God bless John Anderson. A veteran actor who appeared in hundreds of tv shows. Although it was the best they could do in 1960, that bear scene looks very campy compared to today's special effects.
3 Reviews
The bear. LOL
jdubu-9622010 June 2020
This episode proves that one scene can kill a show.
kfo949428 July 2013
Someone from the production staff should have re-thought the ending and possibly re-shot or edited out some of the worse filmed special effects (and I used the term loosely) a viewer has ever seen. It appears it was filmed by a ten year old and a friend in order to get an passing grade in 4th grade animal science. As already been pointed out- it was laughable.
The character actor John Anderson plays a strange frontiersman Cass Callicot. Cass is handy with a rifle and has heard stories about a man in North Fork, Lucas, that he wants to challenge to a contest to see who is really the best.
However, Lucas wants no part of any contest. Even with Cass trying to bait Lucas into a showdown, Lucas takes the high road and refuses the badgering of the frontiersman. Cass only has one option and that is to take the most precious thing Lucas has in life- Mark.
The story, even though lacking in areas, was not really that bad. But after watching the ending, the entire experience is ruined for the viewer. Someone over-thought this ending and made the entire episode seem for naught. The series is better than this episode reveals.
The character actor John Anderson plays a strange frontiersman Cass Callicot. Cass is handy with a rifle and has heard stories about a man in North Fork, Lucas, that he wants to challenge to a contest to see who is really the best.
However, Lucas wants no part of any contest. Even with Cass trying to bait Lucas into a showdown, Lucas takes the high road and refuses the badgering of the frontiersman. Cass only has one option and that is to take the most precious thing Lucas has in life- Mark.
The story, even though lacking in areas, was not really that bad. But after watching the ending, the entire experience is ruined for the viewer. Someone over-thought this ending and made the entire episode seem for naught. The series is better than this episode reveals.
ursus ex machina
grizzledgeezer4 April 2013
Warning: Spoilers
"The Rifleman" is at its best when it places characters (usually, but not always, Lucas) in situations where they have to make difficult moral or ethical decisions. This often results in an unpredictable and/or unconventional ending (also a good thing).
Unfortunately, the writers sometimes seem asleep at the switch. In this episode, John Anderson (who else?) is a famous mountain man who wants to have a shooting match with Lucas McCain, to see who's the better shot. When Lucas declines because it's pointless, the man kidnaps Mark (yet again) and insists on a man-to-man shootout.
At this point I'm figuring Lucas will put down his rifle, point out that a fight does neither of them any good, and the mountain man will come to his senses -- a good ending, especially as Mark would see that his dad can be brave even when unarmed.
Instead... I won't spoil it for you, but what happens is so absurd and idiotic that I couldn't stop laughing. The writer might have thought he'd adequately prepared the audience for what happens (it's subtly foreshadowed about halfway through), but the ending is beyond ludicrous -- a gen-yu-wine laff riot.
Unfortunately, the writers sometimes seem asleep at the switch. In this episode, John Anderson (who else?) is a famous mountain man who wants to have a shooting match with Lucas McCain, to see who's the better shot. When Lucas declines because it's pointless, the man kidnaps Mark (yet again) and insists on a man-to-man shootout.
At this point I'm figuring Lucas will put down his rifle, point out that a fight does neither of them any good, and the mountain man will come to his senses -- a good ending, especially as Mark would see that his dad can be brave even when unarmed.
Instead... I won't spoil it for you, but what happens is so absurd and idiotic that I couldn't stop laughing. The writer might have thought he'd adequately prepared the audience for what happens (it's subtly foreshadowed about halfway through), but the ending is beyond ludicrous -- a gen-yu-wine laff riot.
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