I wish to echo what coneywithcheese had to say! In fact, this is the first time I am putting a review on here, I signed up specifically to make some comments I feel were (marginally) important.
All in all, I would say that this is a better than average episode of a much better than average series.
However, for me, being a fan of many types of music, music history, and the history of modern entertainment, I found the pieces with Theodore Bikel singing to be the high points of this episode. Not only was Theodore Bikel well regarded as an actor, one that could give incredible depth to difficult characters, he was also a world renowned folk singer. He spoke several languages fluently. And sang songs from many nations. In his day, his recordings and albums sold very well. Sadly, he is one of way too many wonderful artists that are too soon forgotten.
That is one of the best parts of older television series. Sometimes in some shows, in a few series it might be often, they showcase an artist or routines, comedy, or songs, most of us would never hear otherwise. Gunsmoke did not have very many such episodes. In several we do get to hear Ken Curtis singing for a bit. Most of those do not really show his talents, he was trying to play up the hillbilly bum part. In this episode, we get to hear Theodore Bikel doing one of the many things he did very well.
And while you are at it? Enjoy the story.
9 Reviews
Great Performance from Theodore Bikel
wdavidreynolds10 July 2019
This is one of my favorite episodes of the entire series. Theodore Bikel, who was an accomplished Broadway and film actor and won an Academy Award for his role in the film The Defiant Ones, plays Martin Kellums, a man of few words and a great singing voice. (CORRECTION: Bikel was only nominated for an Academy Award for the role, but he did not win. Thanks to reviewer janet-conant for the correction.) He travels through the Plains singing for drinks, although he has a much different past from which he is running.
Will Lukens, played by the recognizable character actor Robert F. Simon, passionately hates Kellums, wants him dead, and is willing to stop at nothing to carry out his mission.
Bikel was an accomplished folk singer, and he sings some classic cowboy/folk songs in this episode: "Old Paint," "Tell Old Bill," "Little Liza Jane," "Who's Gonna Shoe Your Pretty Little Foot," and "Streets of Laredo"/"Cowboy's Lament." (Bikel's mournful version of "Cowboy's Lament" highlights why some have called it one of the saddest songs ever written.) I suspect either this episode may have been written with Bikel in mind for the Martin Kellums part, or he suggested the addition of the songs after he was cast.
Bikel's performance in this episode is a real treat. Despite his extensive background on Broadway and in films, he clearly did not consider television roles beneath him, as he appeared in many television series throughout his career. He was an accomplished singer and a master of different accents. (Rodgers and Hammerstein wrote the song "Edelweiss" for Bikel to perform in the Broadway version of The Sound of Music as Bikel was the original father of the Von Trapp family in that play.)
There are some interesting guest appearances in "Song for Dying." A young Lee Majors appears in early portions of the episode, and Roger Ewing, who would later play Clayton Thaddeus Greenwood during Seasons 11 and 12, appears here as one of the Lukens clan.
Note: This episode contains the first use of Doc's first name, Galen. Kellums and Doc are engaged in a conversation in Doc's office, and Kellums refers to Doc as "Galen." It would actually be a few more seasons before Doc's first name was ever mentioned again. Supposedly, the show's producers allowed Milburn Stone to choose the first name prior to the later episodes, and he chose the name Galen in honor of the Greek physician Galen of Pergamon/Aelius Galenus/Claudius Galenus who practiced in the Roman Empire.
There is a general air of gloom that permeates this episode. Will Lukens is consumed with hatred, and he is destroying everyone around him. Some of the Dodge City citizens want Matt to run Kellums out of town, because they are afraid of what might happen. Kellums is tired of running, and not just from Lukens.
This is a rather talky episode that seems headed toward a fateful conclusion. It probably isn't to everyone's taste, but I love it.
Will Lukens, played by the recognizable character actor Robert F. Simon, passionately hates Kellums, wants him dead, and is willing to stop at nothing to carry out his mission.
Bikel was an accomplished folk singer, and he sings some classic cowboy/folk songs in this episode: "Old Paint," "Tell Old Bill," "Little Liza Jane," "Who's Gonna Shoe Your Pretty Little Foot," and "Streets of Laredo"/"Cowboy's Lament." (Bikel's mournful version of "Cowboy's Lament" highlights why some have called it one of the saddest songs ever written.) I suspect either this episode may have been written with Bikel in mind for the Martin Kellums part, or he suggested the addition of the songs after he was cast.
Bikel's performance in this episode is a real treat. Despite his extensive background on Broadway and in films, he clearly did not consider television roles beneath him, as he appeared in many television series throughout his career. He was an accomplished singer and a master of different accents. (Rodgers and Hammerstein wrote the song "Edelweiss" for Bikel to perform in the Broadway version of The Sound of Music as Bikel was the original father of the Von Trapp family in that play.)
There are some interesting guest appearances in "Song for Dying." A young Lee Majors appears in early portions of the episode, and Roger Ewing, who would later play Clayton Thaddeus Greenwood during Seasons 11 and 12, appears here as one of the Lukens clan.
Note: This episode contains the first use of Doc's first name, Galen. Kellums and Doc are engaged in a conversation in Doc's office, and Kellums refers to Doc as "Galen." It would actually be a few more seasons before Doc's first name was ever mentioned again. Supposedly, the show's producers allowed Milburn Stone to choose the first name prior to the later episodes, and he chose the name Galen in honor of the Greek physician Galen of Pergamon/Aelius Galenus/Claudius Galenus who practiced in the Roman Empire.
There is a general air of gloom that permeates this episode. Will Lukens is consumed with hatred, and he is destroying everyone around him. Some of the Dodge City citizens want Matt to run Kellums out of town, because they are afraid of what might happen. Kellums is tired of running, and not just from Lukens.
This is a rather talky episode that seems headed toward a fateful conclusion. It probably isn't to everyone's taste, but I love it.
The gambit of emotion is explored in this episode.
kfo94942 October 2013
This episode combines many aspects of life to make for one good story that was an entertaining from beginning to end. From laughter, to regret to sorrow, this episode scanned the entire gambit of emotion.
The story follows a man named Martin. Once he was a doctor and decided thirteen years ago to give up the practice when drinking was more desirable. Recently a man, Will Lukens, had a young wife that was having a hard time with a child birth. Lukens sent for Martin but he never arrived and Lukens blames Martin for her death. Now with his three sons, Will is hunting down the guitar playing Martin to kill him for letting his wife die.
When Martin arrives in Dodge he plays and sings for the people in the Long Branch. When someone tries to kill him the townsfolk know that Martin is a hunted man and wants him to leave town. But Martin is tired of running and will face down Lukens and his boys in the town of Dodge.
There is much going on in this episode with some familiar faces in the cast. Lee Majors (Big Valley fame) and Roger Ewing (soon to be Thad Greenwood) are two of the three Lukens boys that are with their father to seek revenge. With the suspense of the showdown and the lonely sounding songs from the script, the episode has rather a haunting theme. The story was excellent and the acting well done. A show that when the credit began to roll you know you had been entertained. Good watch!
The story follows a man named Martin. Once he was a doctor and decided thirteen years ago to give up the practice when drinking was more desirable. Recently a man, Will Lukens, had a young wife that was having a hard time with a child birth. Lukens sent for Martin but he never arrived and Lukens blames Martin for her death. Now with his three sons, Will is hunting down the guitar playing Martin to kill him for letting his wife die.
When Martin arrives in Dodge he plays and sings for the people in the Long Branch. When someone tries to kill him the townsfolk know that Martin is a hunted man and wants him to leave town. But Martin is tired of running and will face down Lukens and his boys in the town of Dodge.
There is much going on in this episode with some familiar faces in the cast. Lee Majors (Big Valley fame) and Roger Ewing (soon to be Thad Greenwood) are two of the three Lukens boys that are with their father to seek revenge. With the suspense of the showdown and the lonely sounding songs from the script, the episode has rather a haunting theme. The story was excellent and the acting well done. A show that when the credit began to roll you know you had been entertained. Good watch!
Above Average Episode
coneywithcheese23 November 2018
Ignore the review by Johnny_West as it sounds like he has a personal dislike for two fine actors, Theodore Bikel and Robert Simon. The previous review complains about the singing (which I thought was pretty good) and attributes it to Mr. Bikel. I believe it is another artist, not Mr. Bikel. You should watch and form your own opinion, don't decide based on the opinion of Johnny_West.
Gentle chamge
maskers-8712612 October 2018
Nice gentle story for a change with npt too much random senseless killing until,the end. Fine, multi award winnimg actor, Bikel adds depth to the story.The endless "revenge for my whomever" theme really gets overused on Gunsmoke
A real Mixed Bag
lrrap9 August 2021
FINE performances by both Bikel and Robert Simon. Good idea to write an episode featuring the well-known folk singing of BIkel. Also, very effective "Stalking" scene near the end in the ghostly, deserted streets of Dodge; great use of shadows, etc (the distant train whistle and singing voice at the end were also cool).
But here's my 3 problems with the show: a.) Bikel's singing (pre-recorded, probably) is too close on-mic, so it sounds unnatural...and rather annoying. I liked the dramatic/character DEVICE of his singing, but it needed a less phony ambiance to the sound.
2.) Doc's preaching in the jail scene near the end. I get what they were going for...the relationship between Doc and Martin and their duty as doctors, etc. Bikel's heroic action near the end could have been much more effective if the script had been more tightly organized. As it was, it just muddled things up.
3.) My main, over-riding complaint: Sorry, Matt: if TWO GUYS come to Dodge..(a.) a peace-loving guy, whose tired of running from thugs and wants to make Dodge his home and (b.) a crazed, vengeful killer who intends to assassinate the other guy, YOUR SWORN, LEGAL DUTY IS TO PROTECT (a.) and, if necessary KILL (b.). No Question about it..To HELL with what the cowardly townsmen think; they can just go hide in their homes 'til the shooting's over. This issue began to bug me about midway through, and really undermined the drama the rest of the way.
NOTE-- to commentator "Johnny West" (posted here): a.) regardless of your opinion of the (fine) acting of Robert Simon, he did NOT nearly always play "unreasonable or vicious" characters. You need to check out some of his plentiful performances (films, Twilight Zone, The Defenders (brilliant performance), Route 66, Outer Limits, etc;) Simon usually was cast as an avuncular, rather sagacious, common-sense, dependable establishment guy (cop, military officer, scientist, etc).
B.) your description of the end of "Song for Dying" as "happy" is...puzzling.
I generally don't contest the opinions of other post-writers, but the overly aggressive and dismissive ones sometimes need a response. LR.
But here's my 3 problems with the show: a.) Bikel's singing (pre-recorded, probably) is too close on-mic, so it sounds unnatural...and rather annoying. I liked the dramatic/character DEVICE of his singing, but it needed a less phony ambiance to the sound.
2.) Doc's preaching in the jail scene near the end. I get what they were going for...the relationship between Doc and Martin and their duty as doctors, etc. Bikel's heroic action near the end could have been much more effective if the script had been more tightly organized. As it was, it just muddled things up.
3.) My main, over-riding complaint: Sorry, Matt: if TWO GUYS come to Dodge..(a.) a peace-loving guy, whose tired of running from thugs and wants to make Dodge his home and (b.) a crazed, vengeful killer who intends to assassinate the other guy, YOUR SWORN, LEGAL DUTY IS TO PROTECT (a.) and, if necessary KILL (b.). No Question about it..To HELL with what the cowardly townsmen think; they can just go hide in their homes 'til the shooting's over. This issue began to bug me about midway through, and really undermined the drama the rest of the way.
NOTE-- to commentator "Johnny West" (posted here): a.) regardless of your opinion of the (fine) acting of Robert Simon, he did NOT nearly always play "unreasonable or vicious" characters. You need to check out some of his plentiful performances (films, Twilight Zone, The Defenders (brilliant performance), Route 66, Outer Limits, etc;) Simon usually was cast as an avuncular, rather sagacious, common-sense, dependable establishment guy (cop, military officer, scientist, etc).
B.) your description of the end of "Song for Dying" as "happy" is...puzzling.
I generally don't contest the opinions of other post-writers, but the overly aggressive and dismissive ones sometimes need a response. LR.
Soul Searching And Running From The Past
sd7266720 April 2024
This was a good episode, not great but a little slow at times. I would've liked to seen a different ending, but it was fine. What I don't understand is the scene in the Longbranch where the town folk gathered for some vigilante justice. Doc and Festus are both assaulted & knocked silly, but when Marshal Dillon arrives, he does nothing in retaliation to the 2 men who are the instigators. A matter of fact, Marshal Dillon stops Festus from going "ugly on an Ape" on the old guy "Mace". Usually the Marshal backhands first & then asks questions later, especially if Doc Adams has been harmed.
Moving along, I would've liked to have seen Lee Majors added in the following season instead of Roger Ewing aka "Thad". I never understood why they cast Ewing to begin with as a regular. No disrespect to Roger Ewing, I never thought he gelled with the cast. I also think Theodore Bikel did a great job in this episode. I would've given him an Emmy nomination. And to all of the other reviewers attacking others for their opinions in this thread... if you don't agree with a review, keep it to yourselves.
Moving along, I would've liked to have seen Lee Majors added in the following season instead of Roger Ewing aka "Thad". I never understood why they cast Ewing to begin with as a regular. No disrespect to Roger Ewing, I never thought he gelled with the cast. I also think Theodore Bikel did a great job in this episode. I would've given him an Emmy nomination. And to all of the other reviewers attacking others for their opinions in this thread... if you don't agree with a review, keep it to yourselves.
Just a Comment
janet-conant29 August 2022
Sorry wdavidreynolds! You wrote a review and indicated Theodore Bickel won an academy award for 1958's The Defiant Ones. He was nominated for best supporting actor for Defiant Ones but the Oscar went to another fine actor/singer Burl Ives for The Big Country.
It was great seeing a very young Lee Majors but I found that father (Simon) just too much always playing reprehensible characters. Great ending to a rather slow episode. I could almost swear another actor was singing those songs.
I saw a much older Theodore Bikel in the 1970's on stage in Fiddler on the Roof and he acted like he phoned it in. I wish I saw Zero Mostel or Topol.
It was great seeing a very young Lee Majors but I found that father (Simon) just too much always playing reprehensible characters. Great ending to a rather slow episode. I could almost swear another actor was singing those songs.
I saw a much older Theodore Bikel in the 1970's on stage in Fiddler on the Roof and he acted like he phoned it in. I wish I saw Zero Mostel or Topol.
Egomaniac Showdown
Johnny_West12 October 2018
Theodore Bikel plays a burned out doctor who is running away from the incredibly nasty character played by Robert F. Simon. Simon is upset that Bikel did not save the life of his much younger Indian wife, when she was giving birth. Simon is not only angry that his wife died, but that he had to buy the young Indian woman from the tribe, so he lost his money too.
Simon was great at playing nasty, unreasonable, vile characters, and this is right up there. Simon verbally abuses and beats his adult sons into trying to bushwhack or murder Bikel. They don't have much enthusiasm for it, but Simon never stops talking about how much the doctor deserves to die.
One of his sons is played by a young Lee Majors (later on he was Heath on Big Valley). Another son is played by Roger Ewing. He would return as Marshall Dillon's part-time deputy in the next season (11, episode 3).
Bikel spends every scene on some variation of a death monologue, feeling sorry for himself, and resigned to his fate. Simon engages every scene in a revenge speech, ranting over and over again about how much he loved his wife, and why Bikel must die because he is a bad doctor. Both of them overwork every scene, and it goes from Bikel to Simon over and over again. Just ponderously depressingly boring.
Even worse is that Bikel is singing and playing acoustic guitar after every sad lonely monologue. Talk about too much!! Bikel was not just a guest actor, but he was a singer too. Back in the 1960s, Bikel released several records focused on singing Russian, gypsy, and Jewish folk songs. In 1969 he began playing Tevye on production of Fiddler on the Roof. The role had been named famous by Zero Mostel and Chaim Topol (who was also in the 1971 movie).
Simon was great at playing nasty, unreasonable, vile characters, and this is right up there. Simon verbally abuses and beats his adult sons into trying to bushwhack or murder Bikel. They don't have much enthusiasm for it, but Simon never stops talking about how much the doctor deserves to die.
One of his sons is played by a young Lee Majors (later on he was Heath on Big Valley). Another son is played by Roger Ewing. He would return as Marshall Dillon's part-time deputy in the next season (11, episode 3).
Bikel spends every scene on some variation of a death monologue, feeling sorry for himself, and resigned to his fate. Simon engages every scene in a revenge speech, ranting over and over again about how much he loved his wife, and why Bikel must die because he is a bad doctor. Both of them overwork every scene, and it goes from Bikel to Simon over and over again. Just ponderously depressingly boring.
Even worse is that Bikel is singing and playing acoustic guitar after every sad lonely monologue. Talk about too much!! Bikel was not just a guest actor, but he was a singer too. Back in the 1960s, Bikel released several records focused on singing Russian, gypsy, and Jewish folk songs. In 1969 he began playing Tevye on production of Fiddler on the Roof. The role had been named famous by Zero Mostel and Chaim Topol (who was also in the 1971 movie).
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