Gunsmoke (TV Series) The Nightriders (1969) User Reviews

Festus has his hands full when a gang enters town

[kfo9494 · 8/10 · 19 April 2013]

A man named Judge Proctor (Jeff Corey) was a victim of land theft in Missouri when he was off fighting for the rebels in the civil war. He and a gang of ex-rebel vets, have been searching for many years a man named Talbot that was responsible for crimes against the Procter family. Now their travels have found them in Dodge.

The Judge and his gang, which includes two of his sons, feel like people around Dodge are not cooperating with them so they set fire to a large wheat field. Inside the town of Dodge, with Matt away, Festus is in charge. When they cause trouble at the Long Branch, Festus has to lock up one of the Judge's son until Matt returns. But the Judge advises that they will be leaving at midnight and will return for his son.

To make matters worse the son in jail has been sick for sometime but with the Judge on the path of Talbot he refuses to stop. While in jail his son dies causing even more trouble for Festus when the Judge tells his gang to burn Dodge to the ground.

A better episode than expected after reading the plot. The regular were excellent in this show. Ken Curtis, Milburn Stone and James Nusser made a great team with the Marshal away. Perhaps not the best story but one that held my interest till the very end.

Note- We also learn in this episode that the bartender Sam, had two brothers die in the civil war. One fighting for each side.

A Man's Refusal to Accept Reality Causes Irreparable Damage

[wdavidreynolds · 7/10 · 1 June 2021]

Judge Procter is still trying to fight the War Between the States. He and his men have been terrorizing Missouri for some time by burning the land of people they consider enemies. Now they have ridden into Kansas seeking a man named Talbot that is supposed to live near Dodge City.

When they arrive in Dodge City late at night, they find the town sparsely populated, because many of the residents, including Matt Dillon and Kitty Russell, have gone to Johnsonville to celebrate that town's twentieth anniversary. Festus Haggen is the law enforcement in Dodge.

The strangers stop at the Long Branch Saloon just as Sam Noonan is closing for the night. Judge Procter asks Sam to open for about an hour so he and his men can warm themselves with a few drinks. Sam reluctantly agrees.

Although it is not immediately apparent, we eventually learn that Judge Procter's men are interested as much in using the Judge and his ideology as an excuse to cause trouble as they are in the "cause" for which they claim to be crusading.

Judge Procter's sons, Eliot and Jay, ride with the group. Eliot does not agree with his father's methods, but as his son, he feels obliged to go along. Jay, on the other hand, is an impetuous, hot-headed fool, and he is also extremely sick.

In a scene where we learn that Sam had two brothers who died in the War Between the States -- one for each side -- Jay loses his temper and attacks Sam. Sam is hit in the head and requires attention from Doc Adams. Festus arrests Jay and confines him to a jail cell. Judge Procter does not agree with the actions Festus has taken. The Judge demands Jay be released from jail by midnight, or there will be consequences. If Festus complies, the Judge and his men will leave Dodge.

Among the few Dodge City residents that have remained in town are Louie Pheeters and Nathan Burke. Both are terrified of what the Judge and his men might do. As the situation escalates, their fear grows.

When Doc examines Jay, he warns the young man that he needs to be treated, but Jay refuses any help. He demands whiskey, but Doc warns him that whiskey could kill him.

Eliot visits his brother at the jail, and the two get into an intense argument. Jay suddenly has an attack or seizure and dies.

When Judge Procter learns his son is dead, he is furious. He blames Doc and Festus and orders his men to burn the town.

The renowned actor Jeff Corey plays Judge Procter in this story. This is Corey's only involvement in a Gunsmoke episode, which is unfortunate. Corey was not only a highly respected actor, but he taught acting to many people who went on to become major stars. Corey was blacklisted in Hollywood during most of the 1950s because he refused to testify before the House Committee on Un-American Activities in 1951.

Robert Pine makes the second of four Gunsmoke appearances as Eliot Procter. Robert Random portrays Jay Procter in one of his seven different appearances on the show. Other members of the Judge's group include familiar actors Warren Vanders, Norman Alden, and Robert Karnes.

This is another entertaining episode with a strong cast, but it is not without problems. The entire premise is a little dubious when one considers how far from the Missouri border Dodge City, Kansas is located. The story implies the Judge and his men have wandered into Kansas in pursuit of the Talbot fellow, but Dodge City is in the western half of the state. Additionally, the story contains very few surprises. It tends to telegraph plot developments well in advance. Finally, Judge Procter is supposed to be a ruthless man to be feared, but Jeff Corey's portrayal of the Judge makes him appear as more wise and less sinister in nature than he should be.

It is fascinating to see how much the Festus Haggen character has changed from his early days on the show. Festus takes his responsibilities quite seriously in this story.

In the end, the story is as much about the relationship of Judge Procter and his sons as it is about refusing to accept defeat in a war. The Judge's refusal to accept reality eventually destroys his family.

Sorry About That

[darbski · 7/10 · 6 February 2018]

***SPOILERS*** A very long time after the Civil War was over, a bitter, vengeful "judge", his sons and crew continue raiding into Kansas. In reality, there were no-good outlaws that pretended that they were still fighting for "the cause", but that was all. These guys were no exception. One thing is that Dodge is almost all the way across the state from Missouri.

Now, as we all know, anytime that Matt leaves Festus in charge, thing quickly go into the privy (something one NEVER sees in a western). Of course, instead of letting the obvious crew of cutthroats just ride on, he arrests one of them for clobbering Sam the barkeep with a bottle. Also, when Sam is at Docs, who's minding the bar? In the end, nobody.

Doc comes back from tendin' the Widder Perkins (or someone just like her), looks at the judges' kid who refuses help, and then doesn't tell his Pa, the judge. Also, tells Festus that he's doing the right thing; wrong. Two of the creeps set fire to the livery, and the kid croaks (good riddance). The judge wants revenge, Matt gets back from Johnsonville, the judge surrenders after his other kid finally tells him what's what about what. The other prairie scum pull on Matt, with predictable results. Louie, the town drunk had brought a Colt's S.A.A. with him into the Marshal's office. He was willing to stand with Festus against the judge's crew. Festus pronounced the gun too rusted to work right, but didn't replace it.

In my opinion, the best part of the show was Doc and Festus arguing about the price of a pair of britches; Festus trying to explain why the town council should buy him a new pair. I'll give this one a seven for the good acting.