Gunsmoke (TV Series) Hammerhead (1964) User Reviews

A "mini-epic" show that could have been longer.

[lrrap · 7/10 · 28 June 2021]

With all of the lengthy, detailed exposition that went in to this plot PRIOR to the start of the race, this show could have used about another 7-8 minutes to really fill it out; the actual race..while well filmed (LOTS of location shooting, hand-held camera shots, etc) seemed too condensed to really build tension and excitement. In hindsight, maybe 4 minutes LESS of dialogue, etc to set up what is essentially an action episode.

I must be dense, but the entry of the third horse into the race was tough to follow; I guess it was done to jack up the $ stakes in the race, and thereby increase the likelihood it would be rigged...right?

Another mid-season #10 show where Ken Curtis, who was proving to be popular with home viewers, was prominently featured throughout. He really got the worst of the fight near the end but, as always, recovered and moved on.

Always a huge relief to hear Dillon's off-camera "HOLD IT", which another comment here cites as far-fetched. I don't think so; Dillon clearly stated he was taking a stage to Cheyenne to make sure there was no foul play as the race neared it conclusion.

The end of the race was excitingly paced and staged; had the script been better balanced, there would have been time for some well-deserved celebration near the end, with more interaction between Festus and Linda Foster...not much of an actress, but she and Festus would have made an odd but charming couple. She clearly had the hots for him, and the final scene was rather touching.

Also of interest is this episode's RE-UNION of 1.) Director Chris Nyby 2.) Actor Arch Johnson and 3.) composer Fred Steiner's great "Hee-Haw" hoedown musical cues...all of which featured prominently in Twilight Zone's excellent comedy "Showdown with Rance McGrew" a couple years earlier. LR.

A nice show that was just way to predictable

[kfo9494 · 6/10 · 2 February 2013]

After ten seasons of shows, I know that it was difficult to come up with newer and newer plots to an episode. In this show, they sink to the bottom of the source pile and come up with a horse race between two stables that think they have the best horses. And we the viewer get a horse race that goes from Dodge to Cheyenne with all the regular pitfalls that you would expect from a race where big bucks have been wagered.

Fitch Tallman and Wohaw Simmons have two competing stables inside Dodge that are competing for a big sell to Big Jim Ponder from Cheyenne. Big Jim is looking at Tallman's Morgan horses when Festus tells him he should come look at Wohaw's Quarter Horses. Carrie Ponder, Big Jim's daughter, falls in love with one of the Quarter Horses and Tallman gets angry. He goes to Wohaw's stable and bets him that his horses are better. Thus we now get a horse race in Dodge between Tallman's Morgan Horses and Wohaw's Quarter horses.

Festus will be riding for Wohaw with Carrie, that has already bought the horse Festus is riding, along with a driver in a wagon for support. When large money is place on the six day race the viewer can expect everything will not go as planned. Someone is for winning at all cost and it will prove dangerous for Festus and Carrie.

There was just so much the writer could do with the concept and it was stretched to the limit. When Marshal Dillon shows up on the race course you know it was writer magic. That little appearance seemed to strange for even me to believe. There was some good things- Ken Curtis was excellent in his show as we get his wide range of character acting. Overall a nice watch but was so predictable it just seemed weak.