While the storyline is predictable, the real story is about Festus and his confusion and response to the new doctor in town. It is apparent that Festus' world is somewhat contained and limited to his understanding of the world about him. His inability of not being able to read adds to Festus' fear of change and how he reacts to the new Doc in town. Dr, John Chapman appears to respect Marshal Dillion and his communications and demeanor with Matt are totally different that his interactions with Festus and other townspeople. Dr. Chapman steps right up when the explosion critically injures Newley. From that moment on he has gained new respect from the citizens of Dodge. All in all, a good episode, but could have been better detailed on the introduction of the New Doc in Town.
7 Reviews
Pat Hingle and the Festus Scale
michaelcaracciola1 March 2021
Unexpected behavior for a doctor....
RRozsa16 October 2023
This is more like an observation than a review. On our TV network, some Gunsmoke or Bonanza episodes are nowadays preceded by a warning for "viewer discretion" due to "outdated cultural depictions". Most of the time, it is not difficult to identify the subject matter which prompted the warning (gun violence, usually). In this episode, there were no gunfights by drunken drovers or paid gunfighter. Finally I understood the reason for the viewer warning when Dr. Chapman, who was filling in for Doc Adams, rolled a cigarette for himself while waiting for Newly to wake up, after surgery! Since Gunsmoke is well known for its sensitive handling of issues concerning the plight of Native Americans in those days (it often exposes the bigotry and mistreatment of Native Americans by ill-educated American citizens), the viewer discretion warning usually pertains to the cavalier use of gun violence to settle disputes. In this case, though, the culprit appears to be the ignorance of a medical professional about the dangers of tobacco! I find it very interesting to watch these episodes and eflect on how much our attitudes (and understanding) about issues like gun violence and tobacco have changed in the past 60 years, since these episodes were made.
A Predictable Story Introduces Dr. Chapman to Dodge City
wdavidreynolds6 August 2021
Warning: Spoilers
Doc Adams has left Dodge City to return to medical school in Baltimore, Maryland. At some point prior to this story, a young girl died in Doc's care. When Doc started researching the disease that killed the girl, he discovered it was a condition that had been treated successfully by physicians in St. Louis. Doc is so distraught, he leaves Dodge under the guise of going on a fishing trip, and travels to Baltimore to improve his medical knowledge. The citizens of Dodge City are devastated at the news that Doc as left for an indefinite period.
Doc has arranged for Dr. John Chapman from New Orleans to travel to Dodge and provide medical services until Doc returns. Unfortunately, the people of Dodge are not so quick to accept the new doctor, especially Festus Haggen.
Shortly after Dr. Chapman's arrival, an accidental explosion at Newly O'Brien's gunsmith shop seriously injures Newly. The gunsmith's skull is fractured, and a bone spur is driven into Newly's brain. The injury causes Newly to experience periods of confusion and fear that cause him to attack his friends and run away.
The new doctor will need to operate on Newly's brain to remove the bone spur. There is no guarantee the surgery will be successful, but there is no hope for Newly's recovery without it.
This episode is the most "Dodge-centric" episode in quite some time, going well back into Season 16. Of course, the purpose of the episode is to introduce Dr. Chapman into the regular cast, at least temporarily.
The reason for the episode is that early in 1971, Milburn Stone suffered a heart attack. Stone, who was 66 years old at the time, knew he needed medical attention. In March, he checked into UAB Hospital in Birmingham, Alabama for heart bypass surgery because of its renown as one of the best cardiac hospitals in the country. The operation was successful, but Stone experienced complications and suffered several "ventricular fibrillations" immediately following the surgery that could have resulted in death.
Stone was still recovering from the surgery when filming started for Season 17. The first episode takes place away from Dodge City, and the Doc character was not needed. Although the second episode does have scenes inside Dodge, the episode was written without incorporating Stone's character. The third and fourth episodes only include the Matt Dillon character away from Dodge, and the participation of the Doc character was not required.
By the time the fifth episode rolled around, the producers must have thought it was time to explain Milburn Stone's absence, and this story is the result. The subplot involving Newly's injury is common anytime a doctor character is added to the cast of a show. A new doctor arrives. The people do not trust the doctor. An incident occurs which helps earn the peoples' trust.
Pat Hingle played the role of Dr. John Chapman for six episodes. He never appeared in a Gunsmoke episode as any other character, although he appeared as a different character in the 1992 movie Gunsmoke: To the Last Man.
Character actor Lane Bradford makes one of his thirteen appearances in a Gunsmoke episode in this story. He plays a farmer named Dump Hart who shoots Newly when he finds O'Brien hiding in his barn and the part-time deputy attacks the farmer.
Actor Jon Lormar played judges in two other Gunsmoke episodes, once as Judge Claiborne, and again as Judge Clayborne. In this story he plays a Dodge citizen named Cody Sims.
Other reviewers have correctly noted the poor treatment of the Festus character in this story. In stories where Festus is prominently featured, it seems the writers either chose to portray the character as a smart, shrewd, uneducated character with great instincts, or an impetuous, contrary, foolish rube. In this story, the writers lean more to the latter characterization.
The viewer is supposed to see Festus in a sympathetic light. His best friend has left town with no idea when he might return. It is understandable he is upset and has some initial distrust of the man that has arrived to replace Doc, but having Festus pull a gun on Dr. Chapman and lock him in a cell is ridiculous and uncharacteristic of the wiser version of the man Matt Dillon trusts to be his primary deputy. Not only does Festus draw his gun on the doctor, but he also cocks the hammer and threatens to shoot the unarmed man!
The most remarkable aspect of this story is the interesting solution the Gunsmoke producers and writers chose to explain Milburn Stone's absence from the show. Other than that surprise, the rest of the story is formulaic and predictable. It is nice to see so many of the regular cast members in an episode, but the portrayal of the Festus character is disappointing.
Doc has arranged for Dr. John Chapman from New Orleans to travel to Dodge and provide medical services until Doc returns. Unfortunately, the people of Dodge are not so quick to accept the new doctor, especially Festus Haggen.
Shortly after Dr. Chapman's arrival, an accidental explosion at Newly O'Brien's gunsmith shop seriously injures Newly. The gunsmith's skull is fractured, and a bone spur is driven into Newly's brain. The injury causes Newly to experience periods of confusion and fear that cause him to attack his friends and run away.
The new doctor will need to operate on Newly's brain to remove the bone spur. There is no guarantee the surgery will be successful, but there is no hope for Newly's recovery without it.
This episode is the most "Dodge-centric" episode in quite some time, going well back into Season 16. Of course, the purpose of the episode is to introduce Dr. Chapman into the regular cast, at least temporarily.
The reason for the episode is that early in 1971, Milburn Stone suffered a heart attack. Stone, who was 66 years old at the time, knew he needed medical attention. In March, he checked into UAB Hospital in Birmingham, Alabama for heart bypass surgery because of its renown as one of the best cardiac hospitals in the country. The operation was successful, but Stone experienced complications and suffered several "ventricular fibrillations" immediately following the surgery that could have resulted in death.
Stone was still recovering from the surgery when filming started for Season 17. The first episode takes place away from Dodge City, and the Doc character was not needed. Although the second episode does have scenes inside Dodge, the episode was written without incorporating Stone's character. The third and fourth episodes only include the Matt Dillon character away from Dodge, and the participation of the Doc character was not required.
By the time the fifth episode rolled around, the producers must have thought it was time to explain Milburn Stone's absence, and this story is the result. The subplot involving Newly's injury is common anytime a doctor character is added to the cast of a show. A new doctor arrives. The people do not trust the doctor. An incident occurs which helps earn the peoples' trust.
Pat Hingle played the role of Dr. John Chapman for six episodes. He never appeared in a Gunsmoke episode as any other character, although he appeared as a different character in the 1992 movie Gunsmoke: To the Last Man.
Character actor Lane Bradford makes one of his thirteen appearances in a Gunsmoke episode in this story. He plays a farmer named Dump Hart who shoots Newly when he finds O'Brien hiding in his barn and the part-time deputy attacks the farmer.
Actor Jon Lormar played judges in two other Gunsmoke episodes, once as Judge Claiborne, and again as Judge Clayborne. In this story he plays a Dodge citizen named Cody Sims.
Other reviewers have correctly noted the poor treatment of the Festus character in this story. In stories where Festus is prominently featured, it seems the writers either chose to portray the character as a smart, shrewd, uneducated character with great instincts, or an impetuous, contrary, foolish rube. In this story, the writers lean more to the latter characterization.
The viewer is supposed to see Festus in a sympathetic light. His best friend has left town with no idea when he might return. It is understandable he is upset and has some initial distrust of the man that has arrived to replace Doc, but having Festus pull a gun on Dr. Chapman and lock him in a cell is ridiculous and uncharacteristic of the wiser version of the man Matt Dillon trusts to be his primary deputy. Not only does Festus draw his gun on the doctor, but he also cocks the hammer and threatens to shoot the unarmed man!
The most remarkable aspect of this story is the interesting solution the Gunsmoke producers and writers chose to explain Milburn Stone's absence from the show. Other than that surprise, the rest of the story is formulaic and predictable. It is nice to see so many of the regular cast members in an episode, but the portrayal of the Festus character is disappointing.
Emergency script, half-baked directing
kenstallings-6534614 April 2018
Warning: Spoilers
The episode could have been a strong one. But, a serous detraction was the way that Ken Curtis was directed to play the character of Festus Haggen in a manner inconsistent with the demonstrated character development. In this episode, he becomes unhinged, drawing his sidearm on an unarmed man and threatening to shoot him despite the character of the new doctor having given Festus a factual answer, and sealed letter, explaining why he was taking over Doc Adams' practice.
This is not bad acting by Curtis, who long ago demonstrated his excellent range. Instead, this is the fault of poor scripting and directing. Yes, we know Festus is an illiterate man, desperately shy to admit he is. But, that hardly explains the gross overreaction of a character who has repeatedly demonstrated his ability to read people and remain cool under crises.
Sadly, this was not a singular episode. Festus makes the same dumb move by violating the new doctor's orders to keep Newly O'Brien bound up for his own safety, a rash and ignorant act that puts several peoples' lives in jeopardy.
Other acting and directing was effective, especially the reading of Doc Adams' letter, which Amanda Blake (as Kitty Russell) delivers with such emotion, that one wonders how much acting it is, and how much is genuine emotion over the shocking and sudden heart attack that Milburn Stone (Doc) suffered.
This episode could have been a lot better, and the fault appears to be in poor writing and direction.
This is not bad acting by Curtis, who long ago demonstrated his excellent range. Instead, this is the fault of poor scripting and directing. Yes, we know Festus is an illiterate man, desperately shy to admit he is. But, that hardly explains the gross overreaction of a character who has repeatedly demonstrated his ability to read people and remain cool under crises.
Sadly, this was not a singular episode. Festus makes the same dumb move by violating the new doctor's orders to keep Newly O'Brien bound up for his own safety, a rash and ignorant act that puts several peoples' lives in jeopardy.
Other acting and directing was effective, especially the reading of Doc Adams' letter, which Amanda Blake (as Kitty Russell) delivers with such emotion, that one wonders how much acting it is, and how much is genuine emotion over the shocking and sudden heart attack that Milburn Stone (Doc) suffered.
This episode could have been a lot better, and the fault appears to be in poor writing and direction.
Could have been a better script to introduce a temporary doc
kfo94946 July 2012
Warning: Spoilers
After Milburn Stone (Doc Adams) suffered a heart-attack during the hiatus between the 16th and the 17th season and the uncertainty of exactly when he would be returning the writers came up with introducing a new doctor to Dodge as a way of refreshing the scripts.
As Ms Kitty reads a letter from Doc Adams advising that he would be learning new medical techniques in an eastern university, Dodge City get a New Orleans bred doctor named Dr Chapman (Pat Hingle) who does not fit in with the laid-back community of Dodge. Thus begins a conflict between the citizens of Dodge and the new doctor with his new bedside manner.
After an explosion at the gunsmith shop that leaves a bone fragment pushing on Newly's brain - the community has no other option but rely on the new doctor to help their friend. With the life of Newly hanging between life and death, it will be either respect or ridicule for Doctor Chapman. And during this time both sides could learn things that will make them better people in the small town of Dodge City.
Even though this episode really was not bad, it did not fulfill the introduction of a new character. Maybe it was written in haste, but at the end of the show we did not get some of the conclusions that were expected. Perhaps they were saving for future shows, but more could have been done to make this a better watch.
As Ms Kitty reads a letter from Doc Adams advising that he would be learning new medical techniques in an eastern university, Dodge City get a New Orleans bred doctor named Dr Chapman (Pat Hingle) who does not fit in with the laid-back community of Dodge. Thus begins a conflict between the citizens of Dodge and the new doctor with his new bedside manner.
After an explosion at the gunsmith shop that leaves a bone fragment pushing on Newly's brain - the community has no other option but rely on the new doctor to help their friend. With the life of Newly hanging between life and death, it will be either respect or ridicule for Doctor Chapman. And during this time both sides could learn things that will make them better people in the small town of Dodge City.
Even though this episode really was not bad, it did not fulfill the introduction of a new character. Maybe it was written in haste, but at the end of the show we did not get some of the conclusions that were expected. Perhaps they were saving for future shows, but more could have been done to make this a better watch.
Why I Still Miss Chester
rhklwk-115 July 2019
I can think of no episode in the post-Chester years that make me miss him more than this episode. This episode perfectly illustrates my opinion that Festus brought an unfortunate dimension to Gunsmoke. There are times when he is simply unwatchable. Of course, in real life, Ken Curtis was a pleasant guy with a wonderful singing voice, which was showcased in movies and recordings. But, for some reason or reasons, the writers decided that Festus had to be a hillbilly, an annoying rube from God Knows Where, who chews the scenery whenever he is in front of the camera. There are moments in this episode that are excruciatingly painful. Marshal Dillon does show some incredulity, even disgust, for the way Festus treated the new physician (Pat Hingle), but it isn't enough. What a shame the director didn't apply a little restraint here. In other episodes, with other directors, Festus is more easily tolerated (especially when facing down bad guys). But give him some extended dialogue, and pretty soon the viewers are reaching for the remote control. I think there is a reason why there are so few DVDs available for the "Festus years": Festus.
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