Feisty fun

Gunsmoke, Aunt Thede (1964)

Festus’ feisty Aunt Thede (Jeanette Nolan) rolls into town and kick-starts one of the zaniest and most endearing Gunsmoke episodes ever. Thede is a shotgun-toting illiterate moonshiner and preacher from the hills of Missouri who counsels a lovestruck couple. She believes her copy of Little Women is actually “The Book” (or the Holy Bible), which she adamantly declares is supportive of her distilling activities—pursuits that are in clear conflict with laws Marshall Dillon must uphold.

“Haybill, Matthew, you can’t go agin’ the Good Book!”

— Festus, pleading the case of the good nectar and virtues of moonshining.

In addition to the fabulous regulars, there are some great stars in this episode: Jeanette Nolan (a witch on The Twilight Zone, Thriller, Night Gallery…), Howard McNear (Floyd the Barber from The Andy Griffith Show), Dyan Cannon (twelve Oscar nominations), Frank Cady (Green Acres, Petticoat Junction, The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet, Shasta Grape Soda and other ads…), James Stacy (Lancer)… Even James Arness’ daughter (Jenny Lee Arness) makes an appearance. But Nolan is the star of the show and she puts on a delightful performance.

IMDb 8.1/10

216 ratings

9/10