A vicious, brutish man named Karp leads a ragtag group of roving scavengers -- "hiders" -- that make a living taking hides from cattle carcasses they find. Karp is not above killing live cattle when it is convenient, either. The group has made their way to the Dodge City area, which is suffering under the ravages of a drought. The drought provides opportunities to the hiders as animals die from dehydration.
The rest of this small band of dubious characters includes a woman named Martha, although she is usually only addressed as "Woman;" a tall, lanky young man named Billy, an Irishman named Quincannon, and another young man that goes by the name Dink. Although Karp is the leader of the group, Quincannon is not beyond standing up to Karp when necessary.
Matt Dillon takes an interest in Karp and his group of hiders when a farmer named Tom Belnap that lives near Dodge accuses the hiders of stealing his milk cow. The Marshal does not have enough evidence to arrest the hiders, but he warns them that he will not tolerate criminal activity.
Karp decides Farmer Belnap's actions are deserving of punishment, so he and his group throw rotten meat into the Belnap's well and cut through the rope enough so when the farmer tries to lower himself into the well to clean out the rotten meat, the rope breaks and Belnap is severely injured.
Festus is roasting a prairie chicken he caught and napping while it cooks when Dink, whose horse was spooked by a rattlesnake and ran away earlier, happens to see him. Dink intends to steal Ruth, Festus's mule, until he sees Festus is wearing a badge. Festus shares his food with Dink and invites him to come to Dodge to live.
Later, Dink makes his way into Dodge to steal supplies from Mr. Lathrop's General Store. Dink plans to use the supplies to escape Karp and the rest of the grungy group. Festus catches Dink in the act and takes him into custody. During his attempt to escape Festus, Dink damages several items in the store and sprains his ankle.
Festus sees potential in his new friend. He talks Mr. Lathrop into agreeing to allow Dink to work in the store to pay for the damages.
A couple of weeks pass before Karp and Quincannon ride into Dodge and see Dink working at the store. Karp tries to force Dink back into servitude, but Festus and Newly intervene. Karp insists Dink is a relative in his custody (Karp claims "nephew, twice removed," but there is no such thing). Newly informs Karp that Dink owes money for the damages he caused, the medical treatment Doc Adams provided, and the room and board he has been given during his time in Dodge. Karp and Quincannon retreat to the Bulls Head Saloon, but Karp insists he intends to make Festus pay for defying him.
Karp will attempt to use Dink's affections for Martha, who has been the closest thing to a mother Dink has known, and Festus, who has helped Dink change his life, to rob Mr. Lathrop's General Store. If Dink refuses, Karp promises he will kill both.
Ned Beatty is just the kind of actor that fits in perfectly as a Gusnmoke guest. This performance took place early in Beatty's acting career. His portrayal of Karp is as sinister and nasty as any of the other great Gunsmoke villains. (It is remarkably like David Huddleston's performance in the earlier Season 20 episode "In the Performance of Duty" -- dirty teeth and all. See also: Cliff Osmond in Season 14's "The Hidecutters.") Beatty started in theater before being cast as the character Bobby Trippe in John Boorman's Deliverance. On the set of that film, Beatty and former Gunsmoke star Burt Reynolds developed a lifelong friendship. His portrayal of Karp in this story would come along a couple of years later. Beatty went on to a multiple award-winning career in television, film, and the theater.
Lee de Broux (credited as Lee De Broux) appears for the sixth and final time in the series with this episode. He plays the Quincannon character in what is his most prominent role of the six.
Mitch Vogel returns to the Gunsmoke set for the third and final time in this story as the Dink character. His three Gunsmoke appearances featured similar characters. Vogel's acting career took place between 1967 and 1978 and included several television dramatic roles. He was nominated for a Golden Globe for his performance as Lucius in the 1969 Mark Rydell (an earlier Gunsmoke director) film adaptation of William Faulkner's novel The Reivers. Vogel is best known for his recurring role as Jamie Cartwright -- an adopted son of Ben Cartwright -- during the last three seasons of Bonanza.
This story includes the only Gunsmoke appearance for actor Damon Douglas, who plays the character known only as Billy. Unlike Dink, Billy appears to be perfectly happy assisting Karp in his sadistic, thieving exploits. Douglas's career primarily consisted of playing juvenile delinquent types. (I especially enjoyed his performance as the character Paul in the controversial cult film Massacre at Central High.)
Little known actress Sierra Bandit makes her only Gunsmoke appearance as the Martha character. Bandit's acting career only included four roles over a two-year period.
Robert Donner appears for the third and final time in the series. He plays the spunky, beleaguered Tom Belnap in this story. Donner was a good friend of Clint Eastwood and shows up in many television shows beginning in the 1960s through the 1990s. He played the recurring informant/recovering addict character T. J./Teejay/Tee Jay on Adam-12. He also played the recurring character Yancy Tucker in many episodes of The Waltons.
Actress Ellen Blake plays Belnap's wife. This is her only Gunsmoke role.
It would be a mistake to not mention Woodrow Chambliss making his final Gunsmoke appearance as Mr. Lathrop in this episode. Chambliss appeared in many television shows and films over his lengthy career, which did not begin in earnest until he was in his forties. He was a familiar face in Westerns, and he played parts in thirty-eight Gunsmoke episodes beginning with "Never Pester Chester" in Season 3. His first appearance as Mr. Lathrop was in Season 11's "Parson Comes to Town."
Season 20 of Gunsmoke frequently recycled stories and plot elements from earlier episodes. This episode recalls a couple of earlier installments. Season 13's "Hill Girl" involves a woman who comes to Dodge from an oppressive family setting, is given a job in Mr. Jonas's store and is coerced by some family members of questionable character to help them commit crimes. Season 14's similarly named "The Hidecutters" includes a character named Arlie Joe that has a lot in common with Dink in this story and finds it difficult to escape his tormentors.
Despite its lack of originality, this Paul Savage script is great, and the performance by Beatty is outstanding. This may be the best performance I have seen from Mitch Vogel, although he plays the same basic character he often portrayed.
The focus is on Ken Curtis again in this story, and it should come as no surprise that he is up to the task. I prefer this wiser, more shrewd, less boisterous Festus Haggen. I especially appreciate the scene where Festus removes his spurs before he investigates noises he hears from the General Store.
Note: There is a nice scene in this story where Dink is staying with Festus, and Dink mimics some of Festus's odd bedtime prep. During their conversation about marriage, Dink asks Festus if he has ever been married. Festus tells Dink he has not, but there was a woman he almost married at one point. This may be a reference to the character April Clomely, as portrayed by Elizabeth MacRae in four episodes in Seasons 9 and 10. April was Festus's girlfriend during those early seasons after the Festus Haggen character first arrived in Dodge.
The rest of this small band of dubious characters includes a woman named Martha, although she is usually only addressed as "Woman;" a tall, lanky young man named Billy, an Irishman named Quincannon, and another young man that goes by the name Dink. Although Karp is the leader of the group, Quincannon is not beyond standing up to Karp when necessary.
Matt Dillon takes an interest in Karp and his group of hiders when a farmer named Tom Belnap that lives near Dodge accuses the hiders of stealing his milk cow. The Marshal does not have enough evidence to arrest the hiders, but he warns them that he will not tolerate criminal activity.
Karp decides Farmer Belnap's actions are deserving of punishment, so he and his group throw rotten meat into the Belnap's well and cut through the rope enough so when the farmer tries to lower himself into the well to clean out the rotten meat, the rope breaks and Belnap is severely injured.
Festus is roasting a prairie chicken he caught and napping while it cooks when Dink, whose horse was spooked by a rattlesnake and ran away earlier, happens to see him. Dink intends to steal Ruth, Festus's mule, until he sees Festus is wearing a badge. Festus shares his food with Dink and invites him to come to Dodge to live.
Later, Dink makes his way into Dodge to steal supplies from Mr. Lathrop's General Store. Dink plans to use the supplies to escape Karp and the rest of the grungy group. Festus catches Dink in the act and takes him into custody. During his attempt to escape Festus, Dink damages several items in the store and sprains his ankle.
Festus sees potential in his new friend. He talks Mr. Lathrop into agreeing to allow Dink to work in the store to pay for the damages.
A couple of weeks pass before Karp and Quincannon ride into Dodge and see Dink working at the store. Karp tries to force Dink back into servitude, but Festus and Newly intervene. Karp insists Dink is a relative in his custody (Karp claims "nephew, twice removed," but there is no such thing). Newly informs Karp that Dink owes money for the damages he caused, the medical treatment Doc Adams provided, and the room and board he has been given during his time in Dodge. Karp and Quincannon retreat to the Bulls Head Saloon, but Karp insists he intends to make Festus pay for defying him.
Karp will attempt to use Dink's affections for Martha, who has been the closest thing to a mother Dink has known, and Festus, who has helped Dink change his life, to rob Mr. Lathrop's General Store. If Dink refuses, Karp promises he will kill both.
Ned Beatty is just the kind of actor that fits in perfectly as a Gusnmoke guest. This performance took place early in Beatty's acting career. His portrayal of Karp is as sinister and nasty as any of the other great Gunsmoke villains. (It is remarkably like David Huddleston's performance in the earlier Season 20 episode "In the Performance of Duty" -- dirty teeth and all. See also: Cliff Osmond in Season 14's "The Hidecutters.") Beatty started in theater before being cast as the character Bobby Trippe in John Boorman's Deliverance. On the set of that film, Beatty and former Gunsmoke star Burt Reynolds developed a lifelong friendship. His portrayal of Karp in this story would come along a couple of years later. Beatty went on to a multiple award-winning career in television, film, and the theater.
Lee de Broux (credited as Lee De Broux) appears for the sixth and final time in the series with this episode. He plays the Quincannon character in what is his most prominent role of the six.
Mitch Vogel returns to the Gunsmoke set for the third and final time in this story as the Dink character. His three Gunsmoke appearances featured similar characters. Vogel's acting career took place between 1967 and 1978 and included several television dramatic roles. He was nominated for a Golden Globe for his performance as Lucius in the 1969 Mark Rydell (an earlier Gunsmoke director) film adaptation of William Faulkner's novel The Reivers. Vogel is best known for his recurring role as Jamie Cartwright -- an adopted son of Ben Cartwright -- during the last three seasons of Bonanza.
This story includes the only Gunsmoke appearance for actor Damon Douglas, who plays the character known only as Billy. Unlike Dink, Billy appears to be perfectly happy assisting Karp in his sadistic, thieving exploits. Douglas's career primarily consisted of playing juvenile delinquent types. (I especially enjoyed his performance as the character Paul in the controversial cult film Massacre at Central High.)
Little known actress Sierra Bandit makes her only Gunsmoke appearance as the Martha character. Bandit's acting career only included four roles over a two-year period.
Robert Donner appears for the third and final time in the series. He plays the spunky, beleaguered Tom Belnap in this story. Donner was a good friend of Clint Eastwood and shows up in many television shows beginning in the 1960s through the 1990s. He played the recurring informant/recovering addict character T. J./Teejay/Tee Jay on Adam-12. He also played the recurring character Yancy Tucker in many episodes of The Waltons.
Actress Ellen Blake plays Belnap's wife. This is her only Gunsmoke role.
It would be a mistake to not mention Woodrow Chambliss making his final Gunsmoke appearance as Mr. Lathrop in this episode. Chambliss appeared in many television shows and films over his lengthy career, which did not begin in earnest until he was in his forties. He was a familiar face in Westerns, and he played parts in thirty-eight Gunsmoke episodes beginning with "Never Pester Chester" in Season 3. His first appearance as Mr. Lathrop was in Season 11's "Parson Comes to Town."
Season 20 of Gunsmoke frequently recycled stories and plot elements from earlier episodes. This episode recalls a couple of earlier installments. Season 13's "Hill Girl" involves a woman who comes to Dodge from an oppressive family setting, is given a job in Mr. Jonas's store and is coerced by some family members of questionable character to help them commit crimes. Season 14's similarly named "The Hidecutters" includes a character named Arlie Joe that has a lot in common with Dink in this story and finds it difficult to escape his tormentors.
Despite its lack of originality, this Paul Savage script is great, and the performance by Beatty is outstanding. This may be the best performance I have seen from Mitch Vogel, although he plays the same basic character he often portrayed.
The focus is on Ken Curtis again in this story, and it should come as no surprise that he is up to the task. I prefer this wiser, more shrewd, less boisterous Festus Haggen. I especially appreciate the scene where Festus removes his spurs before he investigates noises he hears from the General Store.
Note: There is a nice scene in this story where Dink is staying with Festus, and Dink mimics some of Festus's odd bedtime prep. During their conversation about marriage, Dink asks Festus if he has ever been married. Festus tells Dink he has not, but there was a woman he almost married at one point. This may be a reference to the character April Clomely, as portrayed by Elizabeth MacRae in four episodes in Seasons 9 and 10. April was Festus's girlfriend during those early seasons after the Festus Haggen character first arrived in Dodge.
