Episode 14
Writer: Bruce Geller
Director: Jerry Hopper
Original Air Date 12/30/1958
Cast
Chuck Connors as Lucas McCain
Johnny Crawford as Mark McCain
Paul Fix as Marshal Micah Torrance
Guest Cast
Robert Crawford is an American film and television actor who has appeared in two dozen movies and television shows in a little more than a decade. He has often been credited as "Bobby" Crawford. A fairly versatile actor, Crawford has made guest appearances in the Disney family adventure series "Zorro" (1957–1959), starring Guy Williams; the crime drama "Dragnet" (1951–1959), starring Jack Webb; and the war drama "Combat!" (1962–1967), starring Vic Morrow. He also played a few recurring roles, including Andy Sherman in the western "Laramie" (1959–1963) and Detective Phil Burns in the crime drama "Manhunt" (1959–1961). Crawford guest-starred in three episodes of THE RIFLEMAN, portraying a schoolboy in "Eight Hours to Die" (episode 6), Bobby in "The Gaucho" (episode 14) and Freddy Toomey in "The Second Witness" (episode 23). He also made guest appearances in the westerns "Rawhide" (1959–1966), starring Clint Eastwood, "Cheyenne" (1955–1963) and "Gunsmoke" (1955–1975).
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.
Lawrence Dobkin was an American television director, actor and television screenwriter whose career spanned seven decades. Dobkin was a prolific performer during the Golden Age of Radio. His voice was use to narrate the classic western "Broken Arrow" and "The Robe." Dobkin made four guest appearances in THE RIFLEMAN, portraying different characters in each episode. He played Juan Argentez in "The Gaucho" (episode 14), General Phil Sheridan in The Sheridan Story" (episode 16), Don Chimera de Laredo in "The Knight Errant" (episode 117), and Ben Judson in "The Day a Town Slept" (episode 139). Dobkin worked behind the camera on THE RIFLEMAN, with writing credits for "The Actress" (episode 94) and "The Executioner" (episode 142). He also directed several episodes, including "Tinhorn" (episode 134), "The Jealous Man" (episode 136), "Day of Reckoning" (episode 138), and "The Executioner" (episode 142). Dobkin later directed several episodes of the Chuck Connors television series "Branded" (1965-1966). Dobkin's film performances include "Never Fear," "Sweet Smell of Success," and "North by Northwest," He announced the landmark television series "Naked City," closing each episode with the statement, "There are eight million stories in the naked city, and this has been one of them."
Chana Eden, born Chana Mesyngier, is an Israeli television and film actress. She has appeared in more than 30 movies and television shows in a career spanning nearly 30 years. She has guest-starred in several popular crime dramas, including "Richard Diamond, Private Detective" (1957–1960), starring David Janssen, "Perry Mason" (1957–1966), starring Raymond Burr as an ace attorney, "77 Sunset Strip" (1958–1964) and "Naked City" (1958–1963). Eden made one guest appearance in THE RIFLEMAN, portraying Nita Argentez in "The Gaucho" (episode 14). She also guest-starred in the westerns "Bat Masterson" (1958–1961), starring Gene Barry as William Barclay "Bat" Masterson, "Bonanza" (1959–1973) and "Wanted: Dead or Alive" (1958–1961), starring Steve McQueen as Josh Randall.
Morris Lippert was an American-born actor with a brief career in film and television. He appeared in one movie starring Danny Kaye and in seven TV programs, including "The Donna Reed Show" (1958–1966) and a TV pilot with Sherry Lewis. He made one guest appearance in THE RIFLEMAN, portraying Danny in "The Gaucho" (episode 14).
Perry Lopez was an American film and television actor. Born in New York City, his career spanned more than 40 years from the 1950's until his his death in 2008. He began acting on the stage in New York and was signed to a contract at Warner Bros. Studios in 1955. In his early career, Lopez appeared in a string of B-movies and westerns, including "The Creature from the Black Lagoon" (1954), "Young Guns" (1956), "The Lone Ranger" (1949-1957), "Zorro" (1957–1959), "Bonanza" (1959–1973) and "Wagon Train" (1957–1965).
Lopez was usually cast in Hispanic roles, although he portrayed the Persian Prince Ahmud in "Omar Khayyam" (1957) and a Cossack, Ostap Bulba, co-starring Yul Brynner and Tony Curtis in "Taras Bulba" (1962). Lopez's best-known role was Lieutenant Lou Escobar in the 1974 film "Chinatown," co-starring Jack Nicholson and Faye Dunaway. He reprised the role sixteen years later—with Escobar promoted to Captain—in the sequel, "The Two Jakes" (1990).
Lopez made many television appearances in the 1960s and 1970s. He appeared in one episode of THE RIFLEMAN, playing Manolo Argentez in "The Gaucho" (episode 14).
Montie Montana was an American actor, stuntman, rodeo trick rider and cowboy. He worked primarily in television; although, he had numerous uncredited roles in film. Montana made two appearances in THE RIFLEMAN, playing a cowboy in "The Gaucho" (episode 14) and a stage driver in "Mail Order Groom" (episode 56). In addition to THE RIFLEMAN, he also appeared in the western series "Gunsmoke" (1955–1975), again playing the part of the stagecoach driver. In 1994, Montana was inducted into the ProRodeo Hall of Fame, Colorado Springs, Colorado.
Stuart Randall was an American film and television actor. He appeared in nearly 140 movies and television shows during his 20-year career. He had many film roles, including the sheriff in the western "Bells of Coronado" (1950), starring Roy Rogers; an uncredited role as Detective McGill in the drama "This Woman Is Dangerous" (1952), starring Joan Crawford; Pemberton in the western "Pony Express" (1953), starring Charlton Heston; an uncredited role as Joseph's elder in Cecile B. DeMille's Bible epic "The Ten Commandments" (1956), starring an ensemble cast led by Charlton Heston; the sheriff in "College Confidential" (1960), starring Steve Allen; and an uncredited role as McAlester in the western "True Grit" (1969), starring John Wayne and Kim Darby.
Although Randall worked primarily in the western genre, he also appeared in other notable television shows of the 1950s through the 70s, including the superhero action series "Adventures of Superman" (1952–1958) and the legal crime dramas "Perry Mason" (1957–1966) and "Ironside" (1967–1975). He also had several recurring roles, including Sheriff Art Sampson in the western "Cimarron City" (1958–1960), starring George Montgomery; Rupe Prentice in the western "The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp" (1955–1961), starring Hugh O'Brian; Sheriff Mort Corey in the western "Laramie" (1959–1963), starring John Smith and Robert Fuller; and Lens Briggs in the long-running family drama "Lassie" (1954–1974). Randall made two appearances in THE RIFLEMAN, portraying Curge Palmer in "The Gaucho" (episode 14) and Marshal Dixon in "The Grasshopper" (episode 63). He guest-starred in nearly all of the other iconic westerns, including "The Lone Ranger" (1949–1957), "Tales of Wells Fargo" (1957–1962), "The Restless Gun" (1957–1959), "Wagon Train" (1957–1965), "Maverick" (1957–1962), "Cheyenne" (1955–1963), "Wanted: Dead or Alive" (1958–1961), "The Big Valley" (1965–1969), "Death Valley Days" (1952–1975), "The Virginian" (1962–1971), and "Bonanza" (1959–1973).
Harlan Warde was an American actor who appeared in 180 films and television series over a 40 year career. Most of his early film roles were uncredited. He appeared in 18 episodes of THE RIFLEMAN, portraying John Hamilton, President of the North Fork Bank. His character debuted in "The Safeguard" (episode 8). Warde had recurring roles in other television series, many in the Western genre. Among his many other TV credits, he also appeared in "Dragnet" ( 1954), "You Are There" (1953–1956), "Jane Wyman Presents The Fireside Theatre" (1955 1957), "Perry Mason" (1958–1966), "The Virginian" (1962–1971), "Bonanza" (1962–1972), "The Big Valley" (1965–1969) and "The Fugitive" (1966 1967).
An Argentine family moves to North Fork and settles on a ranch adjoining Lucas'. The townspeople are unfriendly to the new settlers, making fun of their clothing and customs. The Argentinean adult immigrant son is openly hostile in return, particularly toward a young North Fork boy who pays court to the settlers' daughter. When the young Romeo is slain, the townsfolk jump to the conclusion that he was killed by the settlers and start to form a lynch mob. Lucas manages to delay the mob, goes in search of the young man, and has to fight for his life against a unique weapon.