Sweet and Sour

Others have reviewed this episode very well so all I will talk about my experience as it relates to this episode. Having played guitar in every sort of Honky Tonk bar, I have seen it all when it comes to a beautiful woman causing a real stir. Some reviewers are saying this episode is way over the top. NOPE. Mix alcohol, testosterone, and a sexy woman and you have a real problem. I have never seen a death but have seen guns, knives, fists, and even a chain saw pulled out over a woman. All a woman had to do was look at a man, and her boyfriend or husband was ready to fight. The plot of this episode happens all over the world. Some bars I played in asked you at the door if you had a gun or knife before they let you you in. If you replied NO, they said well in that case we'll loan you one. LOL

Anyway this was an interesting episode to me and that Karen Sharpe really lived up to her name. What a looker ! If you are in the mood for a little something different, don't miss this one. This 30 minute episode goes by like it was only 5 minutes long.

This episode has one of my favorite lines from Matt in the whole series:

Ab Laster: "you're gonna wish you never met me..." Matt: "I'm wishing that already!"

I believe this is the first episode where it is stated that Kitty is "half-owner" of the Long Branch.

Rena is a real beauty, one of the best Gunsmoke has to offer. I have seen this many times in life- you are trying to figure out what women want from a man- very often, they just want attention.

Matt Dillon and Chester Goode are waiting for the stagecoach in Wichita when they meet a pretty woman named Rena Decker. Rena had engaged a man named Ab Laster in a conversation. When Laster begins to become a bit too aggressive with the woman, Matt steps in. Matt and Ab exchange angry words, and Matt punches Ab. Ab makes some threats about getting even with the Marshal after they get to Dodge City.

Rena is a stranger in Dodge and needs a job. Matt introduces her to Kitty Russell, who - for the first time - mentions she is half-owner of the Long Branch Saloon, in the hopes Rena can work at the Long Branch Saloon. When Kitty interviews Rena, she finds something more sinister behind the attractive exterior. Rena has developed the dubious skill of goading men into fighting over her, and she enjoys it immensely.

Initially, Kitty refuses to hire Rena, but Matt and Chester dismiss Kitty's concerns. Kitty accuses the men of being unable to see beyond the pretty face. Kitty agrees to hire Rena as much to prove a point as anything.

Actress Karen Sharpe perfectly fits the role of the dangerously beautiful Rena Decker in this, the first of two Gunsmoke roles. At the time this episode was filmed, Sharpe was signed to John Wayne's production company and accepted roles in many television westerns. She would later marry renowned director Stanley Kramer after which she quit acting and worked with the production company she and her husband formed.

John Alderson plays the Ab Laster character. This is one of three Gunsmoke appearances for the actor who often played villains. A few other familiar faces appear in small roles in this story. Walter Reed plays Joe Garrett. John Mitchum plays a man known only as "Joe." Ken Mayer appears as Hank.

Once again, the production team behind the Gunsmoke series delivers a unique tale for the time this episode was produced. The male lead characters are all clueless, while the Kitty Russell character is the one smarter person that can clearly understand the situation that exists and predict what will happen. Thanks to Matt's refusal to listen to Kitty and trust her judgement, needless violence and deaths will result.

(There is a cleverly shot, key scene in the Marshal's office where Kitty joins Matt, Chester, and Doc to tell them she is not going to hire Rena. The three men are surprised by this news and begin to question Kitty's reasoning. The aggressive body language of the three men - Chester and Doc are standing, while Matt is seated - compared to Kitty's seated, passive position is noteworthy.)

Interesting premise— sweet young Rena (Sharpe) gets harassed in stage depot, causing Matt to intervene. Now Matt wants to help her by getting her a job at the Long Branch. But Kitty senses something about the girl, except Matt's skeptical since the girl is so sweet looking. Now there's going to be trouble.

It's a clever twist on the sweet-young-thing that populated so many oaters of the day. However, in my book, the impact is lessened by clumsy staging and an over-done script (Meston). Did the entry really need so much clumsy gunplay when fist fights, for example, could have made the same point. All in all, it's a 30-minutes that doesn't execute the premise very well.

I don't remember who played the role of Rena on radio. Karen Sharpe was very good at portraying this sort of role on TV. She did pretty much the same thing on Bonanza in The Ape. Pretty on the outside and VERY ugly on the inside.

This is a very good episode.