The Rifleman (TV Series) The Deserter (1960) User Reviews

Lucas questions a Major's treatment of a soldier.

[kfo9494 · 8/10 · 10 August 2013]

The episode begins when Lucas hears something outside and finds a badly injured Cavalry officer that has deserted. Lucas mends the officer's injury only to find that a group of troops are outside with the intentions of taking the officer back to their unit for a court martial.

Since the troops are stationed outside of North Fork, the officer over the troops, Major Dalmer, uses the North Fork jail to house the deserter. When Lucas comes to town he finds that the officer has had no medical treatment and begins to question the Major's command. All this does is lead Lucas down a road where the Major begins a campaign to make sure his command is never questioned.

An entertaining story that could had continued well after the allotted thirty minute time limit. Robert Cornthwaite was excellent playing the Major with the idea that his word is always right. Plus it was nice to see Harry Carey Jr in a role that looked made for him. Good watch.

Harry Carey Jr in a good bit.

[gordonl56 · 8/10 · 14 September 2013]

THE RIFLEMAN – The Deserter - 1960

Chuck Connors headlines this 1958 to 1963 western series that ran for 168 episodes. Connors is a world class hand with a Winchester rifle. This of course ends up getting him in no end of trouble.

A cold windy night and a wounded soldier, Ron Haggerthy stumbles up to rancher Chuck Connors place. He collapses at the door and is brought in by Connors and his son, Johnny Crawford. Connors tends to the man's wounds as best he can. A short time later, a group of US Horse soldiers, led by Harry Carey Jr. ride up. They are looking for a deserter. Connors refuses the troops entry but they burst in and take the man into custody. Connors insists that they take him into nearby North Fork. There, Haggerthy can be kept at the jail-house and get proper medical treatment.

Carey agrees and the take the man to North Fork. Their commanding officer, Robert Cornthwaite will meet them there.

Connors rides into town the next day to check on Haggerthy. He has a high fever and has been refused medical attention. "No need" says Major Cornthwaite. "He is to be shot for desertion". Connors quickly discovers that Cornthwaite is a glory hound just assigned out west to fight the Sioux uprising. He drives his men mercilessly and many are breaking down under the strain. And they have not even engaged the enemy yet.

Connors knows something is mentally wrong here and sends off a telegram to the local army fort. He explains what is happening etc with Cornthwaites' command. When the major hears of the telegram he declares martial law in the town. He has Connors and Sheriff Fix arrested as well. The sick wounded man, Haggerthy, is dragged out and propped up against a wall.

Cornthwaite orders his second in command, LT, Harry Carey Jr. to fire. Carey has had enough and refuses. The visibly disturbed Major then screams at the firing squad to carry out the order. They also refuse. New orders arrive by telegraph and Cornthwaite is replaced in command by Lt. Carey. The Major is to report back to the fort.

Another smooth episode handled seamlessly by veteran helmsman, Joseph H. Lewis.

What -- no ball bearings?

[grizzledgeezer · 6/10 · 9 April 2013]

When you have to crank out a TV episode every week, it's natural that you'll swipe stories whenever you can get away with it. This episode is basically "The Caine Mutiny", with Robert Cornthwaite playing Captain Queeg (sans ball bearings). Cornthwaite had a long career as a character actor. (My favorite Cornthwaite role is Dr Flankon, from the Department of Unexpected Atomic Events, in "Mant!".)

The story ends with Cornthwaite finally going nuts and riding off to an imagined new command and the presumed deserter not being executed. There are other ways it might have been handled, such as having the deserter receive a proper court martial and be executed, even though the execution occurred under the command of an unbalanced officer.

This could have made an excellent -- and more-complex -- two-parter. As it is, it's too glib and shallow. Lucas is also a little too 20th-century liberal in his views.

The McCaine Mutiny

[SusanJL · 6/10 · 26 January 2022]

I'm not a fan of military shows, and this is no exception. But a decent rifleman episode, just not my cup of tea. Personally I don't think I would last two minutes in the military with having to follow the orders of superiors who frankly may just not be superior!!