Alias Festus Haggen

A case of mistaken identity is a common story. What makes this episode so good is it Festus' identity involved here. The whole show is his friends trying to defend him. Again, this is what makes Gunsmoke so good, the relationships between characters. MAKE SURE YOU WATCH THE LAST TWO MINUTES OF THIS EPISODE!!

Long before the internet and identity theft, poor Festus almost got hanged due to Old School identity theft! A hard-core killer named Jack Eaton, who looks a lot like Festus (Ken Curtis plays both roles), sets up Festus for murder. His wife, played by Lieux Dressler, identifies Festus as Jack Eaton, and it looks pretty grim. Robert Totten, who had a thick beard and was on Gunsmoke several times (and also directed 25 episodes) was the main accuser. He testified that Festus (really Jack Eaton) had killed his two unarmed children.

Doc Adams, Miss Kitty, and Newly (acting as attorney for Festus) play large roles trying to defend Festus from hanging. The biggest support comes from Marshal Dillon, who rides all over Kansas trying to find the real Jack Eaton in order to exonerate Festus.

This episode has a few unexpected twists and turns, and it is pretty entertaining. Rayford Barnes is in this as a major troublemaker who wants to get Festus lynched. Barnes had a great talent for looking vicious and acting vile.

(Note: The IMDB title for this episode is incorrect. Although the character played by Ken Curtis on Gunsmoke was officially designated as "Festus Haggen," the title of this episode misspells the last name as "Haggin." The title of the episode is "Alias Festus Haggin.")

A state-appointed law enforcement official named Doyle arrives in Dodge City and arrests Festus Haggen. Festus resembles a man named Frank Eaton who is wanted for multiple murders. An eyewitness to the murders committed by Eaton is accompanying Doyle, and he positively identifies Festus as Eaton. Matt Dillon examines the papers Doyle provides and finds them to be in order. Judge Brooker examines the evidence and Doyle's instructions and rules that Festus should stand trial for the crimes. The Marshal has no choice but to allow Doyle to take Festus into custody and take him to another town for the trial, but he does send Newly O'Brien along to help protect Festus.

Matt Dillon is understandably convinced Festus Haggen is not Frank Eaton, but the circumstantial evidence quickly accumulates against Festus. The Marshal sets out on his own to follow any clues to help clear up the confusion.

Matt soon learns Eaton was married, and he finds the woman running a way station near the border of Mexico. She tells the Marshal Eaton was killed several years earlier. Matt takes her to the trial to testify that her husband is dead, but things do not work out as expected.

Ken Curtis shines in the dual role as both Festus Haggen and Frank Eaton. The remaining cast is top notch, too. This is the first episode in some time where all the stars play a prominent role. Kitty Russell and Doc Adams are present at the trial. Newly O'Brien acts as an attorney for Festus. Matt Dillon calls on all his investigative skills as a lawman to find answers.

Ramon Bieri plays the part of Doyle. Any viewer of television dramas will recognize Bieri, as he appeared in many different shows over the years. He often played villains, but the Doyle character is more interested in seeing justice prevail.

Actress Lieux Dressler returns to Gunsmoke in the role of Susie, Frank Eaton's wife. Dressler has previously appeared earlier in Season 17 in the two-part "Waste" episode.

Gregg Palmer's appearance as Joe Guthrie, a bartender Matt encounters in his search for clues, is the 20th of his twenty-one Gunsmoke roles.

The people in the town where the trial is held include several familiar Gunsmoke alum. Robert Totten, who directed more episodes than he acted, appears as Josh Walker, a man who saw Frank Eaton gun down his two sons. Rayford Barnes makes one of his eleven Gunsmoke appearances as Grebbs. William Bryant plays the prosecuting attorney in one of his eight Gunsmoke guest roles. Jon Lormer plays Judge Clayborne in the last of his six Gunsmoke appearances. Lormer had played a judge named Clairborne in the "McCabe" episode from Season 16. William "Bill" Erwin, who participated in fourteen different Gunsmoke stories -- often in uncredited parts -- has a small part as the bailiff at the trial.

Television writers and producers during the era this episode was filmed loved the mistaken identity story where one of the leading characters plays two parts. This story is well done and highly entertaining. The viewer, along with most of the characters, is kept in suspense until almost the end.

I have commented on the last few episode being poor scripts, however this script is the reason this show ran for twenty years since it went back to classic western tale.

In this episode Festus is accused of being Jack Eaton a wanted murderer and robber. It gets bad when there is even an eye witness that fingers Festus as the killer. Judge Brookins is cautious about the identity but believes going with the Sheriff will clear the matter instead of this hanging over Festus's head.

However when he gets his day in court- one after one finger Festus as the known killer. Matt even brings in Jack Easton's wife, Susie, that accusing Festus of being her husband.

When the town wants to take justice into their own hands, Festus is able to get away (for safety reasons) and makes his way to Susie's house where he confronts the reason he is being accused of murder.

A great story with a great cast. The script was interesting and the show entertaining. After some poorer episodes, this episode brings the show back to normalcy. Good watch