User Reviews

THE RIFLEMAN – Sins of the Father – 1960

George Wallace is a fast gun on the run for killing thug, Richard Evans. Evans had forced Wallace to draw and had paid the price for being slower. He had however managed to wing Wallace in the shoulder. Wallace had grabbed his son, Gene Mazzolla and fled town.

Several days later, Wallace and the boy are crossing the land of Chuck Connors. Loss of blood has caused Wallace to collapse and the boy, Mazzolla to seek help. Connors does what he can to fix the gunshot wound and puts Wallace to bed. Connors wants to ride into town and fetch the doc, Rhys Williams. Wallace tells Connors not to, as he is wanted by the brothers of the man, Evans. They intend to kill him and his boy in revenge.

Wallace is sure that the brothers, Kay Kuter and Kelton Garwood are hot on his trail. Connors knows the wound is severe and Wallace will die without proper attention. He rides into North Fork anyways.

Needless to say he runs into the two brothers, Kuter and Garwood. And two more low life characters would hard to find. The two are staking out Doc Williams place in case any wounded men seek help. Words of a less than polite type are exchanged between Connors and the two.

Kuter and Garwood back off and simply follow the Doc out to Connors' ranch. They kick the door in and get the drop on Connors. Garwood goes to shoot Wallace but his aim is thrown off when son Mazzolla tackles him. With the other brother, Kuter's attention momentarily directed away, Connors gets to his rifle and blasts Kuter. Wallace, though badly wounded, manages to pull his pistol from the holster sitting by the bed. He takes dead aim at Garwood and blows a large hole in the swine.

The episode is handled nicely by director Ted Post. Post would score down the road with a pair of solid Clint Eastwood films, HANG 'EM HIGH and MAGNUM FORCE.

I previously reviewed 'The Prodigal' Which was the episode following this one. The scheduling on TV titled this one The Prodigal instead of "Sins of the Father".. While I previous stated this is typical Rifleman fare it is a Very Good Story.. Moon spent time in prison for his sins and was released. Old west reputation intact had a Target on his back. Three brothers discovered that and one tried his luck and although Moon hesitated in gun play his fear his son would be hurt over rode his instincts and he drew his gun and killed one brother and he was wounded himself.. Not wanting to return to prison he grabbed his young son and escaped with the other two brothers in Pursuit. Finding shelter On Lucas McCain's ranch, Lucas tenders his wound until doc can be summoned. Days later Moon tells Lucas whom he is and Lucas helps him with Marshal.. I will Finish without divulging the ending. Quickly consummated..

As an aside Actor Dick Wilson (Ricardo Guigleiamo) Known best as Mr Wilson in over 500 Commercials for Charmin Tissue makes a small role playing a Western Drunk; which was his specialty in many movies & early television.