of the wagon.) Titus convinces Festus to buy some "fancy duds" befitting a businessman.
On their first freight trip, Festus and Titus encounter a family demanding a toll to allow the wagon to pass through their property. The Fowler family is portrayed as a bunch of stereotypical ignorant country bumpkins driven by an enterprising matriarch known as "Ma." Between the scheming machinations of Titus and Ma, Festus finds himself in a situation that quickly spirals out of his control.
There is an additional subplot involving Dora Lou Fowler, Ma's daughter, and a neighbor named Clarence Carver who are in love. Never one to miss a possible profit-making opportunity, Ma decides Dora Lou's future will yield more money if she is married to Festus, and she is determined to make that happen through any means necessary.
The part of Titus is played by Shug Fisher in another of his twenty-seven different Gunsmoke appearances. Fisher almost always played the same character in every appearance on Gunsmoke, as well as appearances in other television shows and the few films in which he was cast. One question about the Titus character in this story is whether this is the same character as Uncle Titus that was also played by Fisher in Season 15's "The Still." It is never made clear, but it is obvious that the Titus and Festus characters are well acquainted before the beginning of this story. Fisher was close friends with Ken Curtis in real life, and Curtis was present when Fisher passed away in 1984.
This episode is the final Gunsmoke appearance for Nora Marlowe, who plays Ma Fowler. Marlowe could play both jolly, motherly types and sinister, scheming types, as she does in this story. She had the rare ability to play widely diverging types of characters in such a way that she is almost unrecognizable in the various roles. Contrast her performance as Ma Fowler in this story to her portrayal of Flossie Brimmer on The Waltons as an example.
Gwynne Gilford portrays Dora Lou Fowler. Gilford had married actor Robert Pine -- another occasional Gunsmoke guest -- not too long before this episode was filmed. Gilford and Pine are the parents of actor Chris Pine.
Actors John Beck and James Minotto play the dimwitted Fowler sons, Moody and Amos. This is one of three Gunsmoke appearances by Beck, and the only appearance by Minotto. In fact, this is one of only three acting credits for Minotto in anything.
Lanky actor Herman Poppe plays the part of Clarence Carver. Poppe would appear twice more in Gunsmoke episodes as the similar character Luke Hockett in "The Wiving" and its sequel "Brides and Grooms," from Season 20.
Gunsmoke fans have seen Charles Wagenheim play Dodge City resident Ed Halligan in numerous episodes, but here he is cast as Parson Mueller.
The theme of Festus Haggen being thrust into a semi-humorous situation where he is victimized by extremely frustrating circumstances has been used a few times previously, and it usually results in a less-than-stellar outcome. This script was written by Robert Vincent Wright, who had a penchant for stories with a humorous bent, although his only other Gunsmoke contribution was more serious in nature.
Fans who enjoyed episodes such as "Hard-Luck Henry" from Season 13, or "Uncle Finney" from Season 14 might enjoy this story, too.
