"Gunsmoke" The Wake (TV Episode 1960) Poster

(TV Series)

(1960)

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9/10
Someone would have been better off dead.
kfo949423 September 2013
In this episode the writer goes off the regular script for a western and introduces us to a rather humorous tale about life. The story begins when a man, Gus Mather, comes riding into Dodge with his friend, Orson Boggs, body in a box ready for burial. Gus tells us that Boggs dies from a fever and his last few words was that he wanted to be buried proper and have a wake. So Gus is going to fulfill his request with nearly the entire town invited to the wake with free liquor and other drinks.

Matt is suspicious about the story and when Gus makes a slip-of-the-tongue, he and Chester will ride out to the prairie to check on the story. They finally comes across the Boggs' farm where they meet Ms Boogs, a self righteous woman that has no time for sinners, she tells the Marshal that her husband is not dead. Ms Boggs rides into Dodge and what she finds will make her even more harden than she has ever been before.

Anne Seymour is great as the cold blooded woman on the prairie that left city life to live away from what she believes is sinners and thieves. With her acting, along with Denver Pyle, this episode shined as the story was entertaining and interesting. Good mystery that produced a great show.
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8/10
Definitely not a typical Gunsmoke
ebertip28 July 2020
No shots fired. Viewpoints on the lifestyle of Dodge. A "surprise" ending. The brief scene with the scout, in which Matt tells the scout of Dodge : just don't kill anybody and you'll be fine, sets up the contrast. A few quibbles. No one is interested in seeing the dead person in the coffin. Proof of cause of death? Death certificate? Once beyond that point, Matt becomes more interested than the circumstances justify. His guesses don't seem justified by the facts. Why ride to Red Bank country? Why does Matt care?

Do viewers of this episode in the 21st century view the "point" the same way as first time viewers of the 20th?
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Good All-Around Entry
dougdoepke25 July 2013
Superior entry. Gus Mather comes to Dodge bearing the casket of his good friend Orson Boggs. Gus is a friendly sort and wants to give Boggs a big send-off with a roistering wake. Naturally, all of Dodge's barflies show up at Boot Hill and then at Kitty's, drinking up a storm. But Matt suspects something. So he and Chester ride way out to find the Boggs homestead. There they encounter his righteous, domineering wife who's enough to scare the Devil himself. They all end up back in Dodge to a surprise ending.

It's a really well-put-together entry from all production aspects. Pyle was a Gunsmoke favorite and shines here as the free-spending Gus. Seymour, as Boggs' wife, is also a vivid character making the end both logical and slightly amusing. Good locations for the ride out. It really looks like the barren, rolling hills of Kansas. No gunplay here, but there's deepening curiosity as writer Meston's offbeat story unfolds along with some snappy dialog.
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10/10
2 Thoughts
darbski30 October 2017
Warning: Spoilers
**SPOILERS** Besides the great acting, and it was pretty obvious that "ol Denver was Boggs, that is. One - When Matt says to Chester "She's hidin' something", and Chet replies "Too bad it ain't her face". Later in Dodge while Mrs. Boggs decries the deplorable state of affairs in Dodge she says "The Earth will open up one day and swallow this sinful town". Matt sez "I'm afraid they'd probably just build another one like it, ma'am". I loved it when Boggs sez "I was tired of bein' good".

All in all, very entertaining, thank the Lord.
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