The Rifleman (TV Series) The Challenge (1959) User Reviews

Great script and great acting adds up to an enjoyable show.

[kfo9494 · 9/10 · 16 October 2015]

Three men ride into North Fork and is lead by an escape prisoner named Jake Pardee. Jake had been given a life sentence but escaped after five years of confinement. Jake as the image of himself as being the most important criminal in the west. And now he goes into Hattie's store and holds Hattie and Micah prisoner as Lucas is elected to be the Marshal in Micah's absents.

Jake wants the people of North Fork to remember him for the rest of their life so challenges Lucas to a gunfight. The outcome of the gunfight is what makes this episode stand out above others.

This episode is by far one of the better stories in the series. An entertaining script that did not go by the regular rules of western writing. With top notch acting, this episode was a hit.-- The only draw back of the show was a song 'The Ballad of Jake Pardee' that was sung slowly nearly the entire episode. But when the show is over, the thoughts of the song were long gone and the beauty of the story was shown. Good watch.

NOTE- the singer of 'The Ballad of Jake Pardee' is Bill Lee. He is the same person that was dubbed for Christopher Plumber during the song 'Edelweiss' in 'The Sound of Music".

Sharp episode

[gordonl56 · 9/10 · 27 February 2014]

THE RIFLEMAN –The Challenge - 1959

This is the 28th 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 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 are in North Fork picking up some goods at Hope Summers' general store. He is joined by Sheriff Paul Fix, who is also in to pick up some items. Three men, Adam Williams, John Durren and Les Tremayne join the people inside. Suddenly Williams pulls his gun and clobbers the Sheriff, knocking him to the floor.

The trio are outlaws in to pick up some supplies. They release everyone but Sheriff Fix and store owner, Summers. Connors quickly rounds up some menfolk and they arm themselves. Some want to rush the store but Connors tells everyone to cool down, they just need to wait the outlaws out.

Williams is seems is a bit on the unstable side Durren and Tremayne had just broken Williams out of the State prison after five years. Williams is not the type to take any guff from anyone. Tremayne, the brains of the outfit soon gets on Williams nerves. Williams just draws and gives Tremayne a lead "shut up".

Connors calls out Williams to settle the matter of the hostages. A smiling Williams joins Connors on the street for a showdown. Needless to say the trouble is soon over, and Fix and Summers are freed.

A sharp looking episode handled with style by veteran film noir man, Lewis Allen. Allen helmed the big screen noir, DESERT FURY, SO EVIL MY LOVE, CHICAGO DEADLINE, APPOINTMENT WITH DANGER, ILLEGAL , A BULLET FOR JOEY and SUDDENLY.

The cinematography was handled by another big screen film noir vet, George Diskant. His work includes, RIFFRAFF, THEY LIVE BY NIGHT, PORT OF NEW YORK, BEWARE MY LOVELY, THE RACKET and ON DANGEROUS GROUND.

Williams made a career out of playing these nutbar types.

Not the ending that you expected

[cpotato1010 · 7/10 · 16 September 2018]

This episode has a very different ending than the one you might expect.

The writing and acting are very good. You are kept guessing until the end.

However, I thought the ballad of Jake was a bit distracting. It would seem a little unlikely you would sing that where he could hear it.

Also, another reviewer is wrong:

"Jake Pardee" (Adam Williams) did not shoot "Professor" (Les Tremayne).

I will leave it to the viewer to see who shot whom.

Thurl Ravencroft

[EmsFather · 10/10 · 12 November 2019]

Thurl Ravencroft, who sang the Jake Pardee ballad, was famous for many cartoon voices but thebone we remember him most for was the the singer in the 1966 cartoon, The Grinch. You're a mean.one Mr. Grinch

You're a mean one, Mr Pardee

[jsinger-58969 · 10/10 · 28 July 2023]

North Fork is a magnet for crazed desperados, and here comes Jake Pardee, who is a murderer, a thief, a mug, pug, thug, bushwhacker, hornswaggler, backstabber, claim jumper, and numerous other nasty things. We know this by listening to his song, which plays for nearly the entire episode. Although most people seem to think the song was voiced by Thurl Ravenscroft, the show's credits credit Bill Lee as being the balladeer. Curiously, Lee and Ravenscroft were both in the Mellomen back in the day. Anyways, Pardee, played by war hero Adam Williams, takes Luke's squeeze Hattie and Micah hostage, just because be can. Micah picked a bad day to give up drinking. Pardee, who we are assured will either hang or die by violence one day according to the lyrics of the song, decides to challenge Lucas boy to a gun fight, just to add another verse to his legend. While everyone else in town hides under their bed, the two of them meet in the street. Luke aims his super rifle at Jake and has his hand ready to deliver the kill shot when he tells Pardee to draw. This doesn't seem like a fair fight and Jake realizes that as he starts crying like a baby. Pardee's fellow prison escapees then turn on each other, leaving the streets of North Fork safe for another week.