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Gunsmoke
S13.E13
All episodesAll
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IMDbPro

Rope Fever

  • Episode aired Dec 4, 1967
  • TV-PG
  • 1h
IMDb RATING
8.1/10
191
YOUR RATING
Ralph Bellamy and Ken Curtis in Gunsmoke (1955)
Western

Festus is jailed for a robbery and murder he did not commit in Pierceville, by an aging Sheriff who's too proud to investigate leads that would prove him innocent.Festus is jailed for a robbery and murder he did not commit in Pierceville, by an aging Sheriff who's too proud to investigate leads that would prove him innocent.Festus is jailed for a robbery and murder he did not commit in Pierceville, by an aging Sheriff who's too proud to investigate leads that would prove him innocent.

  • Director
    • David Alexander
  • Writers
    • Chris Rellas
    • Paul Savage
    • Norman MacDonnell
  • Stars
    • James Arness
    • Milburn Stone
    • Amanda Blake
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    8.1/10
    191
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • David Alexander
    • Writers
      • Chris Rellas
      • Paul Savage
      • Norman MacDonnell
    • Stars
      • James Arness
      • Milburn Stone
      • Amanda Blake
    • 5User reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • Photos

    Top cast24

    Edit
    James Arness
    James Arness
    • Matt
    Milburn Stone
    Milburn Stone
    • Doc
    Amanda Blake
    Amanda Blake
    • Kitty
    Ken Curtis
    Ken Curtis
    • Festus
    Ralph Bellamy
    Ralph Bellamy
    • Sheriff Bassett
    Anna Lee
    Anna Lee
    • Amy Bassett
    George Murdock
    George Murdock
    • Bret Gruber
    Sam Gilman
    Sam Gilman
    • Bates
    Buck Taylor
    Buck Taylor
    • Newly
    Ken Mayer
    Ken Mayer
    • Shad
    Hal Baylor
    Hal Baylor
    • Luke Summers
    Dennis Cross
    • Zeb Butler
    Ted Gehring
    Ted Gehring
    • Keno
    Glenn Strange
    Glenn Strange
    • Sam
    Hank Patterson
    Hank Patterson
    • Hank
    Gertrude Flynn
    Gertrude Flynn
    • Townswoman
    Wag Blesing
    Wag Blesing
    • Townsman
    • (uncredited)
    Nick Borgani
    Nick Borgani
    • Townsman
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • David Alexander
    • Writers
      • Chris Rellas
      • Paul Savage
      • Norman MacDonnell
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews5

    8.1191
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    Featured reviews

    8kfo9494

    An aging Sheriff gets caught up in the praise that he seeks.

    In this episode Festus is camping out near the city of Pierceville which just so happens is the worse place that he could have possibly picked. Inside the city the bank had been robbed by two bandits. The aging Sheriff Bassett forms a posse and sets out to find the bandits. When one of the bandits comes into Festus's camp area, it is not long before the Sheriff shows up. The Sheriff shoots the bandit and Festus is taken to jail as they think he is the second robber.

    Sheriff Bassett is getting long in the tooth and the talk around town is that the Sheriff should retire. But when he kills one bandit and brings in another suppose bandit the town does nothing but laud the Sheriff.

    With all the praise, Sheriff Bassett does not follow up on what Festus is telling him. When Festus tells the Sheriff to contact Marshal Dillon, the Sheriff never sends the message.

    It is not long before the townsfolk want to lynch Festus. Now the praise the Sheriff was feeling is long gone. Festus's life is in danger, will the Sheriff make the right decision?

    A well acted show that was entertaining. Two veteran actors in Ralph Bellamy and Anne Lee play their parts to near perfection. And we also get to see Ken Curtis doing some physical acting as he has to fight off an attack by others. Overall a good watch for viewers.

    Related interests

    John Wayne and Harry Carey Jr. in The Searchers (1956)
    Western

    Storyline

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    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Doc Adams' first name is "Galen" (after Galen of Pergamon or Aelius Galenus--the ancient Greek physician), not "Gus."
    • Soundtracks
      The Old Trail
      (uncredited)

      by Rex Koury and Glenn Spencer

      Aspen Fair Music, Incorporated (ASCAP)

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • December 4, 1967 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Filming locations
      • CBS Studio Center - 4024 Radford Avenue, Studio City, Los Angeles, California, USA
    • Production companies
      • CBS Television Network
      • Filmaster Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 1h(60 min)
    • Color
      • Color
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.33 : 1
      • 4:3

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