Joke's on Us

Three ranchers - Jake Kaiser, Jim Duval, and Tom Benson - hang one of their neighbors - Frank Tilman - for horse stealing. They caught Tilman with some stolen horses, but Tilman insists he found the horses roaming on the prairie. Kaiser, who acts as the leader of the three men, does not believe Tilman.

After the hanging is complete, they see Bill Jennings approaching. Jennings tells the three ranchers he saw Tilman rounding up the horses on the prairie, thereby proving Tilman was telling the truth.

Kaiser rides to the Tilman farm and informs Tilman's wife and son he and his rancher friends mistakenly killed their husband and father. (The title of the episode comes from a statement Kaiser makes after telling Mrs. Tilman and Clabe, the son, what transpired.) Kaiser's matter of fact, dismissive demeanor lends a decidedly chilling air to the scene. He even hands Frank's pistol over to Clabe and then walks away.

A cowboy found Tilman hanging from the tree, rode into Dodge City, and told Matt Dillon about finding the body. (It was customary when horse thieves were lynched to leave the body hanging as a warning to others of the perils of theft. However, even after Kaiser, Duval, and Benson discover Tilman did not steal the horses, they callously and cruelly left the body hanging!) The Marshal rides to the Tilman ranch, but Clabe and Mrs. Tilman live by some sort of code where they refuse to tell Matt who was involved in the lynching.

Michael Hinn makes his third Gunsmoke appearance in this episode as Frank Tilman. Hinn had previously played larger roles in his two earlier appearances in Season 2. Hinn can be seen in numerous other Westerns and television dramas.

Virginia Gregg appears for the first time in a Gunsmoke episode as Mrs. Tilman. She would eventually appear in six additional installments of the series. Any fan of classic television will recognize Gregg from her prolific television career.

Like Gregg, Bartlett Robinson is another recognizable face from classic television, and, also like Gregg, he appeared in seven different Gunsmoke episodes, including this one. All his guest-starring roles took place during Season 2 - 5 of the series.

Kevin Hagen is another classic television veteran that appears in this story as the Bill Jennings character. Hagen is only seen briefly here, but he would play more significant roles in some of his additional six appearances in the series. Hagen is perhaps best known for playing Dr. Hiram Baker in the Little House on the Prairie series and some of the Little House movies.

In keeping with the theme of seven Gunsmoke appearances, actor Herbert Lytton returns to Gunsmoke for the fifth time. He plays the Tom Benson character in this episode. He would return for two more episodes in later seasons. Craig Duncan plays Jim Duval in his first appearance in the series. He, too, would return twice more as a guest.

Folk singer Weston Gavin plays the part of Clabe Tilman in his only Gunsmoke role. (The part is credited to James Kevin, a name Gavin often used early in his acting career.) Although Gavin appeared in several different acting roles, he is better known for his music.

Season 3 contains its share of darker stories, "Potato Road" and "The Cabin" are two of the more extreme examples, but this story certainly casts a somber pall over the proceedings and is a quite memorable episode with a strong cast. Robinson's portrayal of Kaiser is particularly noteworthy as he acts as though hanging someone by mistake is no worse than accidentally stepping on someone's foot. ("I said I was sorry!")

The bigger theme of independent residents in the area refusing to inform on others is addressed in other episodes of the series.

Strong story that doesn't reach an intense potential despite presence of that fine dominating actress Viginia Gregg. Hapless Frank Tillman's caught with stolen horses by ranchers who've been losing them. As the lead rancher, arrogant Bartlett Robinson's eager to apply vigilante justice despite Tillman's assertion of innocence. Unfortunately, interested party Kevin Hagen arrives too late with confirmation of Tillman's story. Now Robinson must inform widow and son of what's happened. You know he's in trouble when it's widow Gregg who takes the news. One thing they agree on-- no one's going to tell the law. Now Matt's got to figure things out without any help.

Writer Meston's penchant for feminist subtexts is again in evidence as Gregg defends son against charges of murder. She's a formidable personality, but the elements don't quite gel the way they should. Perhaps it's the rather tame ending, which nonetheless achieves some pathos thanks to Gregg and vividly appropriate mood music. Part of the unsettling appeal of this early period is how Matt finally views the way things have turned out. Often his reaction is unspoken. But I get the feeling in many episodes that he's disturbed by an inkling that somehow the law and his job are inadequate when measured against the complex human tragedies he's duty-bound to deal with. There's a hint of existential depths to Matt's character that often go beyond his stock role as a strict enforcer of the law. What a fine subtle actor was Arness during this early period.