Character actors from the period are in this episode. Denver Pyle, who plays Claudius, went on to play Uncle Jesse in the "Dukes of Hazzard." Shug Fisher, who played Emery, was Shorty in "The Beverly Hillbillies" and also went on to be in "The Dukes of Hazzard." Both actors are prominent. The story's plot is believable and interesting except for the scene where Claudius chugs a full bottle of whiskey in The Long Branch. It might make one wonder if Miss Kitty waters down her whiskey. The episode is well worth watching. Matt is not the main character in this episode, so Festus evokes the honor and morality associated with show's portrayal of old west characters. Festus, however is not exactly rewarded for it by his kin. The ending is interesting, enjoyable, and evocative of the era of the 1960's westerns.
4 Reviews
Good character actors?
grizzledgeezer26 January 2018
My heavens. You missed Royal Dano (as Lambert). Twenty-five years after his passing, Dano remains one of the all-time-great American character actors.
I think it significant that Festus has a confrontation with Lambert. It could have been any of the other cousins, but it must have seemed too good an opportunity to miss, giving Dano and Ken Curtis a scene together. As actors, they were made for each other.
While I'm at it... How does one trap firs?
I think it significant that Festus has a confrontation with Lambert. It could have been any of the other cousins, but it must have seemed too good an opportunity to miss, giving Dano and Ken Curtis a scene together. As actors, they were made for each other.
While I'm at it... How does one trap firs?
Cousins of Festus cause trouble in Dodge City.
kfo94943 February 2013
Warning: Spoilers
In this enjoyable episode, Festus is the center of attention when his three fir-trapper cousins come into town and start trouble at the Long Branch. After drinking- one of them gets into a fight with Dave Carson and Matt has to break them up. He puts the fir-trappers in jail for the evening to be released the next morning.
Matt has to go out-of-town so he gets Festus to watch the jail. When Festus finds out that the three men in jail are his cousins, he makes a pack with them. Festus will release his cousin that night as long as they give their 'Haggan Word' that they will leave Dodge and cause no more trouble. They agree and Festus lets them go.
Down at the stables, Mr Halligan is having words with Dave Carson about a mule harness they he felt was not done properly. Halligan shoves Carson and he hits his head on a wagon wheel. In a daze state, Carson stands at just about the time the fir-trappers come to get their horses. Carson falls on on of them and they push him against a door. When they check they find the wound to Carson's head. Thinking they were the ones that injured Carson, they flee town. Mr Halligan tells Festus that it was the fir-trappers that caused Carson's injury
Now with all the fault centered at Festus, he is bound to bring his cousins back to Dodge to stand trial. So Festus sets out on an entertaining journey as he is dead set on catching each family member.
A nice and delightful story that has all the charm of a Haggan family reunion. With backwoods humor and a well seasoned cast, this show was a joy to watch.
Matt has to go out-of-town so he gets Festus to watch the jail. When Festus finds out that the three men in jail are his cousins, he makes a pack with them. Festus will release his cousin that night as long as they give their 'Haggan Word' that they will leave Dodge and cause no more trouble. They agree and Festus lets them go.
Down at the stables, Mr Halligan is having words with Dave Carson about a mule harness they he felt was not done properly. Halligan shoves Carson and he hits his head on a wagon wheel. In a daze state, Carson stands at just about the time the fir-trappers come to get their horses. Carson falls on on of them and they push him against a door. When they check they find the wound to Carson's head. Thinking they were the ones that injured Carson, they flee town. Mr Halligan tells Festus that it was the fir-trappers that caused Carson's injury
Now with all the fault centered at Festus, he is bound to bring his cousins back to Dodge to stand trial. So Festus sets out on an entertaining journey as he is dead set on catching each family member.
A nice and delightful story that has all the charm of a Haggan family reunion. With backwoods humor and a well seasoned cast, this show was a joy to watch.
Is it Comedy (with that one inexplicably creepy scene)? I guess so.
lrrap29 July 2021
Another great showcase for the increasingly popular (and talented) Ken Curtis.
WAY too much mugging from the three cousins in the opening scenes; Royal Dano was a terrific actor (truly terrifying as "Praylie" .. another weirdo Haggen.. in "Crooked Mile"), but his shameless ham-bone routine in this one is sometimes embarrassing. And I REALLY get tired of seeing Denver Pyle in every third episode (though he was GREAT in "The Violaters"), doing his basic backwoods schlub routine. When Shug Fisher comes across as the most controlled, realistic actor onscreen, you KNOW you've got problems! (Shug, incidentally, was one of Ken Curtis' real-life pals and colleagues from their "Sons of the Pioneers" singing days together).
Anyway, the episode moves along nicely, veering between near-farce (the 3 cousins) and dark drama (the events in the barn between Carl Reindel and the always-dependable Don Beddoe), sometimes convincingly, sometimes less so. Festus' individual encounters in rounding up the 3 cousins are nicely varied (with the obligatory stunt-double fistfight w/ Denver Pyle, etc.)
But what was the ghoulish bit (w/ actor Ken Mayer) and the lady's SCALP he was lovingly combing, while Shug Fisher was chowin' down on his beans?? What the hell was THAT about??
Then there's the sub-plot about Festus and the kid he takes fishing; is Festus a bad influence on the boy, especially when he encourages the young 'un to lie to his mother about playin' hooky? Enter the sagacious Matt Dillon to offer some advice. It might have been good to see this subplot somehow tied in with the final resolution with Festus and his clan...how, I wouldn't know.
Overall, an enjoyable show, especially since Ken Curtis is front-and-center throughout. LR.
WAY too much mugging from the three cousins in the opening scenes; Royal Dano was a terrific actor (truly terrifying as "Praylie" .. another weirdo Haggen.. in "Crooked Mile"), but his shameless ham-bone routine in this one is sometimes embarrassing. And I REALLY get tired of seeing Denver Pyle in every third episode (though he was GREAT in "The Violaters"), doing his basic backwoods schlub routine. When Shug Fisher comes across as the most controlled, realistic actor onscreen, you KNOW you've got problems! (Shug, incidentally, was one of Ken Curtis' real-life pals and colleagues from their "Sons of the Pioneers" singing days together).
Anyway, the episode moves along nicely, veering between near-farce (the 3 cousins) and dark drama (the events in the barn between Carl Reindel and the always-dependable Don Beddoe), sometimes convincingly, sometimes less so. Festus' individual encounters in rounding up the 3 cousins are nicely varied (with the obligatory stunt-double fistfight w/ Denver Pyle, etc.)
But what was the ghoulish bit (w/ actor Ken Mayer) and the lady's SCALP he was lovingly combing, while Shug Fisher was chowin' down on his beans?? What the hell was THAT about??
Then there's the sub-plot about Festus and the kid he takes fishing; is Festus a bad influence on the boy, especially when he encourages the young 'un to lie to his mother about playin' hooky? Enter the sagacious Matt Dillon to offer some advice. It might have been good to see this subplot somehow tied in with the final resolution with Festus and his clan...how, I wouldn't know.
Overall, an enjoyable show, especially since Ken Curtis is front-and-center throughout. LR.
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