Bert Clum uses his clan to get what he wants. They are camped outside of Dodge. When they meet a small wagon train, he hatches a plot to rob the local bank. But he needs to snatch a baby to ... Read allBert Clum uses his clan to get what he wants. They are camped outside of Dodge. When they meet a small wagon train, he hatches a plot to rob the local bank. But he needs to snatch a baby to hide behind first.Bert Clum uses his clan to get what he wants. They are camped outside of Dodge. When they meet a small wagon train, he hatches a plot to rob the local bank. But he needs to snatch a baby to hide behind first.
Photos
Walter Bacon
- Townsman
- (uncredited)
Bill Borzage
- Townsman
- (uncredited)
Loren Brown
- Townsman
- (uncredited)
Cecil Combs
- Townsman
- (uncredited)
Perry Cook
- Banker
- (uncredited)
Jaye Durkus
- Townsman
- (uncredited)
- Director
- Writers
- John Meston(uncredited)
- Norman MacDonnell(uncredited)
- Charles Marquis Warren(uncredited)
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaLast episode featuring Burt Reynolds as Quint.
- GoofsWhen Bert Clem steals Quint's horse to make his escape, the face of the stuntman can be clearly seen as he mounts the horse. He doesn't look much like the actor who played the part of Bert Clem.
Featured review
Too Many Questionable Plot Elements
Bert Clum is one of those typical John Meston villains. He doesn't care for anyone or anything that does not directly benefit him. He is an abusive tyrant to his wife, Bess, and son, Milton. He spends most of his time scheming how to take advantage of others for his own gain. He thinks he is shrewd, but he is quite the opposite.
When Clum and his family approach Dodge City, they encounter another traveling family named Fisher. The Fishers have a baby, and for some reason, Clum decides the baby might come in handy as he hatches a plan to rob the bank that includes kidnapping the child. Clum reasons having a baby with them will prevent anyone from shooting at them when they rob the bank, which is odd since the plot he eventually executes relies on being able to rob the bank undetected.
There are so many problems with this script, it is difficult to know where to start. Jim Fisher -- the baby's father -- immediately jumps to the conclusion "Indians" have kidnapped their baby. There is no evidence of any involvement by any group of indigenous people, but Fisher is so stubbornly insistent on his conclusion, he refuses to listen to reason.
In the final appearance of Burt Reynolds in a Gunsmoke episode, we must once again endure his Quint Asper character being repeatedly described as a "half breed."
It is astounding that the Clum family shows up in Dodge with a baby around the same time as the Fisher family who have had their baby kidnapped, but no one seems to connect the two events, or at least suspect the Clums.
Bert Clum's robbery scheme involves having Milton set a fire in a barrel in the alley behind the bank to create a distraction. It is difficult to imagine so many townspeople becoming so excited over a relatively small fire inside a barrel! The fire is quickly extinguished, but the distraction provides the cover Bert needs to take the money from the open safe as Mr. Botkin, the bank president, and all the other bank employees run outside to see the fire.
Pretty much all of the main characters in this story behave so stupidly, they all get what they deserve. The only exceptions are Mrs. Clum, who will become the somewhat unexpected hero of the story, and Quint, who at least quickly recognizes the kidnapping was not the work of "Indians."
Jacques Aubuchon plays Bert Clum. It is worth noting that Aubuchon appeared in the very first season of Gunsmoke in one of the best episodes from that season, "The Guitar," and he also appeared in the very last episode of Gunsmoke that aired, Season 20's "The Sharecroppers." Virginia Christine, who baby boomers will likely best remember as Mrs. Olsen in Folger's coffee commercials, is the standout performance in this episode as Bess Clum. Hampton Fancher is Milton Clum. Here he fills a role very similar to the role he played in Season 8's "The Hunger." Gail Kobe and Harry Carey, Jr. are the Fisher couple.
This is a throw-back episode in many respects. By the time this episode aired, Philip Leacock had taken over as producer of Gunsmoke, but this episode was produced earlier when Norman MacDonnell was still involved. According to the production numbers, this was the fifth episode of the season produced. It was apparently filmed much earlier but held for some reason until the 26th episode to be aired.
As this episode is the final appearance on Gunsmoke by Burt Reynolds, it is worth mentioning that later in his life Reynolds did not view his Quint Asper role as being particularly important to his acting career. He preferred to fondly remember the friendships he made on the set of the show with James Arness, Amanda Blake, Milburn Stone, and Ken Curtis.
When Clum and his family approach Dodge City, they encounter another traveling family named Fisher. The Fishers have a baby, and for some reason, Clum decides the baby might come in handy as he hatches a plan to rob the bank that includes kidnapping the child. Clum reasons having a baby with them will prevent anyone from shooting at them when they rob the bank, which is odd since the plot he eventually executes relies on being able to rob the bank undetected.
There are so many problems with this script, it is difficult to know where to start. Jim Fisher -- the baby's father -- immediately jumps to the conclusion "Indians" have kidnapped their baby. There is no evidence of any involvement by any group of indigenous people, but Fisher is so stubbornly insistent on his conclusion, he refuses to listen to reason.
In the final appearance of Burt Reynolds in a Gunsmoke episode, we must once again endure his Quint Asper character being repeatedly described as a "half breed."
It is astounding that the Clum family shows up in Dodge with a baby around the same time as the Fisher family who have had their baby kidnapped, but no one seems to connect the two events, or at least suspect the Clums.
Bert Clum's robbery scheme involves having Milton set a fire in a barrel in the alley behind the bank to create a distraction. It is difficult to imagine so many townspeople becoming so excited over a relatively small fire inside a barrel! The fire is quickly extinguished, but the distraction provides the cover Bert needs to take the money from the open safe as Mr. Botkin, the bank president, and all the other bank employees run outside to see the fire.
Pretty much all of the main characters in this story behave so stupidly, they all get what they deserve. The only exceptions are Mrs. Clum, who will become the somewhat unexpected hero of the story, and Quint, who at least quickly recognizes the kidnapping was not the work of "Indians."
Jacques Aubuchon plays Bert Clum. It is worth noting that Aubuchon appeared in the very first season of Gunsmoke in one of the best episodes from that season, "The Guitar," and he also appeared in the very last episode of Gunsmoke that aired, Season 20's "The Sharecroppers." Virginia Christine, who baby boomers will likely best remember as Mrs. Olsen in Folger's coffee commercials, is the standout performance in this episode as Bess Clum. Hampton Fancher is Milton Clum. Here he fills a role very similar to the role he played in Season 8's "The Hunger." Gail Kobe and Harry Carey, Jr. are the Fisher couple.
This is a throw-back episode in many respects. By the time this episode aired, Philip Leacock had taken over as producer of Gunsmoke, but this episode was produced earlier when Norman MacDonnell was still involved. According to the production numbers, this was the fifth episode of the season produced. It was apparently filmed much earlier but held for some reason until the 26th episode to be aired.
As this episode is the final appearance on Gunsmoke by Burt Reynolds, it is worth mentioning that later in his life Reynolds did not view his Quint Asper role as being particularly important to his acting career. He preferred to fondly remember the friendships he made on the set of the show with James Arness, Amanda Blake, Milburn Stone, and Ken Curtis.
helpful•71
- wdavidreynolds
- Jan 13, 2021
Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Language
- Filming locations
- Stage 3, CBS Studio Center - 4024 Radford Avenue, Studio City, Los Angeles, California, USA(Dodge City Western Street)
- Production companies
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
- Runtime1 hour
- Color
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 1.33 : 1
- 4:3
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