I never had any luck with my neighbors. One day coming from friend Johnny's house I figured I could save some steps by cutting through my neighbor Kitty's Backyard. Kitty's house was diagonally across from mine. Separating their yard from ours was a spiked wooden gate. I couldn't budge the gate open so I climbed into the adjacent yard. Next thing I knew I was attacked by Ginger my other neighbor's dog. He bit me on my thigh. I screamed as my Mom and the Louden's ran toward me. Next thing I knew my Mom put me in her 54 Plymouth and drove me to Dr. Rubenstein's for first aid. I remember the burning alcohol the Doctor applied on my bloody side. The ride home was worse as my Mother gave one of those (How stupid could you be?) lectures. I've been watching re-runs of "The Rifleman" lately . The theme song by itself is one of my favorites composed by Hershel Burke Gilbert. As our star Lucas McCain (Chuck Connors) rapid fires his rifle and then twirls it into his holster and give that serious stare to the viewer that he means business. I watched this episode many years earlier with my Dad as I recovered from my dog bite. Our story starts off with Lucas and his son Mark (Johnny Crawford) hunting for deer when they come upon a no trespassing sign and then abruptly meeting a reproachable homesteader Abel MacDonald (George Mathews) and his Son Carey (Kim Charney). Lucas offers some friendly neighbor pleasantries informing MacDonald that his son has to attend school. Mark would be happy to walk to school with a new friend his own age. MacDonald wants no part of anyone and his disdain for people is evident. Especially Doctors who took him for his money and in the end losing his Wife due to incurable illness. Despite Carey's father's hatred of people Mark and Carey get along. Lucas gives a good neighbor offering with a sack of feed but MacDonald tells him that he's putting up barbed wire around his property for a dispute over a stray calf. As the prickly fence goes up Carey is thrown into the barb wire and is seriously injured. MacDonald's Son need immediate medical attention or he'll bleed to death. MacDonald wants no part of Doctor's help. Lucas takes action. Familiar character actor Edgar Buchanan portrays the Country Doctor. I was always curious why casting directors hired George Mathews for western roles with his heavy New York accent. George the consummate bully, husky with that whiny saying, "Is that so?" type was showcased mostly in gangster type roles as a secondary rogue. This also explains my review title "The Bensonhurst Bomber'' reference. Mathews appeared on a Honeymooners episode as Ralph Kramden's nemesis Harvey. As for the Rifleman, Chuck Conners was ideally cast for that role. The south pawed Rifle firing widower on the show was in real life and a former professional athlete. Chuck with his well chisel frame and deep voice made him a natural western legend of the TV screen.
Review of The Angry Man
