Once again the team of writer Kathleen Hite and director Harry Harris delivers an excellent episode that transcends even Gunsmoke's usual high standards. You really feel like you are watching REAL people involved in REAL situations when Hite 'n Harris are at their best.
Kathleen Hite can always be relied upon to give the viewer some pretty interesting insights into the "fairer sex"; Kitty's opening scenes here... having hit a wall in her relationship with Matt, absolutely unyielding in her anger and frustration, absolutely unwilling to listen to reason, and determined to take it out on ALL of her menfolk friends, not just Matt....well, let's just say that, from a man's standpoint, Ms. Hite really nails it-- spot on-- and leave it at that.
So who should stumble into Kitty's life but big old, hulking (but wounded) Claude Akins. As Kitty's concern started to turn into something more...um....heated....I said to myself "Claude is either a homicidal maniac or a big, lovable teddy bear who's going to say goodbye to Kitty at the end of the show". I'm no spoiler---you'll have to watch the show yourself to see which prediction came true.
Along the way, Harris' direction keeps the actors completely true, subtle and convincing. Amanda Blake displays the full range of her acting chops and, under Harris' guidance, turns in a superb performance. Brava! And James Arness, though absent for most of the show, still manages to dominate with his powerful, yet understated authority, warmth, and goodness.
Add to it a wonderfully tuneful musical score by Van Cleave (the romantic theme of which hearkens back to the composer's gorgeous sentimental theme he wrote for Twilight Zone's "I Sing the Body Electric" earlier in '62), and you have a mightily entertaining 50 minutes of classic TV drama.
LR