THE RIFLEMAN –High Country - 1958
This is the 122nd 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.
A couple of hillbilly types, James Coburn and Jan Stine come to North Fork to do a bit of trading. Coburn has a bit too much rotgut and turns mean. Sheriff Paul Fix tosses the two out of town.
The pair, stop on the way home at Chuck Connors ranch to water their horses. Coburn takes a right liking to Connors' rifle. He offers to trade some beaver pelts for the weapon. Connors declines the offer and asks the pair to move on.
That evening Coburn drags a reluctant Stine along and returns to Connors' ranch. He intends to steal the rifle. This does not quite go off as planned and Stine gets killed in error by a stray bullet. Coburn beats the feet back into the night and heads for the hills.
Coburn tells his kinfolk how the nasty low country man, Connors, killed Stine for no reason. A short time later Connors and his son, Johnny Crawford ride up. They are returning the dead man's horse. He tells the family that he gave the young man a good burial etc. The hill folk quickly put the grab on Connors. They are going to have a trial.
Coburn tells his pack of lies about the events resulting in the death of Stine. Connor's calls him a liar. Connors is found guilty and is sentenced to 5 years as a slave to the dead man's mother, Ellen Corby. He is chained up and put to work.
Several days later Connors manages to bust a rusted link in the chain. He goes after Coburn and gives him a beating. The kinfolk decide that maybe a test of courage should be used to settle things.
The two men are handed burning torches and let at each other. After a flaming bit of dueling, Connors gets the upper hand. He holds the torch over Coburn. "Tell the truth or I'll stick it in your eyes!" Coburn admits it was his fault the man was killed. Connors is released and Coburn shackled up.
Not great, but by no means bad either. Sort of a middle of the road episode. I always find it interesting to see James Coburn's work from early in his acting career.
This is the 122nd 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.
A couple of hillbilly types, James Coburn and Jan Stine come to North Fork to do a bit of trading. Coburn has a bit too much rotgut and turns mean. Sheriff Paul Fix tosses the two out of town.
The pair, stop on the way home at Chuck Connors ranch to water their horses. Coburn takes a right liking to Connors' rifle. He offers to trade some beaver pelts for the weapon. Connors declines the offer and asks the pair to move on.
That evening Coburn drags a reluctant Stine along and returns to Connors' ranch. He intends to steal the rifle. This does not quite go off as planned and Stine gets killed in error by a stray bullet. Coburn beats the feet back into the night and heads for the hills.
Coburn tells his kinfolk how the nasty low country man, Connors, killed Stine for no reason. A short time later Connors and his son, Johnny Crawford ride up. They are returning the dead man's horse. He tells the family that he gave the young man a good burial etc. The hill folk quickly put the grab on Connors. They are going to have a trial.
Coburn tells his pack of lies about the events resulting in the death of Stine. Connor's calls him a liar. Connors is found guilty and is sentenced to 5 years as a slave to the dead man's mother, Ellen Corby. He is chained up and put to work.
Several days later Connors manages to bust a rusted link in the chain. He goes after Coburn and gives him a beating. The kinfolk decide that maybe a test of courage should be used to settle things.
The two men are handed burning torches and let at each other. After a flaming bit of dueling, Connors gets the upper hand. He holds the torch over Coburn. "Tell the truth or I'll stick it in your eyes!" Coburn admits it was his fault the man was killed. Connors is released and Coburn shackled up.
Not great, but by no means bad either. Sort of a middle of the road episode. I always find it interesting to see James Coburn's work from early in his acting career.
