"Gunfire" is an example of a feature length plot reduced to a half hour television script. Veteran Western heavy Lon Chaney was busy doing TV Westerns at the time, with HAVE GUN-WILL TRAVEL, WAGON TRAIN, RAWHIDE, BAT MASTERSON, LAWMAN, and WANTED:DEAD OR ALIVE along with this episode of THE RIFLEMAN, which casts him as outlaw Charlie Gordo, current prisoner in the jail of Micah Torrence (Paul Fix), being watched by two deputies as they await the arrival of a federal marshal who will take the prisoner into custody. The vengeful Gordo has spent the past four days taunting Micah, who soon learns that the absent marshal was shot dead, with Gordo's gang bent on setting him free. First one deputy, then another are attacked, with only Lucas and Micah left to defend the jail, as the ever vigilant Gordo enjoys flaunting his power. Suspenseful entry also features Ross Elliott as the murdered deputy. One minor trivia note is that Chaney had just played a character named Gordo in the low budget, very obscure "Rebellion in Cuba" (1961).
5 Reviews
All the elements for a great western.
kfo949411 December 2015
Micah has a rough criminal in the jail house and has hired extra deputies. Charlie Gordo (Lon Chaney)is a killer and they are waiting on the US Marshal to arrive on the stage to take the prisoner for trial. But when the stage arrives the driver tells Micah that the US Marshal was found dead and will not be coming. Now the entire town believes that Gordo's posse is on their way to North Fork to spring the criminal from jail.
It is not long until Gordo's gang rides into town and the only people left to defend the jail are Micah and Lucas. There will be a fulfilled gun-battle in the streets as Micah and Lucas are bent on not letting Gordo escape from custody.
This is the kind of show that will appeal to all western loving fans. It has everything needed to make for enjoyable half-hour of entertainment as two men are left to defend justice. There are many bullets flying in this episode so strap-in for a heck of a ride. One of the better shows in the collection.
It is not long until Gordo's gang rides into town and the only people left to defend the jail are Micah and Lucas. There will be a fulfilled gun-battle in the streets as Micah and Lucas are bent on not letting Gordo escape from custody.
This is the kind of show that will appeal to all western loving fans. It has everything needed to make for enjoyable half-hour of entertainment as two men are left to defend justice. There are many bullets flying in this episode so strap-in for a heck of a ride. One of the better shows in the collection.
One of the better episodes
alydar214 February 2011
Warning: Spoilers
This is about as deep a plot as the series has. Almost 'High Noon esque' as one volunteer deputy asks to be excused from the inevitable gunfight due to family. Another deputy boozes at the saloon between news.
Also, Micah is mentally broken down after days of Gordo's verbal poundings. He shows anguish and is sweating. he is scared and shows it. Lon Chaney as Gordo, lays it on thick from behind bars.
Of course Lucas saves the day feigning death in the dirty night street.
And the episode lives up to its title 'gunfire'. A dervish of blistering ammo fire rings out at climax.
This average plot certainly is viewable if you want more more than simple 'western gun justice' in your 30 minute diet of 50's western morality. Actually makes you think.
Also, Micah is mentally broken down after days of Gordo's verbal poundings. He shows anguish and is sweating. he is scared and shows it. Lon Chaney as Gordo, lays it on thick from behind bars.
Of course Lucas saves the day feigning death in the dirty night street.
And the episode lives up to its title 'gunfire'. A dervish of blistering ammo fire rings out at climax.
This average plot certainly is viewable if you want more more than simple 'western gun justice' in your 30 minute diet of 50's western morality. Actually makes you think.
The Killer is Killed
gordonl563 February 2014
Warning: Spoilers
THE RIFLEMAN – Gunfire– 1961
This is the 126th episode from the 1958 to 1963 western series, THE RIFLEMAN. Over the course of 168 episodes we follow the life of Lucas McCain and his son, Mark. They have just moved to the small western town of North Fork where they hope to start a new life. Chuck Connors headlines the series with Johnny Crawford as his son. Connors is a world class hand with a Winchester rifle which of course ends up getting him in no end of trouble.
North Fork Sheriff, Paul Fix, has a special guest locked up in the town jail. Big time outlaw and gunman, Lon Chaney is the guest of dishonour. Chaney is being held for a US Marshal to collect. Chaney is to be transported to Yuma for a date with the hangman.
Things of course start to go wrong for the Sheriff. He gets a message that the US Marshal was ambushed and killed on his way to North Fork. Fix will need to keep the prisoner on ice for a few more days. Chaney, a big talker, keeps telling Fix and the two part time deputies, Ross Elliott and Joe Higgins that his men will be calling to free him.
Elliott can't take the stress and begs off any further duty. Higgins, the town blacksmith, is made of sterner stuff and agrees to stay on. Sheriff Fix asks Chuck Connors if he would step up and help. Connors agrees. Soon afterwards, Fix and Connors discover the body of Ross Elliott behind the Sheriff's office. Obviously the man's murder was meant to frighten the Lawmen into releasing Chaney.
Then Higgins is shot and wounded from out of the dark. Connors helps the wounded man from the street but also goes down in a heap after a round pinks him in the forehead. Now Chaney's men come out and soon have the drop on Fix. Chaney is freed and after giving Fix, a pistol whipping, prepare to ride off. Connors though, has been playing possum. He grabs up his Winchester and quickly dispatches Chaney and his 3 cohorts.
The episode plays out like a variation on the basic "High Noon" type story.
The director is Richard Donner. Donner would toil in television for 20 years before striking gold on the big screen. He was the director on the first two SUPERMAN films and all four of the popular, LETHAL WEAPON films. Also among his film work is, MAVERICK, THE GOONIES and THE OMEN.
This is the 126th episode from the 1958 to 1963 western series, THE RIFLEMAN. Over the course of 168 episodes we follow the life of Lucas McCain and his son, Mark. They have just moved to the small western town of North Fork where they hope to start a new life. Chuck Connors headlines the series with Johnny Crawford as his son. Connors is a world class hand with a Winchester rifle which of course ends up getting him in no end of trouble.
North Fork Sheriff, Paul Fix, has a special guest locked up in the town jail. Big time outlaw and gunman, Lon Chaney is the guest of dishonour. Chaney is being held for a US Marshal to collect. Chaney is to be transported to Yuma for a date with the hangman.
Things of course start to go wrong for the Sheriff. He gets a message that the US Marshal was ambushed and killed on his way to North Fork. Fix will need to keep the prisoner on ice for a few more days. Chaney, a big talker, keeps telling Fix and the two part time deputies, Ross Elliott and Joe Higgins that his men will be calling to free him.
Elliott can't take the stress and begs off any further duty. Higgins, the town blacksmith, is made of sterner stuff and agrees to stay on. Sheriff Fix asks Chuck Connors if he would step up and help. Connors agrees. Soon afterwards, Fix and Connors discover the body of Ross Elliott behind the Sheriff's office. Obviously the man's murder was meant to frighten the Lawmen into releasing Chaney.
Then Higgins is shot and wounded from out of the dark. Connors helps the wounded man from the street but also goes down in a heap after a round pinks him in the forehead. Now Chaney's men come out and soon have the drop on Fix. Chaney is freed and after giving Fix, a pistol whipping, prepare to ride off. Connors though, has been playing possum. He grabs up his Winchester and quickly dispatches Chaney and his 3 cohorts.
The episode plays out like a variation on the basic "High Noon" type story.
The director is Richard Donner. Donner would toil in television for 20 years before striking gold on the big screen. He was the director on the first two SUPERMAN films and all four of the popular, LETHAL WEAPON films. Also among his film work is, MAVERICK, THE GOONIES and THE OMEN.
Best all-time half hour Western
hines-200023 January 2021
It doesn't get any better than Lon Chaney Jr on The Rifleman. Charlie Gordo is a most dangerous man and even more dangerous in prison. His gang is throwing a lot of lead at Micah (Paul Fix) and his deputies. Believe it or not but Chuck Connors has more than he can handle. With all the great action it also had two great character actors. Ross Elliot and Bill Higgins are the cream of the crop in this category. The latter being on many Rifleman episodes. Although Mark (Johnny Crawford) didn't have a big part in this one, he added some much-needed lighter moments.
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