User Reviews

THE RIFLEMAN – Heller – 1960

Peter Whitney guest stars in this episode of the popular, 1958 -63, western series, THE RIFLEMAN. Chuck Connors plays a rancher-farmer who is a world class hand with a Winchester rifle.

Peter Whitney is a drunken slob who beats his wife, K.T. Stevens and children, Don Grady and Gigi Perreau endlessly. Every time he gets tossed in jail to sleep it off, the family gets another round of whippings.

The daughter breaks into the local general store one night to steal a six gun and some ammo. She intends to end the families suffering for good. Perreau is caught by some town folk before she can get away. She does however manage to hide the gun and ammo before being grabbed.

Sheriff Paul Fix asks Connors if he would mind dropping off the girl at her farm. The gun theft had gone unnoticed and the store owner did not press any charges. Connors agrees to delivering the girl off to her mother, Stevens.

The next day, Perreau and her brother, Grady, sneak back to town and retrieve the stolen gun and ammo. They are seen by Connors' son, Johnny Crawford. Crawford tells his father who quickly rides over to Whitney's ranch.

What Connors finds, is a whimpering Whitney on his knees begging Perreau not to shoot him. Perreau tells the swine that they have had enough of his beatings etc. Connors calmly talks the girl into handing over the pistol. Connors then drags Whitney to jail. Whitney is charged with wife beating, abuse, drunk in public and everything else Sheriff Fix can think of. Whitney gets several years and the family gets to start a new life.

Wow I've been a Rifleman fan since I first watched in 1962. Still in 2023 I'm moved by the realistic acting and no schmaltz like say Bonanza. So glad this show is now available to capture a new audience as it is phenomenal in writing, acting and directing.

Heller is memorable and disturbing as lots of people grew up in such a home. I was rather afraid of my father when he drank so watching this as a kid hit home.

Heller must take matters into her own hands and confront the man who has ruined their lives since their mother is victimized and passive. When Heller played by Gigi Perreau tries to summon the courage to go after Bechtel and speaks to her dead father for help it's extraordinary acting and when she is talked down from killing him by Lucas well it's sealed. Beautiful girl and a powerhouse of emotions even at the end with that disappointing gesture when Lucas thinks of her as a daughter. Don Grady showed such talent, too bad he was wasted in My Three Sons. Of course Whitney can play a good guy and an evil guy. That's what I liked best about The Rifleman a drama that worked in every way. Only wish Gigi had won an Emmy for this episode.