| Episode cast overview: | |||
| Andy Griffith | ... | ||
| Ron Howard | ... |
Opie Taylor
(as Ronny Howard)
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| Don Knotts | ... | ||
| Hal Smith | ... | ||
| Roy Barcroft | ... |
Clint Biggers
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| Robert Cornthwaite | ... |
Mr. Somerset
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When Opie finds a stray dog, he takes it to the courthouse. They decide to feed the animal and it particularly likes Barney's lunch. Andy gives Opie permission to keep the dog but it escapes and returns to the courthouse with some of its friends. Barney is concerned with all of the animals being there since a State inspector is coming to town to check out the jail facilities and decide on their request for funding. Every time they get rid of the animals however, they seem to return in even greater numbers. Sure enough, the courthouse is full of animals when the inspector calls in which, as it turns out, is a pretty good thing. Written by garykmcd
I have no idea why, but some of the very best episodes of "The Andy Griffith Show" were allowed to slip into the public domain--their copyrights somehow never renewed by CBS. It bucks the notion that the public domain is only for bad shows and movies.
I love this episode and almost all the reason for this is Don Knotts' wonderful performance. As Barney, he is simply at his best--and his funny yet very sentimental acting carried the show to the category of a classic.
The show begins with Barney bringing in a stray dog. It's small and cute and he convinces Andy to let it stay with him at the court house. However, the animal soon disappears and Barney is worried--it's a little dog and can't possible survive in the big, bad world. However, later the dog returns--with about a dozen of his friends! Now the court house is jam-packed with dogs of all shapes and sizes--and the state inspector is arriving very soon. Barney and Andy know they can't have the animals smelling up the place and Barney comes up with a great idea--take the dogs out into the country and let them go. But, even after doing this, the story is far from over--and I strongly suggest you see this one. It's both adorable and funny--and re-affirms that the folks in Mayberry are quite special--people you can't help but love.
Something to look for--Barney explaining to Opie how the stray dogs will be just fine out in the wild. The longer Barney talks, the more his heart of gold just comes leaking out--and it's among the most precious scenes in the show's history.