"The Rifleman" (1958) TV series 1958-1963

Seasons:

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5

Release Date:

30 September 1958 (USA)

Genre:

Family | Western

Plot:

Lucas McCain can fire a round with his specially modified Winchester in three-tenths of a second. That...

Plot Keywords:

Rifle | Civil War Veteran | Gunfight | Father Son Relationship | Family Relationships

Awards:

Nominated for 2 Primetime Emmys.

Cast

Chuck Connors	...	Lucas McCain / ... (168 episodes, 1958-1963)
Johnny Crawford	...	Mark McCain (168 episodes, 1958-1963)
Paul Fix	...	Marshal Micah Torrance / ... (150 episodes, 1958-1963)

Runtime:

30 min (168 episodes)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound Recording)

Certification:

Australia:PG | Argentina:Atp

Filming Locations:

20th Century Fox Ranch, Malibu Creek State Park - 1925 Las Virgenes Road, Calabasas, California, USA

Company:

Four Star Productions

Trivia:

In the pilot for the series, by Sam Peckinpah (originally written for "Gunsmoke" (1955) but turned down for that show), Chuck Connors' character was named John McCain, not Lucas McCain, and he didn't have a son. It was producer Arnold Laven's idea to make McCain a widower with a son. Also, McCain was originally supposed to have been a dead shot with a pistol. Laven had the idea to use a customized Winchester rifle as McCain's weapon of choice.

Quotes:

Lucas McCain: A man doesn't run from a fight, Mark...but that doesn't mean you should go running *to* one, either.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Sam Peckinpah's West: Legacy of a Hollywood Renegade (2004) (TV)

The Western genre at its finest

Chuck Connors plays an inspiring hero in The Rifleman, defending himself, his son, and his friends against gunslingers, cheats, and swindlers. His character (Lucas McCain) is brilliant, brave, strong and just, and supported by a great cast. It's a beautiful series that I often find myself staying up way too late to watch.