The Assassin

While it's near to see Chuck Connors in a different role, this show is poorly written and poorly acted. Those are the two primary reasons it never caught on with anyone.

Chuck Connors became a household name with "The Rifleman," and went on to another series of his own, and many performances in movies and TV shows, notably "Police Story," where he played a cop one show and a villain in another.

And always gave a strong performance.

Watching him in "The Assassin," an ugly story based at least somewhat on that of Tom Horn, one has to realize that Chuck Connors was one heck of an actor.

His fellow cast members here were not household names but included, without credit, veteran Buddy Roosevelt.

John Hoyt gives a very understated performance, and a lovely Isa Childers has a thankless role, one that might have got her praise but no friends for the role -- you just need to see this.

Bob Terry deserves our thanks, our deepest gratitude for bringing this, another of the "Forgotten Westerns" to our attention.

"The Assassin" is not a pleasant show, by any means, but I recommend it.