Product Details

• Actors: Chuck Connors, Johnny Crawford, Paul Fix, Bill Quinn, Joe Benson
• Format: Black & White, DVD, HiFi Sound, NTSC
• Language: English
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Studio: Mpi Home Video
• DVD Release Date: June 26, 2001
• Run Time: 140 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (23 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B00005B1ZR
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #180,851 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)
• For more information about "The Rifleman (Vol. 1)" visit the Internet Movie Database (IMDb)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

42 of 42 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars For casual fans of "The Rifleman", October 26, 2005

By 

Robert Huggins (Suburban Philadelphia, PA United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Rifleman, Volume 1 (DVD)

This three episode collection issued by Alpha Video contains the same three episodes that have been issued by various companies specializing in public domain material; in fact, if you already own any DVDs of the Chuck Connors Western "The Rifleman," be sure to compare the episodes on your discs with those contained on Alpha's so as to avoid possible duplication. The episodes include "Outlaw's Inheritance," "Day of the Hunter," and "Mail Order Groom." For casual fans of the series who would like to include a few episodes in their classic TV collection, this DVD will fit the bill nicely. But serious fans of "The Rifleman" will want to check out the various official DVD box sets issued by MPI for the best episode selection and best audio/visual quality.

Trivia Note: John Anderson guest stars in two of the episodes, "Day of the Hunter" and "Mail Order Groom." These two episodes were originally broadcast just a week apart!

25 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Terrific, Peckinpah-Directed Episodes Best, February 23, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: The Rifleman (Vol. 1) (DVD)

The first episode (pilot episode) is the best. Episodes handled by Sam Peckinpah are the best because they have a somewhat harder "edge" and never get "sappy" as this series did in its last year or so (this DVD has the most Peckinpah episodes).

Too bad we get shortchanged, this DVD needs at least two more espisodes. DVD's longer service life makes it worthwhile to upgrade to have the best episodes of the best western series.

"The Rifleman" is superior to the other westerns of its era, nearly 30 years after its debut, this series was a prime component of one cable channel's lineup. Surprisingly, Conners began a short-lived attorneys series immediately after "The Rifleman" went off the air. This series was a coming together of talented actors with good chemistry together, mostly good scripts, and the best music of any TV show ever.

18 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The Rifeman...The story begins., December 13, 2001

By 

trebe - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: The Rifleman (Vol. 1) (DVD)

"The Rifleman" was on TV before I was born, and though I dimly remembered the show growing up, I really became acquainted with the program when it was carried for a time on the Family Channel a few years ago. I enjoyed the program immensely, attracted by the relationship between Lucas McCain and his son Mark. Wonderful acting by the tough as nails Chuck Connors, and the adorable Johnny Crawford. Time really flies watching this program, it seems that it has only just begun, and then suddenly it's over. The same can be said of this DVD, as the episodes seem to quickly slip by one after another.

McCain is a single father, trying to find a new life with his son in North Fork. His goal is to teach his son what he needs to know to survive in the old wild West. McCain's methods are basic "tough love", and may seem harsh by today's standards. But underneath the gruff exterior, is the true warm love of a father for his son. A similar treatment is applied to others undergoing life crisis, like the alcoholic Micah Torrance, and Michael Landon's outlaw character, as well as many others in future episodes in order to help them see the error of their ways.

Issues of morality are typically presented as black and white, compromise is usually out of the question. Justice is often administered by McCain's tricked out Winchester lever-action rifle. Some episodes (particularly Peckinpah's), not necessarily in this collection, are particularly violent. The violence is treated as necessary, but the dead are not dwelt upon, and therefore the effect is softened, and passes as we fade to the commercial break. McCain kills only when forced to, and as a last resort.

Others may not agree, but "The Rifleman" is a show about men, primarily for men. Sure, it will find an audience with some women, but this show definitely has a masculine view of the world. In the wake of the recent terrorist attacks, there may more of an audience for a program where moral issues are clear, and justice is swift.

My only complaint is that there is not enough material included. Five episodes is good, but six, seven, or eight would have been better. Sorry, but I'm greedy, and don't want to buy an excessive number of DVD's to complete a series (like Star Trek or Twilight Zone). Volumes 3 and 4 already scheduled for release, so we can look forward to more Rifleman DVD's. Picture quality is excellent, and Elmer Bernstein's moving music comes in at all the right moments.

Whether you are not familiar with this series or not, this is definitely the place to begin. And thanks to MPI Home Video, there will be many more adventures on DVD to look forward to. This collection is highly recommended, and the best is yet to come.