"Miss Millie" is the first episode of "The Rifleman" that I have seen completely. I think it is an excellent episode. Lucas and Mark return from a two week hunting trip only to find that storekeeper Hattie Denton, played by Hope Summers (of The Andy Griffith Show fame) has left and in her place is a young woman named Millie Scott. Miss Scott runs her store much different than Hattie, and the townspeople do not agree with her or her business keeping ways. When Millie turns, in her naive ways, to two slick outlaws for help,what results is an excellent episode. " Miss Millie" is a fine "Rifleman" episode and is worth watching.
4 Reviews
Milly Scott becomes a member of North Fork
kfo949419 April 2013
In this episode we are introduced to the new owner of the general story, Milly Scott. When she purchased the store from Hattie she also took all her debt. Her debt, like all in a cattle and farm town, includes credit that is given to farmers until the harvest is gathered or the cattle are sold. Milly finds out that at this time of year it is a very large debt and she is having trouble getting people to pay. Needless to say she is not making a big splash in her new town of North Fork.
Things get worse when a passing opportunist, Jack Adams, sees her dilemma and thinks of a way to make money. For a fee he will go to everyone that owes Milly money and make sure they pay. Milly believes this is on the up-and-up but what Adams is really doing is beating the money out of people with help from an old friend. When they finally nearly beat a man to death, Milly gets wise. Lucas and Micah will try to arrest the two men but it will not be an easy task.
Another fine episode that was a joy to watch. With the introduction of Milly to the cast, Lucas now has a love interest that will provide us with more stories from the town of North Fork. Good Watch.
Things get worse when a passing opportunist, Jack Adams, sees her dilemma and thinks of a way to make money. For a fee he will go to everyone that owes Milly money and make sure they pay. Milly believes this is on the up-and-up but what Adams is really doing is beating the money out of people with help from an old friend. When they finally nearly beat a man to death, Milly gets wise. Lucas and Micah will try to arrest the two men but it will not be an easy task.
Another fine episode that was a joy to watch. With the introduction of Milly to the cast, Lucas now has a love interest that will provide us with more stories from the town of North Fork. Good Watch.
The Rifleman: Miss Milly
Scarecrow-885 December 2015
Warning: Spoilers
The wonderful Joan Taylor (who surprisingly retired from acting in the early 60s), known by me in sci-fi classics like 20 Million Miles to Earth and Earth vs. the Flying Saucers, would appear for two seasons on the Rifleman in over 18 episodes. In this first episode of The Rifleman starring her, she receives its title named after her character, "Miss Milly". She purchased a general store (often providing credit to the folks in town who make good on it when the money comes in) in Northfork, and Milly is overwhelmed upon arrival, still trying to get a grip on how to operate it (she was a schoolteacher in a previous town, always dreaming of owning her own business). With the need of money to keep the bank satisfied, Milly has a hard time dealing with the way the previous store owner run the business. Two gunfighters in need of funds ride into Northfork (Richard Devon and Warren Oates) looking to score fast, seeing Milly's situation as a means to do so. Working as muscle to reinforce the need to pay their debts to the store, Devon and Oates use force (brute in execution when warning doesn't work) to get Miss Milly what is owed her (with 10% off for their cut). Soon the violence gets a bit too rough, resulting in heavy abuse (pistol whipping) and a bullet to the shoulder to one such customer, Micah and Lucas get involved.
Devon is a familiar face to 60s television, playing any number of characters, but Oates' appearance might just warrant surprise. His character is nondescript and rather colorless, more or less a tag-along to Devon who doesn't look altogether menacing which is part of why he's perhaps even more scary. The only time Devon and Oates are shown "on the job" is a visit to Lucas' ranch, and they are scared off when the rifle emerges you get a taste of how they show up unannounced, ask for payment not too aggressively, and expect what is requested. I think the episode might have worked a right smart better had we seen them in action, but the results of one of their beatings is horrible enough to illustrate what they're capable of. As an introductory episode for Taylor, "Miss Milly" is ideal. She's ruffled and ill at ease totally out of her element. Pretty and honest, Milly would prove to be supportive, loyal, and a gentle soul, Taylor's many attributes emerging during the show to make her character quite endearing. The visit by the villains to Lucas' ranch is an effective night sequence, particularly in how Devon is shot with face close up, off his horse, as the "voice of reason" while Oates is shown afar on his horse...the camera set up establishes a sinister intent no matter their tone.
Devon is a familiar face to 60s television, playing any number of characters, but Oates' appearance might just warrant surprise. His character is nondescript and rather colorless, more or less a tag-along to Devon who doesn't look altogether menacing which is part of why he's perhaps even more scary. The only time Devon and Oates are shown "on the job" is a visit to Lucas' ranch, and they are scared off when the rifle emerges you get a taste of how they show up unannounced, ask for payment not too aggressively, and expect what is requested. I think the episode might have worked a right smart better had we seen them in action, but the results of one of their beatings is horrible enough to illustrate what they're capable of. As an introductory episode for Taylor, "Miss Milly" is ideal. She's ruffled and ill at ease totally out of her element. Pretty and honest, Milly would prove to be supportive, loyal, and a gentle soul, Taylor's many attributes emerging during the show to make her character quite endearing. The visit by the villains to Lucas' ranch is an effective night sequence, particularly in how Devon is shot with face close up, off his horse, as the "voice of reason" while Oates is shown afar on his horse...the camera set up establishes a sinister intent no matter their tone.
Store bought violence
gordonl563 October 2013
Warning: Spoilers
THE RIFLEMAN – Miss Milly – 1960 Chuck Connors headlines this 1958 to 1963 western series that ran for 168 episodes. Connors is a world class hand with a Winchester rifle. This of course ends up getting him in no end of trouble.
North Fork has a new general store owner in town, Joan Taylor. One thing Taylor had not been expecting is how much debt the last owner was carrying on the books. Most of the local farmers and ranchers buy on credit and then pay off when they can.
Taylor needs the money to be paid so she can keep new stock coming. A couple of shady types, Richard Devon and Warren Oates decide to take advantage of her problem. They offer to "collect" the debts for a mere 10% handling fee on whatever the get. Taylor agrees to the deal.
The first day, the pair bring, Taylor over $300, minus of course their fee. What Taylor does not know, is that Devon and Oates are not in the least adverse to the laying on of fists and gun barrels to speed debt payment. This tactic does not work on Connors who responds by pointing his rifle at Devon's gut.
Devon and Oates then end up nearly killing a local, Michael Fox, over a $98 collection. Sheriff Fix, with help from Connors, confronts the two men about their collection methods. Devon and Oates answer by pulling iron and firing on Fix and Connors. A torrent of lead is returned with Devon and Oates being left in a well-ventilated state.
This is another well-made episode from that master film maker, Joseph H Lewis. Lewis is well known to film-noir fans for the big screen favourites, GUN CRAZY, MY NAME IS JULIA ROSS and THE BIG COMBO. His feature film westerns include, 7TH CAVALRY, THE HALLIDAY BRAND and A LAWLESS STREET. (b/w)
North Fork has a new general store owner in town, Joan Taylor. One thing Taylor had not been expecting is how much debt the last owner was carrying on the books. Most of the local farmers and ranchers buy on credit and then pay off when they can.
Taylor needs the money to be paid so she can keep new stock coming. A couple of shady types, Richard Devon and Warren Oates decide to take advantage of her problem. They offer to "collect" the debts for a mere 10% handling fee on whatever the get. Taylor agrees to the deal.
The first day, the pair bring, Taylor over $300, minus of course their fee. What Taylor does not know, is that Devon and Oates are not in the least adverse to the laying on of fists and gun barrels to speed debt payment. This tactic does not work on Connors who responds by pointing his rifle at Devon's gut.
Devon and Oates then end up nearly killing a local, Michael Fox, over a $98 collection. Sheriff Fix, with help from Connors, confronts the two men about their collection methods. Devon and Oates answer by pulling iron and firing on Fix and Connors. A torrent of lead is returned with Devon and Oates being left in a well-ventilated state.
This is another well-made episode from that master film maker, Joseph H Lewis. Lewis is well known to film-noir fans for the big screen favourites, GUN CRAZY, MY NAME IS JULIA ROSS and THE BIG COMBO. His feature film westerns include, 7TH CAVALRY, THE HALLIDAY BRAND and A LAWLESS STREET. (b/w)
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