The Rifleman (TV Series) Home Ranch (1958) User Reviews

It is My Ranch

[gordonl56 · 8/10 · 11 January 2014]

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.

Home sweet Home

[kfo9494 · 9/10 · 7 December 2013]

This is an enjoyable episode as the McCains are staking their claim to a ranch outside of North Fork. However when Lucas and Mark arrives at the ranch house they are met by two cowboys that work for a wealthy rancher named Oat Jackford (Harold J. Stone). The two cowboys harass Lucas in order for their employer to obtain the ranch land. They take Lucas's gun and burn his house to the ground. Lucas is set on meeting Mr Jackford and settling this matter man to man.

There are some great scenes in this episode. From when Mark is let alone and is trying to sleep to the the meeting of Lucas and Jackford- it just pure entertainment. A nice episode for the second offering in the series.

So many good things

[mitchrmp · 10/10 · 8 February 2011]

Of course we learn how they got the famous McCain house and barn after watching this episode.

I cannot list all the parts I especially like in this episode, because each scene is good in it's own right. I love the Lucas/Oat Jackford scene. It really establishes Lucas McCain's character - he's rough and tough when he has to be. He doesn't kill if he doesn't have to. In this episode, nobody dies but it is still Western through and through!

This is the ONLY time we ever see Lucas allow Mark to stay by himself all night. I think it's because the writer they had for these first episodes wanted Mark to be more grown up. He wanted Mark to be a bit tougher. After this, Mark seems to grow down a bit and become more of a little boy of the fifties, and I'm not complaining because I love that Mark as well! He's so cute!!!

The scene where Lucas tells mark the Bible story is great as well. We saw Lucas' "tough love" attitude shine through when he doesn't allow Mark to dwell on the negative for too long, but simply gives him a "that's life, so buck up and deal with it, Pal" kind of lecture.

Best episode

[ecarfar · 10/10 · 2 March 2021]

I'm a big Rifleman fan and this episode is, by far, my favorite.

Test of faith

[hines-2000 · 10/10 · 28 February 2021]

A wonderful second episode of a great series. It starts out when Oat Jackford (Harold J. Stone) sends his henchmen to drive Lucas McCain off his Ranch. McCain isn't having any of it so they burn the house to the ground. Stone a veteran of many movies and TV crime shows displays his great acting chops here. However, it is the chemistry between Chuck Connors and Johnny Crawford that make this a memorable episode. The young Mark McCain gets a valuable life lesson from the book of Job and trusting God's plan.

Setting Up The Series

[dougdoepke · 9 August 2021]

The episode appears to set up a key premise for the rest of the series. Lucas McCain and son Mark are going to hold steadfast to their little cabin on the prairie no matter what. In fact Lucas explains his inspiration from the Bible's story of Job's dedication to strength and commitment, thereby setting up the core of McCain's character, while Mark shows his ability to withstand difficulty with gutsy good humor.

The bad guys here are trying to drive the McCain's off their land to replace them with a cattle herd owned by a cattle baron. Actually, they're not really such bad guys, just a couple of regular sorts doing their job, even though they burn down the McCain cabin. In fact this drift leads up to a rather unexpected conclusion not typical of the oaters of the day. So we know an unusual cowboy series in the offing. So stay tuned.