The Rifleman
The Rifleman
TV-PG | 30 September 1958 (USA)
SEASON & EPISODES
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  • Reviews
    pjdee

    One of the BEST shows on air from the late 50s, early 60s. I grew up pretty rebellious as a child in the 60s yet so fortunate to have been growing up in a time of amazing movies and shows like 'The Rifleman.' I never cared for Chuck Connors looks, it was some the shape of his eyes, yet as I got older I learned to realize just how ignorant that I was to judge someone from their looks and the shape of their eyes or facial features. So here I am a progressive yet a woman with strong values and morals and a heart that still enjoys watching 'The Rifleman' everyday when home. I find comfort in the story lines that more kids these days should learn from. The acting was wonderful by Chuck Connors showed more acting in this show than he did in any other, and seems to have been made for the part. The series reflected an Emphasis on character building and morals to the stories. I realized later in life that it was this exact same style of strong, silent type walk which Clint Eastwood in making his trademark that was lead by Chuck Connors yet Lucas McCain was a FAMIY MAN and always showed a great fathers love for his son. He was what any child would want as a father. A father that was raising a child alone without a mother or any families help. Instead he was a man what was respected by the town, a man with integrity yet would also admit when he was wrong.My favorite child actor wasn't Shirley Temple yet Johnny Crawford in the late 60's because he played is character Mark McCain so real and genuine and showed great respect for his father. And as a female I grew up a "Tomboy" and wished I had a brother like Mark McCain.They just don't make shows like those these days. The shows I adore as a MODERN VEGAN WOMAN that also grew up on Rock & Roll. I still also watch Bonanza and Gunsmoke too. I'm even friends with the wife of Michaal Landon, Cindy Landon, and we talk about the making of Bonanza and Little House on the Prairie and the VALUES that are so important to be taught to children. To be truthful, honest and spiritual. Odd that a thin progressive woman that doesn't eat animals could love these old time series yet that tough the heart and spirit of man and in the end it's just a life of peace that we long to have in this world. Peace for animals and all humans. Love this classic "The Rifleman."

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    zardoz-13

    Chuck Connors and Johnny Crawford made a thoroughly believable father and son duo in "The Rifleman" for its 168 episodes during its five season run. Lucas McCain was a widowed rancher whose expertise with a Winchester repeater was phenomenal. As it turned out, "The Rifleman" broke new ground as the first prime time series about a widower and his son. Mark and he moved to North Folk, New Mexico, and he bought a ranch sprawling over 4000 acres. Virtually everybody in North Fork admired Lucas, and he was instrumental in helping the town drunk, Micah Torrance (Paul Fix), recover his position of town marshal. Indeed, whenever Micah is away, Lucas serves as the interim lawman. In one episode when North Fork landed their first bank, Judge Hanavan (Sidney Blackmer) drove out to see Lucas and try to convince him to invest his money in the bank. Apparently, Hanavan met many North Fork residents who were reluctant about putting their money in the bank because Lucas refused to get a bank account. Reportedly, Sam Peckinpah originated the show after "Gunsmoke" producers rejected his teleplay. Director Arnold Laven tweaked the idea by giving Lucas a son. Each episode depicted the moral lessons that Lucas taught his son as well as adhered to western conventions. The exciting opening scene where Lucas storms down main street rapid firing with his Winchester was always electrifying material as was composer Herschel Burke Gilbert's orchestral music. Gilbert's music never left you in doubt about what was about to transpire. Often the producers repeated the same musical cues, but Gilbert's music was so exemplary that it didn't matter. Some gifted directors called the shots on "The Rifleman," including Sam Peckinpah of "The Wild Bunch," Paul Wendkos of "Guns of the Magnificent Seven," Richard Donner of the "Lethal Weapon" franchise, Ted Post of "Hang'em High," Arthur Hiller of "Love Story," Arnold Laven of "Rough Night in Jericho," James Clavell of "To Sir, With Love,"and Joseph H. Lewis of "Gun Crazy." Actually, Lewis helmed the largest number of episodes, approximately 52, while Laven came in second with 22 episodes. Mind you, all 168 episodes were lensed in black & white and broadcast by ABC-TV. According to the Neilson Ratings, "The Rifleman" started out strong during its initial season, claiming 4th place. However, the show slipped in its successive seasons to 13th and didn't crack the top 3o during its final season.

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    bkoganbing

    Back in the day when I was a lad, I remember you could get a toy replica of the rifle that Chuck Connors used in The Rifleman. For those of you who don't remember it was called the Flip Special. As the show was popular so was the toy gun.Come to think of it Chuck Connors invented the automatic weapon before anyone else did. Instead of a standard trigger, Connors had that exaggerated big ring to cock the weapon and fire repeatedly at the same time. He was pretty deadly with it too.But Connors as Lucas McCain wanted to forget his hell-raising past, he was interested in settling down as a single father with his son, Johnny Crawford who grew into his young teen years during the show's run. The only other regular on the show was Marshal Paul Fix who seemed to get in a fix and needed Connors and his rifle to help preserve law and order in the town of North Fort.What made the The Rifleman special was Chuck Connors and his strong presence as a father to young Crawford. This was the western frontier and not Fifties suburbia in which Hugh Beaumont and Barbara Billingsley raised the Beaver and Wally. He was a single dad that dad's could identify with and emulate. Connors and Crawford were something special on the small screen.Several women came and went in Lucas McCain's life, but when the show's run ended he was still a widower. As a show The Rifleman had good values and lots of action. Who could ask for more.

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    ellis1947

    Two things in this episode are worth mentioning. First, as Mark is sent away from the ranch by Lucas, due to the possibility of his catching Yellow Fever, Mark says something to the effect of: "See you tomorrow night, dad!" This is the only time in the entire run of the show that he ever addresses his father as "Dad". Usually he calls him Pa ("Paw").The other thing in this episode is a distant shot of what appears to be an automobile driving across a field far behind the outdoor location of the McCain Ranch. As Luoas says goodbye to Mark as he prepares to go into town with the doctor, behind them far in the hills you can see what appears to be a vehicle driving along. It happens quickly, but is very noticeable.As usual, a great episode, but a remarkable one due to these two things.

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