Laughing Gas

After watching there appeared to be something wrong in the delivery of the story. This really was not a bad tale but for some reason this show did not generate much interest. You can lay the blame with the casting of Val Benedict as the bully of the story, Cloud Marsh.

Cloud Marsh was suppose to be this over-the-top bad dude with two mean brothers that people hated to see walk down the street. But Benedict played the part like a dancer at a summer remake of 'West Side Story' at a local amphitheater. He was unbelievable as the villain and should have been cast as an uncredited townsfolk rather than one of the main characters. His performance did not help this show in any way.

The story involved a ex-con and former gunslinger that now goes around selling tickets to see people get intoxicated with laughing gas. When the bully Cloud Marsh breaths in the gas, he wants to fight while the audience berates him for his action. Cloud swears he is going to get everybody.

When Cloud and his brothers beat up the ex-gunfighter his wife is afraid that he will pick up the gun again and go back to his old ways. She wants to leave Dodge as soon as her husband is able to ride. But that might be too late.

Again a nice story that just did not come across well on the screen. For whatever reason this show just did not have the excitement that previous shows have produced. And if you view Benedict's action on the stage of the laughing gas show, it will become painfully obvious why this show was lacking.

Average episode that still manages a nicely ironical ending. Cloud Marsh is an abusive bully who doesn't take kindly to being humiliated, So when he becomes the butt of audience barbs while under the influence of laughing gas during a stage show hosted by a traveling husband and wife, he vows vengeance. He and his brothers beat the husband badly. The trouble is the husband is a reformed gunfighter whose wife just wants to get them out of town before he picks up a gun again.

Okay story , sort of offbeat, but without much to recommend the on-screen results. Screenplay is by James Fonda, perhaps a relation of the famous family. Nonetheless, the performances are routine, at best, while the drama produces more casual interest than suspense. Unfortunately, the actor playing the bully doesn't generate the kind of nastiness that would have sharpened the plot. Frankly, a pretty forgettable entry in my book.

Earle Stafford runs a "laughing gas show" in Dodge City. For twenty-five cents, people can watch Stafford administer nitrous oxide, also known as laughing gas, to people and the audience watches the results. When Cloud Marsh, one of the ornery Marsh brothers, attends the show, the audience is anxious for see what effect the gas has on Marsh. The citizens of Dodge are accustomed to the Marsh brothers bullying everyone they can.

Laughing gas exhibitions were quite popular in the first half of the 19th Century. In the early 1800s, an enterprising man named Samuel Colt made enough money from his traveling nitrous oxide shows that he was able to fund the development of the "Colt Revolving Gun" from the profits. The popularity of the shows waned after the mid-1800s, but there are accounts of such shows continuing well into the days of Vaudeville.

Cloud Marsh is furious when the audience at the show are amused by the effects of the laughing gas on him. Cloud is so incensed he and his brothers ambush Stafford later, beat him mercilessly, and leave him unconscious and near death.

Doc Adams treats Stafford, but he does not know if Stafford will survive the beating or not. When Matt Dillon begins to investigate, he discovers Stafford is actually a gunfighter whose name was once Ernie Stubblefield. When the Marshal tries to convince Mrs. Stafford to identify the Marsh brothers as the perpetrators of her husband's beating, she refuses. She wants to leave Dodge as soon as her husband is able. Her husband changed his name in the hopes of putting his old gunfighter life behind him, and she wants to avoid any opportunity for him to pick up his old guns again.

Prolific actress June Dayton has the most screen time of all the guest stars in this episode. She portrays Mrs. Stafford. This is Dayton's first Gunsmoke role, but she would appear in three more episodes in Seasons Nine, Ten, and Sixteen. The Season Nine appearance is in the episode "Bentley," which is notable because it is the last appearance of the Chester Goode character in the series.

The character Earl Stafford is played by Dean Harens. Like Dayton, Harens had an extensive acting career, mostly in television dramas. Harens and Dayton were husband and wife in real life, too. This performance is the only Gunsmoke role Harens played.

Little known actor Val Benedict portrays Cloud Marsh. This is Benedict's only Gunsmoke appearance. His acting career consisted primarily of one-time appearances in television Westerns between 1956 and 1962. Benedict is a weak element in this story, as he simply is not a very convincing actor.

This episode features several small roles and uncredited extras. Cyril Delevanti appears with his distinctive wrinkled, smiling face and English accent in one short scene where he is credited as "Old Man."

Jess Kirkpatrick makes another appearance as the Dodge City barber Mr. Teeters. Here Mr. Teeters is one of the participants in Stafford's show.

Watch closely for James Nusser in an uncredited role as a mustachioed character Marshal Dillon addresses as Ranson. Ranson, like the Louie Pheeters character Nusser would later play, is obviously given to over consumption of alcohol.

"Laughing Gas" is a rare episode in the early seasons of Gunsmoke where John Meston was not involved. This is the one writing credit in the series for James Fonda. Other than this one episode of Gunsmoke, Fonda's other writing credits included only the comedies Dennis the Menace and Hazel, both shows Fonda produced.

The Marsh brothers characters highlight the absence of John Meston's influence. Meston's villains are often brutally cruel with no redeeming qualities. The Marsh brothers never reach that level of nastiness. Perhaps this is due to Benedict's inexperience.

This is an intriguing story based on the familiar premise of a notorious gunfighter who wants to escape his reputation, but Fonda includes enough twists in the story to keep things interesting. Dayton is excellent as the devoted wife who wants to protect her husband. Doc's reveal in the Marshal's office at the end of the show is unexpected, and the look on James Arness's face as the episode ends is a nice touch.

It is interesting how often I strongly disagree with the male reviewers on this site. I found this an interesting story. Yes, the bully was mostly a loudmouth but he didnt have much screentime. Woman good. Nice interaction from Doc, Kitty. Chester. I dont miss violence. I prefer stoty and performance.Loved spotting the soon to be regular, Louie Fetters and the great old man. FINE character actors.