Inspector, The (TAGS Episode)

Episode Info

The Inspector

• S1.E26
• Filmed: 26
• Aired: 26
• Original Air Date: 1961/04/10
• Writer(s): Jack Elinson and Charles Stewart
• Director: Bob Sweeney

Plot Summary

The state inspector visits the Mayberry jail to check on police procedures and is horrified at the lackadaisical approaches he finds. After threats to remove Andy from office, he accompanies him on a call to a local moonshiner and discovers Andy is more of a lawman than he had imagined.

Summary

Mayberry is visited by an officious state police inspector, Ralph Case.

Inspector Case arrives in town to evaluate the Mayberry Sheriff’s Department and immediately criticizes Andy’s laid-back approach to law enforcement. He insists that Andy and Barney follow regulations more strictly and introduces a series of rigid, formal procedures. This creates tension, especially for Barney, who is eager to impress the inspector but ends up complicating simple tasks.

The climax of the episode occurs when Andy’s personable and common-sense methods shine through. Andy handles a tricky situation involving a local resident with calm authority, demonstrating the importance of understanding people over blindly enforcing rules. Inspector Case ultimately acknowledges Andy’s effectiveness and concedes that Mayberry’s unique way of maintaining law and order works well for the town.

The episode humorously highlights the contrast between rigid bureaucracy and Andy’s practical wisdom, reinforcing the show's theme of the value of human relationships and community understanding.

Odd Facts Known by Few

• Otis Campbell celebrates his birthday (with 9 candles on the cake) in this episode.

• Actor Tod Andrews, who plays the inspector, also appears in the season eight episode "A Girl For Goober" as "Mr. Franklin".

• Barney indulges in the solitary pursuit of checkers, engaging in matches against himself. His gaming repertoire extends beyond checkers, as he also finds pleasure in playing Parcheesi and Rob the Deck Casino, both enjoyed in his own company. However, Andy harbors a desire to witness Barney's solo prowess in a game of ping-pong.

• Andy and Barney receive a package from the Hubacher brothers. Andy receives a wallet and Barney gets a leather bookmark. The letter says that Elmer Hubacher had been out on parole but ended up back in prison.

• In this episode, the contrast between big-city procedures and down-home country common sense is highlighted. It explores a recurring theme throughout the series, emphasizing the effectiveness of Andy's straightforward and practical approach.

• Jack Prince, who plays Luke in this episode, played Ben Sewell in Alcohol and Old Lace (S1.17) and goes on to play Rafe Hollister in several episodes later in the series.

• When the inspector storms out of the courthouse, the painted set outside the courthouse door displays nonsense words for business names. The business across the street has "HAJWZK" on the sign as its name.

• This is the first time that The Real McCoys farm location is seen in The Andy Griffith Show. It will be used again in the very next episode, "Ellie Saves a Female," and almost every other episode where a barn, picket fence, farm house or field was needed. It was located on the 40-Acre back lot just across from the Wally's Filling Station set and remained there until the Gomer Pyle: U.S.M.C. series began. It was demolished to make room for the Camp Henderson exterior set.

• This episode marks the 3rd of 12 misfires Barney commits with his pistol, this time into the sheriff's desk.

• There is a U.S. Forest Service 50th anniversary poster displayed next to the wanted posters. It reads "-for the tree...is man's life. Deut. 20:19" at the top. At the bottom it reads "FORESTS GIVE US WOOD, WATER, FORAGE, WILDLIFE, RECREATION. LET'S PROTECT THEM... USE THEM WISELY." This was an actual U.S. Forest Service poster originally printed in 1955.

Character List

• Andy Griffith - Andy Taylor
• Ronny Howard - Opie Taylor
• Don Knotts - Barney Fife
• Hal Smith - Otis Campbell
• Tod Andrews - Ralph Case
• Willis Bouchey - Mr. Brady
• Jack Prince - Luke Reiner
• Ray Lanier - Sam