The Andy Griffith Show (TV Series) A Black Day for Mayberry (1963) User Reviews

A Classic Episode With No Laugh Track....

[stalzz64 · 9/10 · 10 February 2007]

This is a classic episode. What a Great One! I just noticed after seeing it on DVD that there is no laugh track. I was wondering if this was an experiment? It is a fairly dramatic episode for the sitcom, so maybe they thought that they'd try it with no canned laughter like usual. This show was never filmed with an audience anyway.

Interesting....

And it was neat to see three members of the Howard family in one show--Ron, Rance, His Dad, and lil' brother Clint.

Another beautiful DVD transfer. There are so many great old shows coming out on DVD from studios like Paramount--This one was originally Desilu, like Dick Van Dyke, Star Trek and many more until 1968 when Desi and Lucy sold out to Paramount Studios, which was right next door.

Once again, Barney is a boob and Mayberry is full of rubes...

[planktonrules · 8/10 · 21 October 2010]

This episode further establishes that Barney is an incompetent and the folks of Mayberry are mostly a lot of likable rubes. Andy and Barney are called in to assist with a gold shipment that is coming their way. They are instructed to keep it secret, but naturally Barney totally blows it--and as a result, EVERYONE in Mayberry knows the shipment is coming. And, like a bunch of yahoos, the people decide to have a giant celebration to welcome the G-men and the gold!! You have to laugh at the situation and it's all very predictable. What isn't so predictable is what happens to the gold itself.

All in all, a very clever episode from start to finish. The only problem with it is that making Barney look stupid isn't exactly a new idea and there is a familiarity about the plot that keep it from being among the very best of the series--but it's still very worth seeing--especially so you can see three of the Howard family (Ron, Clint and their father).

Barney spills the beans

[kellielulu · 9/10 · 2 January 2023]

Again but it's at least done in record time!

Gomer " I didn't hear it from Barney I heard it from Lorelei Hobbs at the dime store! " Yes Barney told Juanita at the diner. Asa knew about it at the hotel! No Barney can't keep a secret but it seems very few people In Mayberry can.

Barney is a bundle of nerves and clumsy as ever in this episode. The laughs are nonstop.

The whole town it seems shows up including Aunt Bee and Opie . Some are carrying signs like down with gold! Souvenirs are being sold too!

Watch for what happens when the truck of gold stops at the filling station. It's not just Barney but Gomer as well as the occasional deputized citizen who adds to chaos . Barney can't help looking in at the gold and then all heck really breaks loose! As Gomer says Shazam!

One of the funniest episodes showing how something like that affects a small town.

Barney does what we'd all love to do !

[tweiss-67368 · 8/10 · 31 August 2021]

Another very funny show on this priceless series. The premise here is that Barney can't hold an important piece of information, and the entire town finds out about it. The fact that Andy trusts Barney, just adds to the humor. And when Barney is given a second chance, Andy trusts him again, and the same thing happens.

What makes Barney particularly funny here is that we all have the temptation to spread stories. Barney is just an exaggeration of what we'd all love to do.

Rance, Ron, & Clint Howard all agitating Barney

[vitoscotti · 10/10 · 6 May 2022]

Episode is loaded with classic comedy. Just the whole premise of the leaked news traveling town wide in such a short time is hilarious. I don't think there's one scene that's not 10*. I always liked Barney's "I did not say gold" to Juanita, Gomer putting gas in the gun port, Barney's shakey truck entrance, then his discombobulated state exiting the truck with what looks like a machine gun no less, then Andy easily disabling the weakling. Gomer's "shazams" are perfectly placed. Barney undercover with Asa giving one of many in the episode "When's the gold truck coming? " Each time asked is funny. Barney still doesn't learn his lesson in a very good epilogue again giving classified information to Juanita.

Don't worry about incongruities; just laugh

[aramis-112-804880 · 10/10 · 1 March 2024]

A truck of gold bound for Fort Knox from Denver (!) is taking a long-cut through Mayberry. It's up to Andy, Barney and a deputized Gomer to protect it. Oh, brother.

Any show where either Gomer or Floyd wears a deputy badge is worth watching. Here, it's Gomer's turn.

Forget the bizarre nature of the episode. Everything is explained in the end. What matters is (1) its commentary on human nature, and (2) it's flat-out funny.

Note the proper use of apostrophies above.

Forget (1). When I watch a comedy show episode I don't want a lot of preaching. I want laughs. And this episode has them. Just laugh.

Should Have Been Fired 25 Times

[Hitchcoc · 9/10 · 9 December 2019]

Once again, Barney can't wait two minutes to betray a serious secret. He gets so full of self importance that he risks the lives of people to be a big man. I know this is all comedy, but if there is any semblance of reality, he should never be trusted with anything delicate. For that matter, it would behoove Andy to lie to him if he had to. And the continuing use of Gomer as a deputy is beyond belief. Still, it was pretty funny.

Deputy Fife at his bungling best

[mloessel · 8/10 · 8 April 2022]

A shipment of gold is on its way to Ft Knox and will pass through Mayberry as part of its route. Two Treasury Agents visit the Sheriff's office to inform Sheriff Taylor who in turn shares this info w/Deputy Fife. Taylor instructs Fife that the arrival of the shipment is confidential and should not be shared with anyone. Fife agrees. Unfortunately Fife can't keep a secret to save his soul and immediately shares it with one of his fav ladies Jaunita, via a phone call, she waists little time in sharing this bit of news with everyone. When the gold truck arrives a large crowd of Mayberry citizens have gathered, outside the courtside, to welcome the truck. From being told to remain quiet to immediately going into the blab mode Fife is at his bungling best.

Laugh Track on TVLand version

[megalon3 · 7/10 · 9 May 2007]

They did use a laugh track in this episode. At least they did on version they aired on TVLand on 5.9.07.

Perhaps the DVD version is different. I have no idea what the original version was like. I don't specifically remember this particular episode "A Black Day for Mayberry" when it was originally broadcast on network television.

I have nothing to compare this version to. Perhaps the version on DVD had the soundtrack removed to enhance the dramatic effect of the program. Although there are portions of the show that deserve laughter - specifically those scenes involving Barney spilling the beans and Gomer trying to act serious.

Maybe some other viewer can shed some light on this.

Goofs

[manderson6814 · 6/10 · 19 June 2020]

The gentleman have hankergiff in (outside) suit top jacket pocket then 1 don't have it in pocket .

BARNEY THE BLABBERMOUTH!

[JSGal · 4/10 · 25 May 2021]

Once again Barney can't keep his big mouth shut! Andy should not tell him anything of importance, especially when it involves top secret government business! In real life he would have fired the deputy years ago! And having Goober deputized is beyond insane!

Denver to Mayberry to Fort Knox, KY

[streetlight2 · 3/10 · 23 October 2020]

Seems like a long way around the Mayberry bush. Tons of gold weigh a lot and it seems to me it would take a pretty big truck, consuming a lot of fuel besides the cars with treasury guards. About as unrealistic as it can be.

Barney always goofs with the writers

[vtstokesever · 5/10 · 17 May 2023]

Barney has always been a challenging character. From his first trying to speak with a southern accent to his goofy and bumbling ways. And also to mention he tries to be a know it all then covers his tracks with lies and having Andy lie for him to save his Hyde.. Terrible. What I could not figure is why a gold truck from Denver would be coming through Mayberry to get to Fort knox Ky. Totally makes no sense sense you get to Ky from Denver way before you get to North Carolina. This and more flawed writing with this American classic. When you are a child looking at this it's just entertainment but when your grow up you start analyzing different characters on the show and compare them with people you know in your life and realize it's nobody you know like that in your circle. Still though it is classic comedy that is still better than the language and sexuality used in today's sitcoms. Definitely a fan of the past!