Owney Tupper Had a Daughter

I love Gunsmoke but this was a terrible episode. Are we suppose to believe that ending was 'right and virtuous?' Well, it wasn't! A loving father can certainly raise his own daughter. And this father demonstrated he was very loving and dedicated to his daughter.

He was was willing to do almost anything to get her back after the judge ruled she should live with her aunt. But somehow that still wasn't enough in the end. Why? Just because he's a single man? Very foolish and heartless conclusion.

Also, the daughter somehow immediately senses a difference in her father's internal emotions, as if the little child has ESP or something. That was ridiculous.

This is a great story to challenge what your moral values are. We can all be forced into situations where we must decide just how far we will go. This story is one of the better ones in the series. I suggest it to you. This also shows just how far a father will go for the love of his daughter.

This episode is one of Gunsmokes best and another good entry from would be veteran writer Paul Savage. I think if anything, there is a sadness shown here in how Owney Tupper and his little daughter had their peaceful life turned upside down. All due to an interfering Aunt. Just because Owney ended up raising his daughter alone, his sister in law suddenly knew better how to raise her. True, the girl would need the influence of a woman in her life but she did not lack for love and care from her father. Then there is Owney whose very core is shaken all to get his daughter back. I must say I think his last line could not have been better-"why couldn't they have left us alone?". Some people just never know when to keep their noses out of other peoples lives and this story is a great example of it. Great watch!!

Paul Savage's script was (apparently) nominated for a Writer's Guild award, and it certainly deserved it. True, there's a bit too much "cute" in the opening scenes (like "see how poor but happy we are"), but the performance by J. C. and the unusual plot are so strong that I feel this episode merits a full "10" rating.

Jay C Flippen and Andrea Darvi look NOTHING alike...not the slightest bit of physical resemblance (that would be scary), but otherwise they are very well cast. Jay C, who usually plays such slightly off-beat, sometimes sadistic weirdos, is really very appealing in this role.

I don't disagree with a few of the other commentators here, who feel the elements of conflict in this show (the sudden appearance of the Aunt and Uncle and their custody hearing, the rather quick, ruthless double-murder of the young couple, etc), but the OVERALL script is continuously engrossing, well-structured, and the direction nicely paced. In fact, the script veers off in a couple of novel, unexpected directions, which keep it that much more interesting.

We USUALLY get a plot where the nasty aunt/guardian challenges the loving, but lower-class relative for custody of the innocent young child (Heidi, anyone?). Much heartache and tension ensues, while the loving parent must fight the system to be re-united with the child.

Well, this one KIND OF went in that direction...but you'll have to see for yourself how imaginatively the standard plot set-up was handled by writer Savage.

And there's a sad, wistful, philosophical realization in the final scene that is very moving. LR.

PS #1-- I'm not one to look for too much "meaning" through MOTIFS, but it's cool that Amity's DOLL ..used 3 times in the story....reflects the changing relationship of Owney and Amity. 1.) The primitive cloth doll in the opening scene...simple, natural, like their life together 2.) When Owney's prospects are looking up, it's a "store-bought" doll to reflect the ongoing improvement in their status 3.) When Amity arrives off the stagecoach, she's carrying a shiny new, "high-class" city doll, again reflecting the change not only in her status, but her relationship with dad as well.

PS #2--Check out young Andrea Darvi's performance in the great episode of "COMBAT" (1st season): "No Trumpets, No Drums" .. the big starring episode in the series for actor Pierre Jalbert; very touching, almost dream-like in its beauty and heartache. LR.