EmmeCHammer

I'm a little young to have watched Gun Smoke live, but since cable and repeats it's become one of my favorites. The thing I love is to go back and watch older series to see the actors in the youth with "co starring" roles. Gun Smoke was absolutely a mainstay of getting new actors at the forefront of their career. They've had Burt Reynolds, the Incredible Hulk, Superstars and Oscar winners galore.

That's what brings me to this episode "The Jailer" one of the best and perfectly acted of the Series. About a woman and her 3 sons getting revenge for her husband. Marshall Dillon had arrested him for murder, he was kept in jail, found guilty, and hung for his crimes. To the average viewer so what but besides to Emmy winning cast of the Series it features a STAR studded outlaw family. Oscar winners, Golden Globe winners, Emmy winners, and even a Tony Award. THE JAILER at its time was just another good episode of the 180 shows seen on a weekly basis. BUT not so fast my friend- the family seeking revenge: Mama- none other than Betty Davis, Bruce Dern, Tom Skerrit, and 2 lesser known actors by name but the girl won a Tony, and one of the sons was Frankenstein. Now the may be a regular episode in a weekly western series but come on.

This movie is not good, script, directing, and especially the acting. I shudder to call it acting. I should've known from the start when the leaders of the Bad guys was trying really hard to be tough, obviously (young Gooding) isn't tough, but he sure makes it tough to watch. I'm not familiar with the lead actor so to waste time I looked him up while the movie played. Well no wonder, his claim to fame is a Disney show with his twin years ago as a kid. All I can say Disney must have owed him some film time in his contract. Also must've owed Cuba Gooding something awful to let his son act(I say that unwillingly) because acting is not in his forte. He is the other lead. Baaaaaaaad!

I know it has sometimes unbelievable twists and loaded with predictably but I still find it very good film. I went in blind and had NO idea what it was about. The Cast all I assume British but the leads are always on point. I enjoy Dame Helen and Sir Ian in just about anything. That is exactly what made me push play to start with and these two GREAT actors didn't disappoint. Their Supremacy of their craft always astounds me. They can only work with what's given to them.

I can't imagine watching this movie with other actors and I can tell you that I wouldn't have ever seen this without them. The only thing is that how amusing "Betty" went about her revenge left the seriousness of the plot to be desired. So if you're here to watch an edge of your seat can't turn away thriller- remember these are 80ish yr olds.

The ACTING is superb from the 2 leads and got everything out of this and more considering that's what made me watch it in the first place. The Movie a solid 6 the Acting a high 12 therefore it's a 9 for me.