THE RIFLEMAN – "Home Ranch" – 1958
This is the second episode from the 1958 to 1963 western series, THE RIFLEMAN. Over the course of 168 episodes we follow the life of Lucas McCain and his son, Mark. They have just moved to the small western town of North Fork where they hope to start a new life. Chuck Connors headlines the series with Johnny Crawford as his son. Connors is a world class hand with a Winchester rifle which of course ends up getting him in no end of trouble.
Chuck Connors and his son, Johnny Crawford, arrive at their newly purchased ranch with a wagon full of possessions. They are about to start unloading when two cow hands, Lee Farr and Steve Rowland ride up. Connors asks if he can help them. The two say he can load up his wagon and leave. Connors informs the two that he now owns the ranch, and that they should be the ones to leave.
The cowpunchers rope Connors and drag him through the grass for several minutes. They also set fire to the ranch house and the barn. It seems that their boss, Harold Stone, a big time cattleman has decided he will graze his huge herd where ever he wants. And right now that is on Connors' spread. Connors, with son Crawford so close, and not wanting any gun-play, agrees to move on.
Rowland and Farr then ride off taking Connors' Winchester along. Connors looks through the rubble of his just burnt down house. He tells Crawford to stay put. He grabs a horse and saddle and sets of in pursuit of Farr, Rowland and his rifle.
That evening, Connors soft foots it into Farr and Rowland's campsite. He snatches his gun back and ties up the two firebugs. Connors intends to wait till their boss, Stone, shows. When Stone does arrive, Connors and Stone have a first rate slug-fest with Connors winning. Stone agrees to move his cattle off and pay to have Connors' buildings rebuilt.
This is another entertaining episode from the pen of future director, Sam Peckinpah. The cinematographer here is George Diskant. Diskant is well known to fans of film-noir for his work on, DESPERATE, PORT OF NEW YORK, RIFFRAFF, THEY LIVE BY NIGHT, THE RACKET, BETWEEN MIDNIGHT AND DAWN, NARROW MARGIN, KANSAS CITY CONFIDENTIAL, and ON DANGEROUS GROUND.
This is the second episode from the 1958 to 1963 western series, THE RIFLEMAN. Over the course of 168 episodes we follow the life of Lucas McCain and his son, Mark. They have just moved to the small western town of North Fork where they hope to start a new life. Chuck Connors headlines the series with Johnny Crawford as his son. Connors is a world class hand with a Winchester rifle which of course ends up getting him in no end of trouble.
Chuck Connors and his son, Johnny Crawford, arrive at their newly purchased ranch with a wagon full of possessions. They are about to start unloading when two cow hands, Lee Farr and Steve Rowland ride up. Connors asks if he can help them. The two say he can load up his wagon and leave. Connors informs the two that he now owns the ranch, and that they should be the ones to leave.
The cowpunchers rope Connors and drag him through the grass for several minutes. They also set fire to the ranch house and the barn. It seems that their boss, Harold Stone, a big time cattleman has decided he will graze his huge herd where ever he wants. And right now that is on Connors' spread. Connors, with son Crawford so close, and not wanting any gun-play, agrees to move on.
Rowland and Farr then ride off taking Connors' Winchester along. Connors looks through the rubble of his just burnt down house. He tells Crawford to stay put. He grabs a horse and saddle and sets of in pursuit of Farr, Rowland and his rifle.
That evening, Connors soft foots it into Farr and Rowland's campsite. He snatches his gun back and ties up the two firebugs. Connors intends to wait till their boss, Stone, shows. When Stone does arrive, Connors and Stone have a first rate slug-fest with Connors winning. Stone agrees to move his cattle off and pay to have Connors' buildings rebuilt.
This is another entertaining episode from the pen of future director, Sam Peckinpah. The cinematographer here is George Diskant. Diskant is well known to fans of film-noir for his work on, DESPERATE, PORT OF NEW YORK, RIFFRAFF, THEY LIVE BY NIGHT, THE RACKET, BETWEEN MIDNIGHT AND DAWN, NARROW MARGIN, KANSAS CITY CONFIDENTIAL, and ON DANGEROUS GROUND.