User Reviews

Lucas McCain is burning mad when three bank robbers (known to force farmers into banks to take out loans, and then *convince* those in said bank to empty their vaults or else) arrive on his homestead with the intent to rob the local town's bank, holding son Mark hostage. If Lucas doesn't do as they say, Mark's life could be in danger.

Benjamin Stark (Harold Stone), his simpleminded brother, Noley (the childlike and innocuous Harvey Johnson), and their self-minded associate, Couger (Marc Lawrence) travel from town to town orchestrating these robberies. Noley stays back with the child while Ben and Cougar order their farmer to do as they say. In this case Noley holds Mark (Johnny Crawford) hostage while Ben (the mastermind) and Cougar urge Lucas strongly to take them to the bank in his town and earn the trust of the owner. While at the homestead, Mark tries to run, trips, and hits his head on a rock, knocking himself unconscious. Meanwhile, the heist is successful, Lucas is ordered to remain behind for one hour, and the duo return to find Noley truly alarmed at Mark's condition. Ben convinces a bothered Noley to go ahead with them out of the area and on their way to parts unknown. However, when Lucas finds his boy hurt, his rage is ignited and the trio find a world of hurt awaiting them. They believe they are far ahead of Lucas, but he surprises them.

This is a solid thirty minutes of television, showing a side of Lucas (Chuck Connors) you rarely see. He is almost blinded with hate (hence the title), shooting the canteens, scaring off the horses, and making sure the trio must walk on foot back to his territory to pay for their crime. When Cougar and Ben have an altercation where guns are pulled, Cougar is killed and Noley is injured, they will need Lucas to find a way to see past his vengeance towards them.

What I think makes this episode so successful is that while Lucas is right in being angry (Mark doesn't try to run if he isn't held captive), he almost loses his humanity (what separates him from those that put him in his situation to begin with) in the process, emphasizing how taking matters into your own hands can only corrupt your morality. Realizing his error, Lucas is able to rise about the hate inside, and Mark's talk with him at the end further establishes that he understands his mistakes. Good work by Connors conveying the seething anger that urges him to go after the criminals and put them through a degree of terror (as they have done farmers and their kids in the past). Giving the criminals characters that aren't caricatures is an extra benefit adding quality to the episode.

THE RIFLEMAN – Trail of Hate – 1960

This is episode 77 of the 1958 to 1963 western series that ran for 168 episodes. Chuck Connors headlines as a world class hand with a Winchester rifle. This of course ends up getting him in no end of trouble.

Three men, Marc Lawrence, Harold J Stone and Harvey Johnson ride up to Chuck Connors ranch house. Connors and his son, Johnny Crawford, are busy re- shoeing a horse. Stone says hello to Connors, then pulls his gun. Stone tells Connors that the men need some help from him.

They would like Connors to ride into North Fork with them. They intend to rob the bank while using Connors to gain entry to the office of the manager. Harlan Warde. To insure Connors compliance, Harvey Johnson will stay at the ranch with young Crawford. If Connors does as he is told, the boy will remain unharmed. Connors agrees but swears bloody vengeance if anything should happen to Crawford.

Lawrence, Stone and Connors ride into town and enter the bank. The plan goes like clockwork and the safe contents are quickly loaded in a handy case. Stone tells Connors and Warde to stay put for one hour or the boy will get it. Stone and Lawrence exit and hit the trail out of town.

Meanwhile, back at the ranch (always wanted to say that) as the robbery is going on, Crawford has made a run for it. He does not get far as he takes a stumble and cracks his head on a large rock. The outlaw, Johnson carries him to the house and makes him as comfortable as possible.

Stone and Lawrence reach the ranch to grab up partner Johnson. The boy's injury was just one of those things. The trio mount up and hot-foot it away from the ranch. When Connors reaches the ranch, he finds the unconscious lad and calls in the town doc, Jack Kruschen. The doc soon tells Connors that Crawford is already coming round and will be OK in a day or two.

Connors grabs his rifle and a bag of rounds and sets off in pursuit of the three bandits. Of course he catches them and lead is fired. Lawrence is killed and the two survivors, Stone and Johnson collared for a date with the law. (b/w)