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The Rifleman

  • TV-PG
  • 1958–1963
  • 5 seasons
  • Action & Adventure, Western
  • 7.1

The Rifleman is an American Western television program starring Chuck Connors as rancher Lucas McCain and Johnny Crawford as his son, Mark McCain. It was set in the 1880s in the town of North Fork, New Mexico Territory. The show was filmed in black-and-white, half-hour episodes. "The Rifleman" aired on ABC from September 30, 1958 to April 8, 1963 as a production of Four Star Television. It was one of the first prime time series to have a widowed parent raise a child.

Episodes

36 episodes
  1. 1The Patsy

    30 minSep 29, 1959

    A group of outlaws devise a plan to get rid of Lucas so that they can take over the town of North Fork.

  2. 2Bloodlines

    30 minOct 6, 1959

    After Lucas kills a mountain man in a barrom brawl, his father arrives in North Fork determined to take revenge on Lucas and Marshal Torrance, once he breaks his other two boys out of jail.

  3. 3The Blowout

    30 minOct 13, 1959

    Newly arrived gunslinger Al Walker throws a mammoth party at the saloon, keeping acting Marshal Ben Waller busy until Lucas is forced to intervene.

  4. 4Obituary

    30 minOct 20, 1959

    Newspaperman Byron Claremont specializes in profiles of famous gunmen. One of his stories was responsible for an old-time marshal's death; and his next subject is Lucas.

  5. 5Tension

    30 minOct 27, 1959

    Gavin and Ezra Martin think that Lucas killed their son Clemmie while taking part in a train robbery, and Lucas refuses to tell them what really happened.

  6. 6Eddie's Daughter

    30 minNov 3, 1959

    After the daughter of Lucas's friend the hotel clerk arrives in North Fork, two strangers threaten her life.

  7. 7Panic

    30 minNov 10, 1959

    Town character Brett Conway blackmails Lucas with the knowledge that a young couple Lucas rescued are suffering from yellow fever.

  8. 8Ordeal

    30 minNov 17, 1959

    When their wagon breaks down, Mark and an injured Lucas are stranded in the desert.

  9. 9The Spiked Rifle

    30 minNov 24, 1959

    Mark is kidnapped as he and his father try to protect Banker Hamilton's gold.

  10. 10Letter of the Law

    30 minDec 1, 1959

    Lucas makes a life-or-death decision when Micah is held hostage and the kidnappers demand the release of a notorious outlaw.

  11. 11The Legacy

    30 minDec 8, 1959

    Lucas tries to do a good deed for the old town drunk but it backfires when the drunk's son believes he inherited Lucas' ranch.

  12. 12The Baby Sitter

    30 minDec 15, 1959

    A dance hall singer asks Lucas to care for her daughter in an effort to hide the baby from her self-righteous, bigoted father.

  13. 13The Coward

    30 minDec 22, 1959

    Lucas becomes involved in a battle between an aspiring writer and a cocky, bragging trail boss.

  14. 14Surveyors

    30 minDec 29, 1959

    Mark runs away from home after his father questions his story about overhearing a plot to rob the bank.

  15. 15Day of the Hunter

    30 minJan 5, 1960

    A famous buffalo hunter tries to goad Lucas into a shooting match.

  16. 16Mail Order Groom

    30 minJan 12, 1960

    When a stranger arrives to marry the town spinster, two brothers who want her land try to discourage him with threats and a beating.

  17. 17A Case of Identity

    30 minJan 19, 1960

    Mark finds himself in grave danger when two unscrupulous detectives searching for a man's long-lost son claim that it is Mark.

  18. 18The Visitors

    30 minJan 26, 1960

    Lucas is drawn to a young widow passing through town on her way to claim an inheritance, but others who covet it are trying to kill her.

  19. 19The Hero

    30 minFeb 2, 1960

    After a young stablehand kills a notorious gunslinger, he is baffled by the hostility of the townspeople about giving him the reward.

  20. 20The Horse Traders

    30 minFeb 9, 1960

    When a horse dealer transporting a prize stallion stops in North Fork, two saddle tramps try to use trickery to obtain it.

  21. 21The Spoiler

    30 minFeb 16, 1960

    An elderly couple moves to North Fork under an assumed name to hide the fact that they are the parents of a vicious killer. The plan backfires when the son shows up at their home.

  22. 22Heller

    30 minFeb 23, 1960

    After foiling a girl's attempt to rob the general store, Lucas finds that she and her brother are plotting the murder of their abusive stepfather.

  23. 23The Grasshopper

    30 minMar 1, 1960

    A condemned killer being transported by train murders a marshal and takes Mark hostage.

  24. 24A Time for Singing

    30 minMar 8, 1960

    Mark discovers that the new preacher and his wife are impostors planning a robbery.

  25. 25The Deserter

    30 minMar 15, 1960

    Lucas and Marshal Torrance get into trouble with the Army when they try to help a wounded young soldier who deserted.

  26. 26The Vision

    30 minMar 22, 1960

    After Mark contracts typhoid fever and has a vision of his dead mother, he no longer seems interested in getting well.

  27. 27The Lariat

    30 minMar 29, 1960

    An old friend of Lucas's returns to town in the company of a shady gambler and is accused of cheating at cards.

  28. 28Smoke Screen

    30 minApr 5, 1960

    Several men are vying for a rancher's daughter's affections. When she is found dead, one of them becomes the prime suspect in her murder.

  29. 29Shotgun Man

    30 minApr 12, 1960

    Shotgun man John Beaumont, who Lucas sent to prison, returns with vengeance on his mind.

  30. 30Sins of the Father

    30 minApr 19, 1960

    After shooting a man in self-defense, Andy Moon turns to Lucas for protection from his vengeful brothers.

  31. 31The Prodigal

    30 minApr 26, 1960

    To keep his invalid mother happy, an outlaw forces Lucas and Mark to go along with a masquerade that he is the owner of Lucas's ranch.

  32. 32The Fourflusher

    30 minMay 3, 1960

    A sharecropper enters his colt in a horse race, hoping to win enough money to buy his farm from the owner, who has bet on Mark McCain's entry.

  33. 33The Jailbird

    30 minMay 10, 1960

    When Lucas hires an ex-con as a ranch hand, the man is the first one under suspicion when a robbery and murder occur in the area.

  34. 34Meeting at Midnight

    30 minMay 17, 1960

    Lucas helps his former Army captain, now an undercover federal agent, infiltrate a gang of bank robbers.

  35. 35Nora

    30 minMay 24, 1960

    Lucas finds himself involved in murder when he gallantly steps to the aid of a beautiful woman.

  36. 36The Hangman

    30 minMay 31, 1960

    An ex-convict is blamed for a brutal crime despite his claims of rehabilitation.

Where to watch The Rifleman

Availability from JustWatch, via TMDB. Full listing for United States

Series cast

Chuck ConnorsLucas McCain168 episodes
Johnny CrawfordMark McCain168 episodes
Paul FixMicah Torrance168 episodes
Joe HigginsNils Swenson18 episodes
Bill QuinnSweeney16 episodes
John Milford11 episodes
Harlan WardeHamilton11 episodes
Chris Alcaide10 episodes
John Anderson9 episodes
Peter Whitney9 episodes
Dabbs GreerBert Taylor9 episodes
John HarmonHotel Clerk8 episodes
Richard DevonBen Macowan7 episodes
Rhys Williams6 episodes
Dennis CrossNed Dunnell6 episodes
Richard AndersonGriff6 episodes
Ralph Moody6 episodes
Glenn StrangeStage Driver6 episodes

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