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Quiet Fear
Episode 127
Writer: Arthur Browne, Jr.
Director: Gene Nelson
Original Air Date 01/22/1962

Cast

Chuck Connors as Lucas McCain

Johnny Crawford as Mark McCain

Paul Fix as Marshal Micah Torrance



Guest Cast
Argentina Brunetti as Mrs. Ramirez

Argentina Brunetti, born Argentina Ferrau, was an Argentinian film, television, stage and radio actress, as well as a writer.  She worked in film and television, frequently cast in ethnic roles in a career spanning 65 years.  She grew up in an acting family, and was guided by her famous mother Mimi Aguglia, a stage actress, as they toured together throughout Europe and South America.  She signed a contract with MGM pictures in 1937 and was given assignments dubbing voices in Italian.  Many of her early film roles were uncredited.  Brunetti's first credited film appearance was in the classic Frank Capra film, "It's a Wonderful Life" (1946), in which she played the part of Mrs. Martini.

Brunetti appeared in many of the popular series of the 1950s and 60s, including "Alfred Hitchcock Presents" (1955–1962), "The Untouchables" (1969–1963) and "The Andy Griffith Show" (1960–1968).  She guest-starred in virtually all of the major westerns of her time, including "The Lone Ranger" (1949–1957), "Bonanza" (1959–1973), "Tales of Wells Fargo" (1957–1962) and "Gunsmoke" (1955–1975).  She was a working actress until her death, including making an appearance in "Everybody Loves Raymond" (1996–2005), played the role of Zia Sarina in "Mia Famiglia."  Married to Miro Brunetti, a foreign correspondent in Hollywood, she co-founded the Hollywood Foreign Press Association.

Dennis Cross as Martin
Dennis Cross

Dennis Cross made six appearances in THE RIFLEMAN, portraying Witcherly in "The Safe Guard" (episode 8), Ned Dunnell in "The Gaucho," (episode 14), Lafe Oberly in "The Patsy" (episode 41), Dorn in "The Hero" (episode 59), Fance Degnan in "The Vision" (episode 66), and Martin in "The Quiet Fear" (episode 127). Cross studied acting on the G. I. bill at the Actors Lab in Hollywood. He later moved to New York, where he appeared in live television programas and commercials. He appeared in the Philco Television Playhouse show, "A Trip To Bountiful," appearing with Lillian Gish, icon of the silent film era.

Enid Janes/Jaynes as Abbey Striker
Enid Jaynes as Abbey Striker in Quiet Fear

Enid Janes/Jaynes made six guest appearances in THE RIFLEMAN, twice in two-part stories.  She appeared as Amy Barker in "Panic" (episode 47), Aggie in "The Wyoming Story, Parts I and II" (episodes 96 and 97), as Abbey Striker in "Quiet Fear" (episode 127), and the Pregnant Woman in "Waste, Parts I and II" (episodes 143 and 144).  She later appeared with Chuck Connors in "Geronimo" (1962) as Huera.  Jaynes was wife of THE RIFLEMAN producer Jules V. Levy.

Patrick McVey as Jake Striker

Patrick McVey was an American stage, film and television actor who appeared in 100 movies and television shows during his 30-year career.  Most of his many film appearances were uncredited roles early in his career, including in the romantic comedy "Caught in the Draft" (1941), starring Bob Hope and Dorothy Lamour; the adventure comedy "Invisible Agent" (1942), starring Peter Lorre; the noir film "Dark Passage" (1947), starring Humphrey Boggart and Lauren Bacall.  He played Sergeant Flamm, the Chicago policeman, in the mystery adventure film "North by Northwest" (1959), starring Cary Grant, Eva Marie Saint and James Mason; Police Office Mike Tanner in the Frank Sinatra film "The Detective" (1969); and Bruce's father in the sports drama "Bang the Drum Slowly" (1973), starring Robert DeNiro (as Bruce Pearson), Michael Moriarty and Vincent Gardenia.

McVey guest-starred in many popular shows of the 1950s and 60s, including the crime drama "77 Sunset Strip" (1958–1964), the adventure series "The Fugitive" (1963–1967) and the legal drama "Perry Mason" (1957–1966).  He also played several recurring roles, including Steve Wilson in the drama "Big Town" (1950–1956), Lt. Col. Wesley Hayes in the western "Boots and Saddles" (1957), and Ben Andrews in the crime drama "Manhunt" (1959–1961).  McVey made two appearances in THE RIFLEMAN, portraying Walt Hake in "The Hawk" (episode 29) and Jake Striker in "The Quiet Fear" (episode 127).  He guest-starred in many other westerns, including "The Restless Gun" (1957–1959), "Bat Masterson" (1958–1961), "Maverick" (1957–1962), "Zane Grey Theater" (1956–1961), "Wanted: Dead or Alive" (1958–1961), "Bonanza" (1959–1973), "Cheyenne" (1955–1963), "Have Gun – Will Travel" (1957–1963), "The Virginian" (1962–1971), and "Gunsmoke" (1955–1975).

Richard Rust as Brice

Richard Rust was an American stage, film and television actor.  He appeared in more than 50 movies and television shows during a career of nearly 35 years.  He began his career in the theater, replacing another actor in Eugene O'Neill's Pulitzer Prize-winning drama "Long Day's Journey into Night" (1956), in which he performed alongside Fredric March and Florence Eldridge.  He had a few film roles, including the part of a country boy in the western "The Legend of Tom Dooley" (1959), starring Michael Landon; Dobie in the western "Comanche Station" (1960), starring Randolph Scott; Oliver in the drama "Walk on the Wild Side" (1962), starring Laurence Harvey and Jane Fonda; and Pisco in the drama "The Last Movie" (1971), starring Dennis Hopper.

Rust guest-starred in a variety of popular television shows, including the suspense series "Alfred Hitchcock Presents" (1955–1962), the crime dramas "The Untouchables" (1959–1963), "77 Sunset Strip" (1958–1964), "Perry Mason" (1957–1966) and "Mod Squad" (1968–1973), the short-lived drama series "Sam Benedict" (1962–1963), in which he had a recurring role as Hank Tabor, and the action series "The Rat Patrol" (1966–1968).  Rust made one appearance in THE RIFLEMAN, portraying Brice Hornsby in "The Quiet Fear" (episode 127).  He guest-starred in several other westerns of the 1950s and 60s, including "Zane Grey Theater" (1956–1961), starring Dick Powell, "Gunsmoke" (1955–1975), starring James Arness, "Tales of Wells Fargo" (1957–1962), starring Dale Robertson, "Have Gun – Will Travel" (1957–1963), starring Richard Boone, and "Bonanza" (1959–1973), starring Lorne Greene, Michael Landon, Dan Blocker and Pernell Roberts.


An old friend of Lucas' buys a neighboring ranch and moves in, along with his daughter, a deaf-mute.  Trouble threatens when one of the local trail-bums tries to force his attentions on the girl and blames his misbehavior on the young hired hand who works on the ranch, knowing that the girl is unable to speak and tell the truth about the situation.  Lucas helps to unravel the situation and bring the young tough to justice.