The Andy Griffith Show (TV Series) Stranger in Town (1960) User Reviews

Barney and Floyd

[bbcds · 8/10 · 9 March 2022]

To me, this is maybe the funniest line ever in TAGS by any character:

Barney Fife: Next time I want a haircut, I'm gonna stick my head in a pencil sharpener.

Floyd the Barber: Yes, sir, and it'll fit, too.

A Misfire from TAGS' First Season

[MichaelMartinDeSapio · 7/10 · 7 September 2015]

This was a compelling idea for an ANDY GRIFFITH episode, but the result feels a bit undercooked. If Ed Sawyer is so eager to take up residence in Mayberry and fit in with the townsfolk, why does he go around behaving in a way that will be sure to draw suspicion towards him? Who in their right mind would go about frightening people by dropping intimate details of their lives and then walking away as if nothing was wrong? Then again, perhaps Ed Sawyer ISN't in his right mind; but if so, this should have been explored further.

There's an undercurrent here about prejudice and the outsider, a common theme in '50's-era movies and TV shows (see the TWILIGHT ZONE episode "The Monsters Are Due on Maple Street"). Andy has a speech towards the end similar to Claude Akin's in "Monsters" in which he calls out the townspeople for their prejudice towards Sawyer. But the material seems strained by the 30 minute format, and the final turn-around comes too quickly. The episode has that overly broad, simplistic feel common to many first-season TAGS episodes; the townspeople all following Andy around in a huddle mouthing close-minded clichés, for example. Yet Andy's role as the level-headed, fair, rational pillar of the community is established.

To sum up, this episode was an admirable effort to tackle a serious theme. Although it doesn't quite come off, it's still an entertaining half hour and worth seeing.

He Was a Bit Creepy

[Hitchcoc · 9/10 · 23 November 2019]

Mob mentality. When a man shows up in town and knows way more than he should, we have a new version of "The Monsters Are Due on Maple Street" from the Twilight Zone. The problem is that in his quirkiness, he becomes threatening to everyone. Watch this but ask yourself if you wouldn't have felt the same way.

Marlene Willis

[richard.fuller1 · 3 March 2006]

William Lanteau, best known as one of the odd fellows on "Newhart" (not the Larry, darryl and Darryl trio, but the two older fellows who came in bickering and arguing. Lanteau was the one with glasses) appears here, albeit very young, as a stranger who comes to town and knows everything about everybody, because he subscribed to the Mayberry newspaper and loved what he read.

A bit of a loner, he adopted Mayberry as his hometown in his own mind.

Unfortunately, he failed to share this knowledge with the citizens of Mayberry and they took offense to his knowledge and they knew nothing about him.

He pursues Lucy Matthews. She takes offense, and so does her brother.

In the end, Andy tells them why this fellow came to town, because he fell for the town without having ever seen it.

Lucy then tells him, ever so quietly, that he may feel free to call on her when he likes.

Marlene Willis, who played Lucy, is a stunningly beautiful woman and it is a shame that she didn't do much after this appearance that would showcase her more prominently.

I would have loved it had she told me I could call on her.

Wow!

Best written episode of The Andy Griffith Show!

[mikesands-93545 · 10/10 · 30 November 2023]

This episode has a cleverly written storyline. This episode almost turns into a supernatural thriller until the real reason for Ed Sawyers knowledge of Mayberry is revealed. Even the always grounded and focused Sheriff Taylor becomes shaken by this strangers knowledge of the townsfolk. The downside to this episode is that there's no mention of Ed Sawyers ever again in the series even though he supposedly purchased a gas station from George Sapperly. I guess we have to be creative and use our imagination and pretend that Ed Sawyers is the cross town silent competition to Wally's Service Station. This is my one of my top 10 favorite episodes of the Andy Griffith show.

Floyd the Barber

[mtmorgan97 · 8/10 · 14 September 2021]

The barber Barney calls Floyd is not the same barber that is later cast as Floyd. Makes one wonder why they didn't change the name.

I love this show, but feel this episode actually is a bit of a rip-off.

[planktonrules · 6/10 · 11 October 2010]

Today, I watched a DVD of old teleplays from the 1950s. One of them was "Studio One in Hollywood: The Death and Life of Larry Benson (#6.37)". I was very shocked as I watched, as I soon noticed that this 1954 drama clearly must have inspired this episode of "The Andy Griffith Show"--albeit the Griffith episode was a lot less dark since the show was a comedy. I was even more shocked when I saw the 1943 film "The Human Comedy"--as, apparently, "The Death and Life of Larry Benson" was a ripoff of this MGM movie!! Clearly, this plot lacks originality.

Just like in "Studio One", a guy shows up in town and seems to know everyone--though no one recognizes him. The net effect is pretty .creepy and eventually the townsfolk are curious and furious that a total stranger could take such liberties as to refer to them by first names and act so familiar.

Unlike most episodes of the show, this one isn't particularly funny nor is it easy to believe. While the plot idea worked okay with "Studio One", here in a comedy it seemed to fall just a bit flat. One of the few disappointments in season one.

And I still think he's some kind of spy?

[thejcowboy22 · 5/10 · 27 October 2020]

Fall 1972 Sunday afternoon. My Sister Elaine's engagement Party. Exiting times as relatives, neighbors and friends swelled my home from the finished basement, Livingroom and backyard. Even the garage was used as an extra room. So many guests. I was approached by a stranger. A man I never met before and he introduced himself as Joel. He initially stunned me by grabbing me and giving me a hug. He called me by name and started to tell me things I thought he would never know (private stuff). He started out by complimenting me on how funny, witty and whimsical I was. He also went on about a model Hockey arena I built in my bedroom. Then he mentioned the collection of off color magazines I had hidden under my bed. Joel wasn't finished,he described my bedroom in detail. I had an eerie Frankenstein poster that glowed in the dark. The huge cactus plant on my dresser just to name a few . Things that he couldn't possibly know about. The telecast, A stranger in Town was one of the Early installments of the Andy Griffith Show. Our story is simple. A stranger neatly dress in dark suit stepped off the incoming bus and heads for Floyd's Barber shop Where Andy (Andy Griffith) Deputy Barney Fife (Don Knotts and a different character playing Floyd (Walter Baldwin) are curious and astonished as this stranger comes in and calls everyone by name as if he known them for years. Our guest star is Ed Sawyer played by William Lanteau. Sawyer continues to make conversation and tells everyone personal characteristics about themselves. This creates a tension, an uneasy feeling among the citizens. He would bring up past events in town and personal items on each resident of Mayberry. Deputy Fife even claims he could be a foreign spy Others claim he could be an alien from beyond. Sawyer takes a room at the hotel and of course addresses the Hotel Manager by first name as if he lived there for years. . The towns people's curiosity goes into over drive. Andy questions the stranger in his office and learns the real reason for the vast knowledge of the citizens of Mayberry. At this part of the episode the comedy writing of Arthur Stander was superb as Andy retorts with that southern flavor. Funny quips para phrasing, "Couples not holding hands in public till at least they have seven or eight youngens." The only problem I had was the continuity, which plays a part in future episodes as Floyd's character was changed to an more exasperated and nervous Howard McNear. The Gas station in question was owed by a fellow named Wally Stoner which conflicts with this story. Why complain it's only television. I also noticed that as the episode matured through the seasons Andy's character also cooled off with less of a pronounce southern drawl. The writers felt that Andy was more suitable for playing the straight man Sherriff (the voice of reason) and have the writers showcase the characters in the series. Back to the engagement party and the informative stranger... It turns out it was my future Brother-in-Law's roommate at the University of Bridgeport. You just never have control on other's peoples gossip.

Strange story, strange looking woman..

[pmike-11312 · 5/10 · 20 April 2023]

A really odd TAGS episode. A guy reads the local paper then comes to town frightening everyone by talking to them as if he'd known them for years. Then chasing after a women he doesn't know, but knows plenty about. Just odd.

I don't understand these reviews that talk about this "stunningly beautiful knockout" Marlene Willis. Her eyes are so big and wide-set, she looks like she came to town in an alien spaceship.

A really odd TAGS episode. A guy reads the local paper then comes to town frightening everyone by talking to them as if he'd known them for years. Then chasing after a women he doesn't know, but knows plenty about. Just odd.

I don't understand these reviews that talk about this "stunningly beautiful knockout" Marlene Willis. Her eyes are so big and wide-set, she looks like she came to town in an alien spaceship.

Pivotal in that casting needs to improve

[vitoscotti · 2/10 · 22 September 2022]

One of the best moves in TV history next episode will be recasting Floyd the Barber with legendary Howard McNear. This dud episode must of motivated the TAGS creative team to pursue better casting and avoid the generic types. One and done Floyd (William Baldwin) gave a valiant effort. But his humor was forced and he didn't possess any comedic brilliance like HM. Knockout Lucy Matthews (Marlene Willis) lit up the screen in the small time she was on. All the other secondary cast was blah & and vanilla. The rediculous script was so stupid it was insurmountable. Stale Ed Sawyer (William Lanteau) was one of TAGS episode screen time dominant most forgettable characters. Other than Marlene Willis not much here. Barney's sprechen sie Deutsch was probably the only humor. Andy's preachy tirade lambasting the town's people when they were in the right ended a stinker episode.