User reviews

I watched this show every week as a kid - I'm 56. I liked it a lot but being around 10 I don't think I really appreciated all it had to offer. Compared to what's on TV these days (I know this makes me sound old. OK, point taken.) the writing was very good. The interplay between Lucas & Mark was genuine; I understand they were fast friends until Connors' death. The only thing I didn't understand was why North Fork even needed a sheriff; Lucas bailed Micah out nearly every week. Oh, well....

It's running on Encore right now. I'm just glad to see that somebody in authority has realized that these old shows shouldn't be dismissed just because they were filmed in black & white. It's the quality of the product that matters. I'm hoping to see Have Gun Will Travel, The Life & Legend of Wyatt Earp, The Rebel, and other shows of this era soon too.

Back in the day when I was a lad, I remember you could get a toy replica of the rifle that Chuck Connors used in The Rifleman. For those of you who don't remember it was called the Flip Special. As the show was popular so was the toy gun.

Come to think of it Chuck Connors invented the automatic weapon before anyone else did. Instead of a standard trigger, Connors had that exaggerated big ring to cock the weapon and fire repeatedly at the same time. He was pretty deadly with it too.

But Connors as Lucas McCain wanted to forget his hell-raising past, he was interested in settling down as a single father with his son, Johnny Crawford who grew into his young teen years during the show's run. The only other regular on the show was Marshal Paul Fix who seemed to get in a fix and needed Connors and his rifle to help preserve law and order in the town of North Fort.

What made the The Rifleman special was Chuck Connors and his strong presence as a father to young Crawford. This was the western frontier and not Fifties suburbia in which Hugh Beaumont and Barbara Billingsley raised the Beaver and Wally. He was a single dad that dad's could identify with and emulate. Connors and Crawford were something special on the small screen.

Several women came and went in Lucas McCain's life, but when the show's run ended he was still a widower. As a show The Rifleman had good values and lots of action. Who could ask for more.

I'm someone who really enjoys watching TV Westerns from the 1950s and early-1960s.

During that period of time there were certainly plenty of cowboy shows to choose from (some good, some bad). I believe that the total count comes to close to 40 in all.

One of my all-time favorite shows from those glory days of TV Westerns was The Rifleman, which was filmed in b&w and ran for 5 solid seasons (1958-1963).

Sure this weekly, half-hour program had its faults, but, all the same, I thought that a good many of the episodes were well-scripted and entertaining for the most part.

Set in the 1880s, The Rifleman's stories were always kept simple and straight to the point. And I often found that there was a really good rapport going on between the actors in these episodes.

On top of these pluses, I definitely thought that actor Chuck Connors, as rancher, Lucas McCain, made for an absolutely ideal cowboy-dude. Big, masculine and burly, with a likable, no-nonsense attitude towards his role, Connors' presence literally epitomized the very essence of The Rifleman to a perfect "T".

P.S. - McCain's beloved rifle was a custom-designed Winchester. It was always present as a clear symbol, representing the strength, skill and overall manliness of this ace-cowboy of the Old West.

I am so pleased this marvelous "TV Noir" from the late 1950's is back on TV re-runs (Hallmark Channel). As a kid, I watched this show because I wanted a rifle like the one Lucas McCain had. As a 50+ year old now, I enjoy the show for a different reason - the very different style of filming it used - B&W of course, but dark, with high contrasts much like film noir. As a father of two sons I also like the interaction between father and son on the show, and how Mark is taught from "The good Book" as well as from experience, and Lucas teaches by example, hard lessons and easy ones, a stern but always loving father. The depiction of a simple life with hard work, long days, and well deserved rest at supper is perhaps fantasy in today's world, but good to strive for. Micah as a no-nonsense sheriff who has lost an edge to old age, and compensates by packing a sawed-off scatter-gun and common sense to keep the peace. No blood or gore, no entry and exit wounds, who cares? That's why I like this genre of TV, it's simple and plain, but sends a good message of hard work, simple life, and good overcomes evil in the end.

Chuck Connors showed more acting in this show than he did in any other, and seems to have been made for the part. Forget all the gibberish about guns and TV. I love this show, and other westerns, and have never owned a gun, nor do I plan to (unless I take up hunting). That's not the point. The point to me is the lessons taught in these shows, good overcomes evil in the end, and justice is served. Real life? No. But that's why I like to watch these shows - good overcomes evil at least for a Saturday afternoon.

This show, and a couple of others - Virginian and High Chaparral were some of the best TV viewing for me growing up. Emphasis on character building, the Western scenery was just window-dressing to me. Even Bonanza (after Michael Landon started to influence stories more) became a great show emphasizing character building. As a father, I learned from all the fathers in these shows (as well as from my own father) how to be a good father, and help to build good character in my own sons. Who said the TV was an "idiot box". Like a computer, it's a tool, and can be used for idiot purposes, or for growing.

As a kid growing up in the 70s, "The Rifleman" was one the only other western besides "Wild, Wild, West" that I really liked--I envied Mark McCain and the great father he had on the show (played by Connors). Yes, each show was a morality play but so were many other shows of the 50s & 60s (including "Star Trek"). They made their point at a time when there was still some innocence in America, and even taught tolerance for people from other countries/cultures (for example, in the episode of "Rifleman" where a Japanese man gets insulted & pushed into a fight with one of the locals & uses Judo to defend himself). Lucas McCain taught his son by example NEVER to use a gun or fight unless it was self-defense. It sounds silly now, but when I was a kid I wished my dad had explained things to me the same way Chuck Connors did to his son in the show--ah well, thank goodness for TV writers! :)

I'm 43 and have loved this show since I was a kid - and it was in reruns then. It's special in so many ways.

The open affection between father and son (a rarity in the '50's). The moral lessons that are woven into the narrative - without seeming preachy. The faith in the basic decency and goodness of people. The urge to help others out, even if there isn't an obvious reward. The humor, the heart, and the warmth of the principal characters (all wonderfully played by the actors who give them life).

In addition to this, there's the writing! I tend to drift with modern shows, even my favorites - but I always pay attention when I'm watching The Riflemen. TV writers could learn something from this show which presented all of the above qualities *and* an engaging entertaining story, lasting only about half an hour.

No, it's not reality - or even realism - and thank God! I've had enough of that after an 8 hour day. Keep your Housewives of Whatever! And your LO:SVU! Give me the Rifleman any day!

Growing up in an abusive home in the 50s and 60s this show taught me right from wrong. It was part of why I became a law enforcement officer. This half hour morality play was so instrumental in forming my personal code of honor that even in retirement I still live by it. Only one other show contributed as much to my life. That was CHEYENNE.

I grew up with "The Rifleman" and rediscovered it on "retro TV" just recently. It's odd, sometimes in your later years you rediscover things from your childhood and wonder "what was I thinking?" Not the case here, the show is even better than I remember; just great acting by Chuck Connors, Paul Fix, Johnny Crawford (Emmy nominated best supporting actor), and the impressive array of guest stars. I can just imagine 'liberal' moms of today shunning the show as "too violent" and the "wrong message". But in fact, practically every show had a lesson in 'right and wrong', and a warmth you could feel in the interaction between the main characters. I'm sure back when, every boy in America wished he were Mark McCain. As I see the episodes now, I realize you really have to pay attention. You expect a handful of "but Pa!(s)" and the 'bad guys' getting it in the end, but the plots twist and turn and can get quite involved considering the era of the show's heyday. The show's simple premise was capable of telling interesting and occasionally historic stories with some eclectic characters. This unheralded gem is pure Americana, and it sad that this type of family entertainment has evaporated only to be replaced with "poison" (as Madona calls it) on America's living room screens. So much for progress.

"The Rifleman" was the saga of Lucas McCain, a homesteader in the Old West struggling to make a living off his ranch and make a man out of his motherless son Mark McCain. The series was set during the 1870's and 1880's in the fictional town of North Fork, New Mexico Territory. "The Rifleman" was the created brainchild of producer Sam Peckinpah along with the production team of Jules Levy, Arnold Laven, and Arthur Gardner who served as executive producers of the series and was produced through Dick Powell's Four Star Television for ABC-TV that lasted five seasons producing 168 episodes all in black and white and ran 30 minutes in length airing from September 30, 1958 until the final episode of the series on April 8, 1963. The series was on Monday nights for the remainder of it's run at the 8:30 eastern/7:30 central time slot. "The Rifleman" was historical as well becoming the first prime time Western to show a single parent raising a child.

Chuck Connors, a former professional baseball player and coming off two big major theatrical movies "Old Yeller" and William Wyler's "The Big Country" won critical acclaim for his portrayal of Lucas McCain and young Johnny Crawford started his career on this series as Lucas' son Mark McCain. Also along with the cast were Paul Fix as Marshal Micah Torrance. But the real star of the show was Lucas' rapid action Winchester rifle that was customized to allow repeated firing by cycling its lever action that can be fired in three tenths of a second which was helpful in taking down the bad guys each week. Though quite successful during its first two seasons the show began to slip by the third season due to the ratings and by the show's fifth and final season it was out of the top ten of the Nielsens,.

Joesph Lewis directed 51 episodes of The Rifleman television series along with Arnold Laven who directed 22 episodes of the series. Other directors were Gene Nelson, Arthur H. Nadel, Don Medford, Richard Donner, Lawrence Dobkin, Paul Landres, Don Taylor, Ted Post, Jerry Hopper and even Chuck Connors directed an episode. Fantastic writers came from Arthur Browne, Calvin Clements, Robert Culp, Albert Aley, Ed Adamson, Bruce Geller, Lawrence Dobkin, Tom Gries, Sam Peckinpah, Chuck Connors, Christopher Knopf and Margaret Armen to name a few. More than 500 guest stars in over 970 credited roles appeared during The Rifleman's five season run with many veteran character actors cast in recurring roles along with some new Hollywood faces that were just starting out also made guest appearances as well...among them Buddy Hackett and Sammy Davis Junior. But the real tone of the show was the kinship and the relationship between father and son provided the balance against the violent backdrop of the frontier. The result was several Emmy nominations including a Golden Globe nomination for the show resulting in one of the best television Westerns of all time. Happy 60th Anniversary!!!

I grew up in the 80's and never saw The Rifleman until about five years ago. Chuck Connors was such a powerful presence. He loved his son more than anything in the world and he raised him the right way. Johnny Crawford played his son and he was just as important to the show. He also loved his dad more than anything and would defend him against anyone. Young men will really identify with the father/son bond. Chuck Connors only got to play a good guy in a few other films/series that I can remember:Branded, Superman(Guest Star), Arrest and Trial, Airplane II(The Sarge), Flipper. He deserved a lot more good guy roles because he was so good at it. He did get to play a comedic bad guy on Support Your Local Gunfighter that was great.

Im in the UK and I vaguely remember the show from when it aired over here, decades ago when I was a kid. I'm currently watching reruns of it and, man, this is awesome TV. I love the opening title credits with Chuck Connors strolling down the street, firing off rounds from his rifle, swinging it round and then reloading it, all the while eyeing the camera, not looking away from the viewer. It is a cool opening. Connors is great as Lucas McCain, a principled widower and highly skilled sharpshooter trying to raise his boy, Mark, right on their spread. He may just be the best ever single dad in TV history. He constantly is giving Mark life lessons but he isn't without the occasional flaw, and even his flaws can be used as a learning experience for both of them- none of that toxic masculinity. And Johnny Crawford, hasn't so far, been annoying like a lot of children characters in TV shows can be. He comes across as just a good kid who loves his dad. I'm rounding out the first season and it's solid entertainment great support from Paul Fix as Micah, the town sheriff. And there's a couple of appearances by Michael Ansara as Sam Buckhart who would take the character into his own TV show, Law of the Plainsman. Highly recommended, and great for spotting those familiar supporting actors of that time too.

Your comment as a "bad guy" being cast as a "good guy" has more truth than you may realize. My dad would come home with stories about what a nasty, uncouth jerk Connors was. He was a better ballplayer and actor than he was a human being. The shows were generally well directed - in spite of Connors - and well-edited, along with good camera work. Nevertheless, I believe Pop would have been happy to see Connors remain in some area of baseball rather than foisting his ugly personality on showbiz folks. Does anyone know what his HBP (hit by pitcher) numbers were? Considering everything I bet they were pretty high. I always liked the rapid-fire method they used for his lever-action rifle although I believe that accuracy would really be sacrificed with this method of firing. GG

I first saw this show as a 6-year-old kid and didn't think too much of it at first but once I got a few years older, I really started to appreciate it and now I consider it one of my all-time favorites...not so much as a replication of authentic Western living (I recall Chuck Connors' quote during the show's run: "We offer relaxing entertainment. If you want period realism, go read a book")as it was an interesting show with GREAT background music by Herschel Burke Gilbert, one of my all-time favorite TV composers. I've noticed that people usually have pretty strong opinions about the show....they either really like it or they hate it...usually those who hate the show focus on the violence (they claim Lucas would kill over nothing, which certainly never happened in any episode)...and those who love the show tend to focus on...well, the violence! I've heard comments like, "If there were N number of Rifleman episodes, the body count during the show's run would be >N"...a funny quote, to be sure, but simply not true. In fact, there were episodes where a bad guy would draw on Lucas, he'd sense it, and fire near him to show that "I've got enough firepower to cut you in half"..there'd be other episodes when somebody would draw a gun and Lucas would "sting their hand" to keep from having to shoot them. (hokey, yeah, but that's TV for ya). You have to remember that the TV audience and the ABC network in particular expected action in its Westerns and crime dramas. The ABC network wanted a lot of action in its shows at that time because they were trying hard to get established as a network and compete with NBC and CBS. Some claim "The Rifleman" was something of a gimmick show. It slipped close to becoming one from time to time but the warm interaction between Connors and Johnny Crawford as his son Mark were part of what kept the show from becoming a "Colt .45" or "Hotel de Paree" period parody. Fans of the show often mention the cinematography. Yes, it was good, indeed. In fact, until I started seeing episodes on DVD, I didn't know just how good the film work was. Was it a grim show? No. Those who really don't care for dramatic, near-baroque background music probably get that "grim" idea. Was Micah the sheriff near-useless? Yes, I admit that. Lucas usually ended up being a one-man North Fork SWAT team, to be sure. But man oh man, could a viewer get revved up! They got great character actors like Jack Elam, Martin Landau, James Coburn, and John Anderson to play bad guys...and they'd just work you to this crescendo, just get you where you couldn't wait for Lucas to get out that gun and wail on' em! I'd recommend by-passing most of the last-season (1962-63) episodes of the show. By then, Johnny's Mark was now into puberty, Chuck looks bored and tired of the show (he, in fact, WAS tired of doing it and afraid of being typecast by the Lucas character by then)and although Patricia Blair looks great, the shows are pretty uneventful and stale and they tried too much to play to the Ricky Nelson angle and give Crawford an excuse to sing. "The Rifleman" has really aged well, from the dramatic opening sequence right down to the Four Star Banner logo at the end. It's a TV classic near and dear to my heart, regardless of the body count, heh heh...

An extremely solid western television program. My highest regards.

I own every episode of this show. At age 68, I think I appreciate it more than i did when i was younger because I witness the true values which defined it to a greater degree. If you really examine many of the episodes, there are strong spiritual lessons, emerging from both defeat and a victory. I see many applications of the Christian faith, not only in indictments of extreme evil, but in redemption of many characters, who when it matters. Found a strength outside of themselves , to become a conqueror over their own personal demons. Lucas McCain is a father, confidently guiding his son, Mark, into manhood, while at the same time, personally growing in areas of repentance and forgiveness himself. At times, Mark,points the way for Lucas to grow in grace and that is what makes the program so lasting. When mistakes are made,Lucas, Mike and Micah, are unafraid to face up to their flaws and not only give themselves another chance, but dispense grace to those around them.

The Rifleman was the series that MADE Chuck Connors. He portrayed a strong but patient widower father, who just happened to be sudden death with his rifle whenever challenge by bad guys. Mostly he tried to stay out of the gunfights, but generally he was forced to clean up the West a little every week. LOL

There were very good supporting casts on most episodes. This was during the period where supporting actors in films were finding that they could supplement their incomes with supporting roles on TV. Plus you'll see a few "up and coming" stars here and there.

Good show.

It's interesting to note that Sam Peckinpaw did the original concept of the rifleman. He also directed some of the first episodes. The area he used as a basis (at least in name) was where I grew up, in central California, thus the town of North Fork, the Madera house saloon, Clovis. The Rifleman was set in NM. but a lot of what went on, was actually taken from stories that Sam and his siblings grew up on about this area. Sam's father was a judge here in Madera county, and the family has a mountain named after the family. Sam's Brother still lives in North Fork. He has written several cookbooks. One contains recipes for road kill items.

At 6'5" with his chiselled features and snake eyes Chuck Connors was born to play menacing bad guys, as he did so well in both comedies like Designing Woman, and drama like The Big Country. However, an inspired piece of casting put him in the lead role in The Rifleman as a righteous noble hero, and it became his greatest role, and the one he's best remembered for. A young Johnny Crawford was outstanding playing his son, and the obvious affection between these two was a big reason for the shows success, I enjoyed it on Australian TV when I was young, and now at 76, I'm enjoying it all over again on DVD thanks to Levy-Gardner-Laven releasing the whole series in such wonderful quality! A lasting tribute to the great Chuck Connors, and one of the best western series ever produced!

In spite of its flaws and faults - I found "The Rifleman" (1958-1963) to be a fairly satisfying and entertaining TV Western (for the most part).

All of the stories of "The Rifleman" centered around the law-abiding activities of New Mexico rancher, Lucas McCain who was, without question, the fastest shot of all with his customized, rapid-fire Winchester rifle (which was always close at hand).

Filmed in stark b&w - This series' half-hour episodes often showcased the acting talents of various celebrity guest stars who appeared in pivotal roles.

One of the BEST shows on air from the late 50s, early 60s. I grew up pretty rebellious as a child in the 60s yet so fortunate to have been growing up in a time of amazing movies and shows like 'The Rifleman.' I never cared for Chuck Connors looks, it was some the shape of his eyes, yet as I got older I learned to realize just how ignorant that I was to judge someone from their looks and the shape of their eyes or facial features. So here I am a progressive yet a woman with strong values and morals and a heart that still enjoys watching 'The Rifleman' everyday when home. I find comfort in the story lines that more kids these days should learn from. The acting was wonderful by Chuck Connors showed more acting in this show than he did in any other, and seems to have been made for the part. The series reflected an Emphasis on character building and morals to the stories. I realized later in life that it was this exact same style of strong, silent type walk which Clint Eastwood in making his trademark that was lead by Chuck Connors yet Lucas McCain was a FAMIY MAN and always showed a great fathers love for his son. He was what any child would want as a father. A father that was raising a child alone without a mother or any families help. Instead he was a man what was respected by the town, a man with integrity yet would also admit when he was wrong.

My favorite child actor wasn't Shirley Temple yet Johnny Crawford in the late 60's because he played is character Mark McCain so real and genuine and showed great respect for his father. And as a female I grew up a "Tomboy" and wished I had a brother like Mark McCain.

They just don't make shows like those these days. The shows I adore as a MODERN VEGAN WOMAN that also grew up on Rock & Roll. I still also watch Bonanza and Gunsmoke too. I'm even friends with the wife of Michaal Landon, Cindy Landon, and we talk about the making of Bonanza and Little House on the Prairie and the VALUES that are so important to be taught to children. To be truthful, honest and spiritual. Odd that a thin progressive woman that doesn't eat animals could love these old time series yet that tough the heart and spirit of man and in the end it's just a life of peace that we long to have in this world. Peace for animals and all humans. Love this classic "The Rifleman."

I was the pre-pubescent target audience for this when it first ran and loved it. Like other 50s oaters Lucas carried a modified 'piece'. The title scene where Lucas street sweeps with his Winchester at noonday summa six shadows illuminates the careless production of the time. The cast adds gravitas to Conner's ball-field credits with the anchor of Paul Fixx playing the sagacious sheriff. Fixx had made his bones (albeit in a thinner incarnation) as the usual villain with the John Ford troupe. Every script was a convoluted morality play. Typically Lucas would blast some well deserving miscreant then hunker down to tell Mark this is what happens when you don't eat WonderBread or help old ladies cross the street. So far, there's nothing new here for a 50's horse opera save Lucas McCain was the one and only TV rancher with a mortgage. Where the Barkley's, the Cartwrights and the jokers on "High Chapperal" owned their states and governors, Johnny Yuma, Cheyenne, Sugar Foot, et.al. wondered alone blah blah, Chuck had to cough up monthly payments in a sedentary existence.

If you want to see the genre circa '58 watch "Rifleman" today on Encore/Western for great, unintentional humor. Watch 'Maverick' for scripted humor. Watch "Have Gun - Will Travel" for an adult western. See Chuck Connors on the big screen in "The Big Country" but don't spend money on the "Rifleman".

After some people thought that Chuck Conners as the "bad guy" in such films as "The Big Country",it was quickly misjudged by his character when he played Lucas McCain in "The Rifleman". The show was centered around him and his son Mark in the town of Northfolk. But the coolest thing on that show was that Winchester rifle he had,and he could fire at any range from it!!! He never used a six shooter. The way he took on the baddies with that rifle was the absolute trademark of that show which was one of the coolest and most exciting TV westerns ever to come out of the 1950's,and to this day it still holds up to other TV westerns that would endure years later. A great classic from that golden age of grand TV.