A drunkard ex colonel overhears plans of robbery and murder while spending a night in jail, but isn't sure if it was a dream.A drunkard ex colonel overhears plans of robbery and murder while spending a night in jail, but isn't sure if it was a dream.A drunkard ex colonel overhears plans of robbery and murder while spending a night in jail, but isn't sure if it was a dream.
Photos
Roy Jenson
- Jeff Higgins
- (as Roy Jensen)
Daniel J. Travanti
- Carl
- (as Dan Travanty)
Ted Christy
- Townsman
- (uncredited)
Vic Christy
- Townsman
- (uncredited)
Rudy Doucette
- Townsman
- (uncredited)
Jaye Durkus
- Townsman
- (uncredited)
Lars Hensen
- Townsman
- (uncredited)
- Director
- Writers
- Howard Dimsdale
- Norman MacDonnell(uncredited)
- John Meston(uncredited)
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaLee J. Cobb would pass away 15 months after this episode aired from a heart attack.
- GoofsAbout a third of the way through, when the colonel asks his daughter to move to a different location so they can sit and talk, the dark shadow of a post can be seen clearly on the wall (and framed picture) in the background. In the next scene, at a somewhat different angle and closer in, the shadow is gone.
Featured review
A Former Union Army Colonel Refuses to Let Go of His Past
Former Union Army Colonel Josiah Johnson lives in Dodge City where he spends his days drinking and reminiscing about his time in the military. Festus Haggens is one of the people in the town that has befriended the Colonel, as has several of the boys in the town that like to hear Johnson's old war stories and enjoy pretending to be soldiers under his command.
Carl owns a store in the town. He needs to leave to meet his fiancé Anne Ludley and bring her back to Dodge where they plan to marry. Carl asks Colonel Johnson to mind his store while he is away. The Colonel reluctantly agrees initially, but when the time comes for Carl to leave, the Colonel tries to back out of the agreement. Carl is anxious to meet Anne, and he insists on the Colonel fulfilling the duties.
A fire badly damages a portion of the store when the Colonel is distracted and leaves the door to the stove open. Once Carl returns with his bride-to-be, he learns of the damage and becomes understandably angry at Colonel Johnson and his negligence. While Carl's anger is not surprising, it is worth noting that he insisted on the Colonel minding the store over the Colonel's protests.
Carl does not know that Anne is Colonel Johnson's estranged daughter. She is happy to be reunited with her father, but the Colonel decides it would be better if he left town before Anne and Carl are married in a couple of days. He is ashamed of what he has become and does not want to be an embarrassment to his daughter.
Meanwhile, Matt Dillon has apprehended Bill Higgins, who is part of a gang led by his brother Jeff. The Marshal has Bill locked in the Dodge City jail. Matt knows there is a decent chance the rest of the gang is somewhere nearby.
After the Colonel gets drunk and causes a mild disturbance at the Long Branch Saloon, Matt puts him in a jail cell for the night. Bill Higgins has a visitor at the jail window, and they talk about an ongoing plot to lure Marshal Dillon out of town so Jeff and the rest of the gang can come into the town, rob the bank, and rescue Bill. They plan their actions around the wedding of Carl and Anne.
The two outlaws mistakenly think Colonel Johnson is too drunk and does not hear the conversation. The next day, the Colonel begins to recall the conversation and chooses to enact his own plan to stop the criminals.
Lee J. Cobb stars in this episode as Colonel Josiah Johnson. Cobb was twice nominated for Best Supporting Actor by the Motion Picture Academy for his roles in the films On the Waterfront and The Brothers Karamazov. His career included many other notable film roles, including a part in the film How the West Was Won, which later formed the basis of a post-Gunsmoke series starring James Arness.
In the 1960s, Cobb began appearing in television roles. He played Judge Henry Garth in The Virginian and attorney David Barrett in the series The Young Lawyers. This episode is clearly designed to be a vehicle to highlight Cobb's talent. This performance took place only a few months before Cobb suffered a heart attack and passed away. This part as an aging military man who spends most of his time reliving his past exploits is perfect for the actor. This is Cobb's only Gunsmoke appearance.
Cobb's daughter in the story, the character Anne Ludley, was also his daughter in real life. Julie Cobb makes her second and final Gunsmoke appearance in this episode. Being Lee J. Cobb's daughter is not Julie's only connection with the show. She was married to frequent Gunsmoke actor and Season 20 director Victor French for a fleeting period. Shortly after she and French divorced, she married Christopher Morgan, who is Harry Morgan's son. Harry Morgan was no stranger to the Gunsmoke series, either, as he starred in several episodes.
Actor Roy Jenson (credited as Roy Jensen) makes his seventh and final Gunsmoke appearance in this episode where he plays the Jeff Higgins character. Richard Ely portrays Jeff's younger brother Bill in this story, which is his only Gunsmoke role. Randolph Roberts fills the role of a character named Obie, who is part of the Higgins gang. His other Gunsmoke appearance was as a gunfighter named Kid Chama in Season 19's "Widowmaker."
Child actor Todd Lookinland makes his third and final Gunsmoke appearance as Jimmy Clancy, one of the kids that idolizes Colonel Johnson. Todd is Mike Lookinland's brother. Mike is best known for his role as Bobby Brady on The Brady Bunch.
Daniel J. Travanti (credited as Dan Travanty) appears for the second and final time in this episode. He plays Carl, the store owner and Anne's future husband. Travanti was a frequent guest on various television shows prior to his notable role as Captain Frank Furillo on the series Hill Street Blues.
The series regulars all make at least brief appearances in this episode, with Ken Curtis getting the most screen time, but the story is built around Cobb's character.
This story is familiar as a variation on the theme of an older, former law enforcement official who has struggled with life outside their former profession and turned to alcohol as a respite of sorts. Colonel Johnson is not a former sheriff or marshal, or course, but it is the same sort of concept. The Colonel seizes an opportunity to use some of his shrewd talent to recapture some of his past glory days.
In that regard, this story lacks originality. It also relies heavily on sentiment and dialogue. There is a scene where Colonel Johnson "promotes" young Jimmy Clancy to "take over the troops" as the Colonel plans to leave Dodge that is obviously designed to push the viewers' emotional buttons. The ending of the story also ventures dangerously close to hokeyness.
Despite the weaknesses of the writing, the episode is worth viewing at least for Lee J. Cobb's performance.
Carl owns a store in the town. He needs to leave to meet his fiancé Anne Ludley and bring her back to Dodge where they plan to marry. Carl asks Colonel Johnson to mind his store while he is away. The Colonel reluctantly agrees initially, but when the time comes for Carl to leave, the Colonel tries to back out of the agreement. Carl is anxious to meet Anne, and he insists on the Colonel fulfilling the duties.
A fire badly damages a portion of the store when the Colonel is distracted and leaves the door to the stove open. Once Carl returns with his bride-to-be, he learns of the damage and becomes understandably angry at Colonel Johnson and his negligence. While Carl's anger is not surprising, it is worth noting that he insisted on the Colonel minding the store over the Colonel's protests.
Carl does not know that Anne is Colonel Johnson's estranged daughter. She is happy to be reunited with her father, but the Colonel decides it would be better if he left town before Anne and Carl are married in a couple of days. He is ashamed of what he has become and does not want to be an embarrassment to his daughter.
Meanwhile, Matt Dillon has apprehended Bill Higgins, who is part of a gang led by his brother Jeff. The Marshal has Bill locked in the Dodge City jail. Matt knows there is a decent chance the rest of the gang is somewhere nearby.
After the Colonel gets drunk and causes a mild disturbance at the Long Branch Saloon, Matt puts him in a jail cell for the night. Bill Higgins has a visitor at the jail window, and they talk about an ongoing plot to lure Marshal Dillon out of town so Jeff and the rest of the gang can come into the town, rob the bank, and rescue Bill. They plan their actions around the wedding of Carl and Anne.
The two outlaws mistakenly think Colonel Johnson is too drunk and does not hear the conversation. The next day, the Colonel begins to recall the conversation and chooses to enact his own plan to stop the criminals.
Lee J. Cobb stars in this episode as Colonel Josiah Johnson. Cobb was twice nominated for Best Supporting Actor by the Motion Picture Academy for his roles in the films On the Waterfront and The Brothers Karamazov. His career included many other notable film roles, including a part in the film How the West Was Won, which later formed the basis of a post-Gunsmoke series starring James Arness.
In the 1960s, Cobb began appearing in television roles. He played Judge Henry Garth in The Virginian and attorney David Barrett in the series The Young Lawyers. This episode is clearly designed to be a vehicle to highlight Cobb's talent. This performance took place only a few months before Cobb suffered a heart attack and passed away. This part as an aging military man who spends most of his time reliving his past exploits is perfect for the actor. This is Cobb's only Gunsmoke appearance.
Cobb's daughter in the story, the character Anne Ludley, was also his daughter in real life. Julie Cobb makes her second and final Gunsmoke appearance in this episode. Being Lee J. Cobb's daughter is not Julie's only connection with the show. She was married to frequent Gunsmoke actor and Season 20 director Victor French for a fleeting period. Shortly after she and French divorced, she married Christopher Morgan, who is Harry Morgan's son. Harry Morgan was no stranger to the Gunsmoke series, either, as he starred in several episodes.
Actor Roy Jenson (credited as Roy Jensen) makes his seventh and final Gunsmoke appearance in this episode where he plays the Jeff Higgins character. Richard Ely portrays Jeff's younger brother Bill in this story, which is his only Gunsmoke role. Randolph Roberts fills the role of a character named Obie, who is part of the Higgins gang. His other Gunsmoke appearance was as a gunfighter named Kid Chama in Season 19's "Widowmaker."
Child actor Todd Lookinland makes his third and final Gunsmoke appearance as Jimmy Clancy, one of the kids that idolizes Colonel Johnson. Todd is Mike Lookinland's brother. Mike is best known for his role as Bobby Brady on The Brady Bunch.
Daniel J. Travanti (credited as Dan Travanty) appears for the second and final time in this episode. He plays Carl, the store owner and Anne's future husband. Travanti was a frequent guest on various television shows prior to his notable role as Captain Frank Furillo on the series Hill Street Blues.
The series regulars all make at least brief appearances in this episode, with Ken Curtis getting the most screen time, but the story is built around Cobb's character.
This story is familiar as a variation on the theme of an older, former law enforcement official who has struggled with life outside their former profession and turned to alcohol as a respite of sorts. Colonel Johnson is not a former sheriff or marshal, or course, but it is the same sort of concept. The Colonel seizes an opportunity to use some of his shrewd talent to recapture some of his past glory days.
In that regard, this story lacks originality. It also relies heavily on sentiment and dialogue. There is a scene where Colonel Johnson "promotes" young Jimmy Clancy to "take over the troops" as the Colonel plans to leave Dodge that is obviously designed to push the viewers' emotional buttons. The ending of the story also ventures dangerously close to hokeyness.
Despite the weaknesses of the writing, the episode is worth viewing at least for Lee J. Cobb's performance.
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- wdavidreynolds
- Nov 8, 2021
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