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The Guest
Episode 165
Writer: Ed Adamson
Director: Joseph H. Lewis
Original Air Date 03/11/1963

Cast

Chuck Connors as Lucas McCain

Johnny Crawford as Mark McCain

Paul Fix as Marshal Micah Torrance



Guest Cast
Cesare Danova as Mario Rosati
Cesare Danova

Cesare Danova, born Cesare Deitinger in Bergamo, Italy, was a television and screen actor whose career spanned nearly five decades.  Tall, handsome and possessed of an aristocratic air, he adopted the stage name Danova when he turned to acting in Rome at the end of World War II.  After appearing in more than 20 films in Europe, he was signed to a long-term contract by MGM.

Originally groomed for the lead role in "Ben Hur" (1959), director William Wyler instead tapped Charleton Heston for the part, whose performance garnered the Oscar for Best Actor in a Leading Role.  Danova's next big break came when he was cast in "Cleopatra" (1963).  The following year he starred in "Viva Las Vegas" as Elvis Presley's rival for both Ann Margaret's Rusty Martin and for the Las Vegas Grand Prix.

Two of his best film roles came later in Danova's career, first in 1973, playing the neighborhood Mafia Don, Giovanni Cappa, in Martian Scorsese's "Mean Streets" and in 1978, playing the corrupt town mayor, Carmine DePasto, in "National Lampoon's Animal House."

Danova also appeared in numerous television shows throughout his career.  He co-starred in the Golden-Globe nominated TV series, "Garrison's Guerillas" (1967–1968), which was inspired by the film, "The Dirty Dozen."  When Danova first came to America, he reportedly said he wanted to lose his accent so that he could play an American cowboy.  In 1958, he got his wish, debuting on American television in THE RIFLEMAN.  He portrayed Count DiMontova in "Duel of Honor" (episode 7) and made two additional appearances, playing the title role in "Baranca" (episode 82) and Mario Rosati in "The Guest" (episode 165).

Walter Sande as Ralph Haven

Walter Sande was an American film and television actor.  He appeared in more than 250 movies and television shows during a career spanning more than 30 years.  Prior to becoming an actor, Sande worked as a musical director for 20th-Century Fox's theater chain.  He had roles in several memorable films, including Mr. Gillespie, Jr. in the comedy "You Can't Fool Your Wife" (1940), starring Lucille Ball and James Ellison; he portrayed Johnson in the romantic adventure "To Have and to Have Not" (1944), starring Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall; he played Art Jansen in the romantic drama "A Place in the Sun" (1951), starring Montgomery Clift, Elizabeth Taylor and Shelley Winters; and he was cast as Sam in the western thriller "Bad Day at Black Rock" (1955), starring Spencer Tracy, Robert Ryan and Anne Francis.

Sande also had minor parts in many other films, including the action crime adventure "The Green Hornet Strikes Again!" (1940), starring Warren Hull and Keye Luke; the iconic Orson Welles classic "Citizen Kane" (1941); the comedy-drama "Tortilla Flat" (1942), starring Spencer Tracy and Hedy Lamarr; and the science fiction classic "The War of the Worlds" (1953), starring Gene Barry.  He guest-starred in several popular television shows of the 1950s and 60s, including the crime drama "Dragnet" (1951–1959), the detective drama "Richard Diamond: Private Detective" (1957–1960), the legal drama "Perry Mason" (1957–1966), the private detective series "77 Sunset Strip" (1958–1964), the family drama "Lassie" (1954–1974), the espionage thriller "The Man from U.N.C.L.E." (1964–1968), the family comedy "My Three Sons" (1960–1972), and the western action adventure "The Wild Wild West" (1965–1969).

Sande had a recurring role as Captain Horatio Bullwinkle in the adventure comedy "The Adventures of Tugboat Annie" (1957).  He made one appearance in THE RIFLEMAN, portraying Ralph Haven in "The Guest" (episode 165).  He guest-starred in many other westerns, including "Wanted: Dead or Alive" (1958–1961), "Zane Grey Theater" (1956–1961), "Maverick" (1957–1962), "Rawhide" (1959–1966), "Death Valley Days" (1952–1975), "The Big Valley" (1965–1969), "Bonanza" (1959–1973), "The Virginian" (1962–1971) and "Gunsmoke" (1955–1975).


A charming stranger arrives at the McCain ranch and identifies himself as an acquaintance of an old friend of Lucas'.  Lucas and Mark warm up to the man immediately, and invite him to stay with them for awhile.  It appears that the friendship will deepen, until the McCains learn that the stranger has an ulterior motive in having contacted Lucas—he has been hired to kill him!