swog85

"No Indians" is as chilling a tale as anything one could imagine. The tale makes my blood run cold.

Technically, it's so very well done. The story, the dialog, the acting. Dennis Weaver as Chester played his role particularly well due to who Chester is, typically. He was asked to carry out a duty that he found very difficult on several levels. The reasons become apparent as the story unfolds.

I choose to avoid spoilers so I shan't continue too far. I am very familiar with all 20 years of Gunsmoke. "No Indians" is very VERY high on my list.

James Arness hit a grand slam as he portrayed a human being faced with having to make choices that no human should ever have to make. He seemingly goes forth with conviction nonetheless. While Chester is more unsure, more hesitant, it's all more evident; Matt chose to devote his life to law and justice. Matt appears to be certain as to the task before him, unequivocally.

I believe the best of our officers today walk in his footsteps. To me, James Arness portrayed Matt Dillon just THAT WELL. Not as some comic book, two dimensional character. So much of why Gunsmoke remains fresh after 65+ years can be experienced in this episode, "No Indians."

I won't add spoilers. My goal is to tout THIS episode as being among the top funniest, well written, well played stories ever.

The saying, "Pride Goeth Before The Fall" applies here, folks!

This episode contains many of the boys' friends all in the same story. Usually a story focuses on Wally and his friends or Beaver and his friends. "Wally The LIfeguard" includes Beaver w/ Whitey and Gilbert at Friend's Lake with Ward and June. Eddie Haskell is also at the lake with Mary Ellen Rogers and Alma. Eddie has a goofy straw hat and a bongo drum. He is drumming loudly, driving away nearby sunbathers while embarrassing the girls. When they give him a look of being annoyed, Eddie snipes, "Hey - I'm LIVING!! Haha haha!" The girls just roll their eyes. But Everyone is at Friends Lake for ONE reason - to see Wally in his Lifeguard uniform. Ward and June are proud and Beaver wants to show him off to his friends. Eddie Haskell used Wally's role as an enticement to take two popular girls to spend the day with him (as they wouldn't have, otherwise.) That is how the story is laid out (without giving away any spoilers!) I can't say why It is so funny lest I give the story away, so watch it for yourself! It will NOT disappoint!

The subject of a man who was mentally ill (and institutionalized in one facility or another for his entire life) is examined in this episode from Season One.

Much of the story revolves around OTHER people's reaction/opinion in dealing with a mentally ill man who has left his residential facility ("escaped") and is suspected of a serious, violent crime.

He encounters a range of reactions - reactions ranging from fear to anger to compassion to indifference. The story was written by Gene Roddenberry, a thoughtful, very successful writer of the era. This episode of Highway Patrol shows Dan Matthews of C. Hi. P. as one would hope; as a fair minded, humane arbiter of the law.

This, like nearly every episode of Highway Patrol, accomplishes the goal of telling a story in 30 minutes, well worth seeing. Broderick Crawford makes the series still stand up after nearly 70 years. Well written, directed and acted, "Mental Patient" is among the best episodes from one of the best crime dramas ever to appear on "the small screen"..