THE RIFLEMAN – "Sharpshooter" – 1958
This is the first 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.
Connors and son Crawford ride into North Fork and take a room at the local hotel. They wish to hunt up the seller of a small ranch they saw on their ride into town. The seller, the town Judge, Sidney Blackmer, is also the man in charge of the next days "turkey shoot" contest with a $500 dollar prize. Connors, no slouch in the shooting department pays his 10 dollar entry fee.
What Connors does not know, is that the town is more or less ran by local heavy, Leif Erikson. Erikson has no intention of losing and has imported a top hand with a six-gun. The ringer, Dennis Hopper, is lightning fast and deadly accurate. Erickson plans on making a goodly profit by betting on the unknown Hopper.
The town Sheriff, R.G. Armstrong cautions Connors that Erikson does not take kindly to losing. The local graveyard is full of people who crossed him. The turkey shoot starts and soon only Hopper and Connors are left in play. When Connors next round comes up, he looks over to his son, Crawford. What he sees is Erickson holding the boy with one hand while resting his other on his gun. Connors takes the less than subtle hint and misses his target. Hopper is declared the winner.
Hopper however is not so sure he is the better man and asks Connors if he threw the event. Hopper and Connors son, Crawford have struck up a friendship and Hopper knows about them wanting to buy a ranch. Also in the mix is Hopper's uncle, Charles Arnt. Arnt is the one who has sold Hopper's skill with a gun to Erikson. Erikson had cleaned up with a 10,000 dollar win by betting on the kid, Hopper, to win the event. Arnt gets himself shot when he pushes Erickson for a large cut of the gambling wins.
Needless to say Connors and his Winchester are drawn into a battle with Erickson and his men. Shots are exchanged with Erickson and crew being the losers. Hopper is wounded when he steps in to help Connors. The town is more than happy with the demise of Erickson and his bunch. Judge Blackmer sells Connors the ranch just outside of town and all are happy.
This was a pretty good start to the series in my humble opinion and well worth a watch if you run across it.
Of particular note here is the writer of the episode, Sam Peckinpah. Peckinpah is of course well known to Western fans as the writer, director of, THE WILD BUNCH.
This is the first 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.
Connors and son Crawford ride into North Fork and take a room at the local hotel. They wish to hunt up the seller of a small ranch they saw on their ride into town. The seller, the town Judge, Sidney Blackmer, is also the man in charge of the next days "turkey shoot" contest with a $500 dollar prize. Connors, no slouch in the shooting department pays his 10 dollar entry fee.
What Connors does not know, is that the town is more or less ran by local heavy, Leif Erikson. Erikson has no intention of losing and has imported a top hand with a six-gun. The ringer, Dennis Hopper, is lightning fast and deadly accurate. Erickson plans on making a goodly profit by betting on the unknown Hopper.
The town Sheriff, R.G. Armstrong cautions Connors that Erikson does not take kindly to losing. The local graveyard is full of people who crossed him. The turkey shoot starts and soon only Hopper and Connors are left in play. When Connors next round comes up, he looks over to his son, Crawford. What he sees is Erickson holding the boy with one hand while resting his other on his gun. Connors takes the less than subtle hint and misses his target. Hopper is declared the winner.
Hopper however is not so sure he is the better man and asks Connors if he threw the event. Hopper and Connors son, Crawford have struck up a friendship and Hopper knows about them wanting to buy a ranch. Also in the mix is Hopper's uncle, Charles Arnt. Arnt is the one who has sold Hopper's skill with a gun to Erikson. Erikson had cleaned up with a 10,000 dollar win by betting on the kid, Hopper, to win the event. Arnt gets himself shot when he pushes Erickson for a large cut of the gambling wins.
Needless to say Connors and his Winchester are drawn into a battle with Erickson and his men. Shots are exchanged with Erickson and crew being the losers. Hopper is wounded when he steps in to help Connors. The town is more than happy with the demise of Erickson and his bunch. Judge Blackmer sells Connors the ranch just outside of town and all are happy.
This was a pretty good start to the series in my humble opinion and well worth a watch if you run across it.
Of particular note here is the writer of the episode, Sam Peckinpah. Peckinpah is of course well known to Western fans as the writer, director of, THE WILD BUNCH.