User Reviews

One afternoon the stage comes storming into Dodge and advises that the strong-box was stolen during a robbery. But that is not the most pressing thing about this stage, a woman in the passenger compartment is delivering three babies.

After successful delivering the babies, the poor woman dies. Later we find out that the father of the kids was the robber of the stage and was killed in a nearby town. So now the three baby boys are orphans.

Doc Adams will have to fight the court to keep the boys together and out of the State orphanage. But Doc will have to deal with a Judge that follows the rule of law.

A wonderful heartwarming episode that was a pleasure to watch. Milburn Stone is terrific as he goes well overboard in trying to protect the kids. Also the great character actress, Peggy Rea, plays a role that seemed made for her- as a woman in the community that has so much love to give. If you have ever known an orphan or was an orphan yourself, this episode is powerful. The last line of the episode spoken by Kitty sums-up the entire episode "Some people just have an unlimited capacity to love". Excellent show.

This Gunsmoke story originally aired on Christmas Day, 1967, and it is clearly designed as a "feel good" episode without incorporating a specific Christmas theme.

A stagecoach arrives in Dodge City. It was robbed on the trail, and there is a female passenger in labor on board. The services of Doc Adams are needed. As Doc tends to the woman, he discovers she is in the process of delivering triplets! He also learns the woman is distraught and has lost any will to live.

The three baby boys are delivered successfully, but the mother dies. Further investigation into the situation reveals the father of the children was involved in robbing the stagecoach, and he is later killed. The triplets are now orphaned.

The remainder of the story involves determining what will happen to the children. Doc, and the other Dodge City citizens favor finding a home in the area for the children and keeping them together. Since no one immediately comes forward to ask for custody, Judge Brent is more inclined to turn them over to the orphanage in Topeka and allow them to see to the care and eventual adoption of the infants.

Milburn Stone is the star of this episode, and his performance displays the character's often grouchy, curmudgeon nature while also showing glimpses of his big heart and care for others.

Ken Curtis is also prominently featured, as the Festus Haggen character represents the general sentiment of the Dodge City citizens regarding this care of the triplets.

The guest cast features several outstanding performances, although most are relegated to brief scenes. Harry Carey, Jr. Plays a local farmer named Will Roniger. He and his wife are parents to ten children and are well known and liked by the local citizens. Peggy Rea shines in the role of Mrs. Roniger. Her character certainly seems like someone with the strength of character and intestinal fortitude to care for many kids.

(Side note: I would like to have seen occasional references to the Roniger family and appearances by family members in future episodes of the series.)

Since the episode takes place inside Dodge, many of the usual townspeople, including Nathan Burke, Rudy from the Long Branch Saloon, and Halligan are seen throughout the story.

The resolution to the dilemma presented and the story is not much of a mystery, as the title of the episode and early events in the story make it obvious. Whether one finds this story heartwarming or annoying probably depends on one's affinity for a story designed to tug at the heartstrings. This is definitely an uncharacteristically lighthearted episode by Gunsmoke standards, so anyone looking for a lot of gunfights, profound conclusions, or thought-provoking material are likely to be disappointed.

Someone made a list of the ten worst "Gunsmoke" episodes, but stopped with six. This could well-be one of the missing four.

When a stage coach is robbed, and arrives in Dodge with a woman in labor, you know you're in for an hour (minus commercials) of sentimental slop. Particularly bad is the moment when the baby in the stage coach starts crying and Miss Kitty observes, with keen insight, "It's a baby!" (It sure isn't a stressed-out zucchini.) Why the rest of the town doesn't threateningly stare her down is hard to understand.

Like Robert Newton's Long John Silver, Ken Curtis's Festus is a model of disciplined over-acting. But here he's devoid of restraint, and the results are embarrassing. Festus even shows a profound lack of sense by bringing in a "rocking mule" for the babies (who won't be ready for it for another two years).

Milburn Stone's excellent performance is wasted on an exchange with the circuit judge that's little more than ranting.

The title gives away the ending, but even if it didn't, the story is as predictable as Kraft Singles. Worse, there's no strong dramatic thrust. The babies aren't likely to be shipped off to the Soylent Corporation, so their fate isn't of much concern.