This is one of the better "Gunsmokes" of the '65 season. It features fine acting, a Cain and Abel story with deep emotion and fully fleshed out characters. Despite what the other reviewer wrote about this episode, it's not hard to follow and it's always emotionally on point. I'm not sure if he saw the same episode as I did. No doubt there are some clichés here, the convict who can't get a break, the noble brother who hides his brother's sins, the ignorantly angry father and the local girl charmed by the bad guy. But it is also very involving with an emotional payoff and metaphor with wild horses. Tom Simcox was a welcome cowboy in the early 60s. Nehemiah Persoff an experienced character actor. And if that weren't enough, the show has a happy ending, which didn't happen often in the early to mid 60s "Gunsmokes" which were almost like cowboy noir, full of sad cases with sad ends. A show worthy of your time.
7 Reviews
Classic Tale of Brothers
wdavidreynolds8 July 2019
Frank and Edmund are brothers in this classic, Shakespearean tale of conflict. There are definitely touches of classic brothers Cain and Abel, or Romulus and Remus in this story.
The episode begins with Frank Dano, played by Tom Simcox, and the younger Edmund Dano, played by Tom Skerritt, returning to their parents' farm near Dodge City after their release from a six-year prison sentence for cattle rustling. Their father blames the elder brother for involving Edmund in the illegal activity that was responsible for their imprisonment. Meanwhile, their mother is in failing health.
Throughout the episode, we learn the true nature of each brother.
Simcox makes one of his eight appearances in this episode. He was certainly no stranger to television during this time and for several more years. Skerritt makes his first guest appearance on Gunsmoke here as the younger brother. Although he has quite a long career in both television and films, this appearance takes place relatively early in his acting life.
Other actors familiar to Gunsmoke include Nehemiah Persoff -- who had just appeared a few episodes earlier in the season in "Ten Little Indians," -- as the father; Julie Sommars as a girl that attracts the attention of Edmund; and Gregg Palmer, as a sheriff from another town that finds himself chastised by Matt Dillon. The performances by Simcox and Skerritt really carry this episode, although the supporting cast is good, too.
This episode makes effective use of many of the Dodge City regulars, although this is another of the episodes where they are mostly relegated to smaller roles. Roger Ewing finally shows up again as Thad Greenwood. This is the first episode in some time where the character is present.
While there is a lot going on in this episode, it is all interwoven well, despite an ending that is a bit too tidy. Frank, the older brother, tries to carry the weight that is thrust upon him by others, as well as his own inner turmoil and sense of responsibility. Edmund, on the other hand, is only interested in his own desires and has little concern for how his actions affect others. Some of the other people in their lives cannot -- or will not -- see the difference.
I consider this one of the better Season 11 episodes. There are no "wow!" moments in this story, but the writing and acting are solid.
The episode begins with Frank Dano, played by Tom Simcox, and the younger Edmund Dano, played by Tom Skerritt, returning to their parents' farm near Dodge City after their release from a six-year prison sentence for cattle rustling. Their father blames the elder brother for involving Edmund in the illegal activity that was responsible for their imprisonment. Meanwhile, their mother is in failing health.
Throughout the episode, we learn the true nature of each brother.
Simcox makes one of his eight appearances in this episode. He was certainly no stranger to television during this time and for several more years. Skerritt makes his first guest appearance on Gunsmoke here as the younger brother. Although he has quite a long career in both television and films, this appearance takes place relatively early in his acting life.
Other actors familiar to Gunsmoke include Nehemiah Persoff -- who had just appeared a few episodes earlier in the season in "Ten Little Indians," -- as the father; Julie Sommars as a girl that attracts the attention of Edmund; and Gregg Palmer, as a sheriff from another town that finds himself chastised by Matt Dillon. The performances by Simcox and Skerritt really carry this episode, although the supporting cast is good, too.
This episode makes effective use of many of the Dodge City regulars, although this is another of the episodes where they are mostly relegated to smaller roles. Roger Ewing finally shows up again as Thad Greenwood. This is the first episode in some time where the character is present.
While there is a lot going on in this episode, it is all interwoven well, despite an ending that is a bit too tidy. Frank, the older brother, tries to carry the weight that is thrust upon him by others, as well as his own inner turmoil and sense of responsibility. Edmund, on the other hand, is only interested in his own desires and has little concern for how his actions affect others. Some of the other people in their lives cannot -- or will not -- see the difference.
I consider this one of the better Season 11 episodes. There are no "wow!" moments in this story, but the writing and acting are solid.
Great drama but for the ending
gary-646598 August 2019
Warning: Spoilers
This episode deserves more than the 7+ score it has accrued so far. As mentioned elsewhere, it is a fully loaded serious drama and character exploration with great contributions from the young actors Julie Sommars, Tom Simcox, and Tom Skerritt. Nehemiah Persoff plays his usually overwrought persona to advantage as an ignorant, whining, and resentful father who's got it all wrong about his sons. But the interpretation comes badly adrift in the final moments when due to a stupid "positive" plot twist tacked on at the end against all reason, his spitting hatred and revulsion towards his elder son turns suddenly to broadly-smiley sunshine and light after thirty years.
Bad story
maskers-871268 September 2018
Episode bogged down in dull, overly heavily padded family drama
bnelso-2379320 April 2021
Warning: Spoilers
The ep opens with Matt chasing some renegade Indians. Exciting opening and good too because what follows is about the worst adult family drama written in the entire 1960s ( a decade American TV shows usually showed far more ingenuity in). The scenes go on way too long and the actress playing the mom is completely neither here nor there in appeal. In fact the scenes of the family as a foursome or a father and son team are absolutely painful.
Before I go on let me add everyone who is a fan usually thinks the regular Gunsmoke cast became sometimes incidental to the show only in the color eps but this is a B+W one and they are already somewhat minor here too ( despite being prominent in dancing scene).
The episode is not entirely bad as the beautiful and highly interesting Julie Sommars plays lover to one of the 20-ish brothers. Her and her subplot are the best things by far in the whole ep. She is underused. Fortunately she would come back in a color ep and have a better role than here. I think they realized after this one was filmed how they woefully underused this great lady.
Before I go on let me add everyone who is a fan usually thinks the regular Gunsmoke cast became sometimes incidental to the show only in the color eps but this is a B+W one and they are already somewhat minor here too ( despite being prominent in dancing scene).
The episode is not entirely bad as the beautiful and highly interesting Julie Sommars plays lover to one of the 20-ish brothers. Her and her subplot are the best things by far in the whole ep. She is underused. Fortunately she would come back in a color ep and have a better role than here. I think they realized after this one was filmed how they woefully underused this great lady.
The concept was nice- The episode was not
kfo949411 March 2013
Warning: Spoilers
The concept for this show was interesting, however as written it just did not come across the screen well. There was just too much going on that the viewer could never get comfortable with one situation before the writer switched scenes and started another subject. You just never felt involved, as a viewer, in this show.
The episode involves two brothers named Frank and Edmund Dano. They have just served six years in prison for cattle rustling and have arrived home to find their mother very ill. The father blames the eldest son Frank for all the woes that has befallen the family. His father believes that Frank is the one that pulled Edmund into the crime life and now holds a deep grudge toward him. But we as viewers soon learn that Edmund is the one with a criminal mind.
It is not long before Edmund is dating this girl, Elsie at the freight office. She believes they have a life together if only she will help Edmund steal some money from the safe. Something goes terribly wrong that puts Edmund on the run. With no place to go Edmund runs back to his older brother for help.
There just was not enough time spend on each facet of the story. The main plot was the friction between Frank and his father about leading, the not so innocent, Edmund to prison. But a sick mother was introduced, a stagecoach robbery, wild horses, a female relationship, a robbery and a brother fist fight. Each topic interesting but not enough time spend on one subject to justify the content. Take away some of the sub-plots and this could have been entertaining but that was not to be. We are left with an array of action with no aforethought.
The episode involves two brothers named Frank and Edmund Dano. They have just served six years in prison for cattle rustling and have arrived home to find their mother very ill. The father blames the eldest son Frank for all the woes that has befallen the family. His father believes that Frank is the one that pulled Edmund into the crime life and now holds a deep grudge toward him. But we as viewers soon learn that Edmund is the one with a criminal mind.
It is not long before Edmund is dating this girl, Elsie at the freight office. She believes they have a life together if only she will help Edmund steal some money from the safe. Something goes terribly wrong that puts Edmund on the run. With no place to go Edmund runs back to his older brother for help.
There just was not enough time spend on each facet of the story. The main plot was the friction between Frank and his father about leading, the not so innocent, Edmund to prison. But a sick mother was introduced, a stagecoach robbery, wild horses, a female relationship, a robbery and a brother fist fight. Each topic interesting but not enough time spend on one subject to justify the content. Take away some of the sub-plots and this could have been entertaining but that was not to be. We are left with an array of action with no aforethought.
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