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The Rifleman
S1.E28
All episodesAll
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
IMDbPro

The Challenge

  • Episode aired Apr 7, 1959
  • TV-PG
  • 30m
IMDb RATING
7.9/10
190
YOUR RATING
John Durren in The Rifleman (1958)
FamilyWestern

An escaped killer is out to prove that his time in prison hasn't slowed down his speed with a gun.An escaped killer is out to prove that his time in prison hasn't slowed down his speed with a gun.An escaped killer is out to prove that his time in prison hasn't slowed down his speed with a gun.

  • Director
    • Lewis Allen
  • Writers
    • David Victor
    • Herbert Little Jr.
  • Stars
    • Chuck Connors
    • Johnny Crawford
    • Paul Fix
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    7.9/10
    190
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Lewis Allen
    • Writers
      • David Victor
      • Herbert Little Jr.
    • Stars
      • Chuck Connors
      • Johnny Crawford
      • Paul Fix
    • 5User reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • Photos

    Top cast19

    Edit
    Chuck Connors
    Chuck Connors
    • Lucas McCain
    Johnny Crawford
    Johnny Crawford
    • Mark McCain
    Paul Fix
    Paul Fix
    • Micah Torrance
    Les Tremayne
    Les Tremayne
    • Professor
    John Durren
    John Durren
    • Dave Pardee
    Hope Summers
    Hope Summers
    • Hattie Denton
    Harlan Warde
    Harlan Warde
    • John Hamilton
    John Maxwell
    John Maxwell
    • Sam Weltz
    Bill Quinn
    Bill Quinn
    • Frank Sweeney
    Ian Murray
    • Harley Hanneberry
    Mel Carter
    • Cowhand
    Michael Harris
    • Cowhand
    • (as Mike Harris)
    Adam Williams
    Adam Williams
    • Jake Pardee
    Fred Aldrich
    Fred Aldrich
    • Townsman
    • (uncredited)
    Jimmie Booth
    • Townsman
    • (uncredited)
    Whitey Hughes
    Whitey Hughes
    • Townsman at Meeting
    • (uncredited)
    King Mojave
    • Townsman
    • (uncredited)
    Jack Perry
    Jack Perry
    • Townsman
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • Lewis Allen
    • Writers
      • David Victor
      • Herbert Little Jr.
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews5

    7.9190
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    Featured reviews

    9kfo9494

    Great script and great acting adds up to an enjoyable show.

    Three men ride into North Fork and is lead by an escape prisoner named Jake Pardee. Jake had been given a life sentence but escaped after five years of confinement. Jake as the image of himself as being the most important criminal in the west. And now he goes into Hattie's store and holds Hattie and Micah prisoner as Lucas is elected to be the Marshal in Micah's absents.

    Jake wants the people of North Fork to remember him for the rest of their life so challenges Lucas to a gunfight. The outcome of the gunfight is what makes this episode stand out above others.

    This episode is by far one of the better stories in the series. An entertaining script that did not go by the regular rules of western writing. With top notch acting, this episode was a hit.-- The only draw back of the show was a song 'The Ballad of Jake Pardee' that was sung slowly nearly the entire episode. But when the show is over, the thoughts of the song were long gone and the beauty of the story was shown. Good watch.

    NOTE- the singer of 'The Ballad of Jake Pardee' is Bill Lee. He is the same person that was dubbed for Christopher Plumber during the song 'Edelweiss' in 'The Sound of Music".
    10EmsFather

    Thurl Ravencroft

    Thurl Ravencroft, who sang the Jake Pardee ballad, was famous for many cartoon voices but thebone we remember him most for was the the singer in the 1966 cartoon, The Grinch. You're a mean.one Mr. Grinch
    10jsinger-58969

    You're a mean one, Mr Pardee

    North Fork is a magnet for crazed desperados, and here comes Jake Pardee, who is a murderer, a thief, a mug, pug, thug, bushwhacker, hornswaggler, backstabber, claim jumper, and numerous other nasty things. We know this by listening to his song, which plays for nearly the entire episode. Although most people seem to think the song was voiced by Thurl Ravenscroft, the show's credits credit Bill Lee as being the balladeer. Curiously, Lee and Ravenscroft were both in the Mellomen back in the day. Anyways, Pardee, played by war hero Adam Williams, takes Luke's squeeze Hattie and Micah hostage, just because be can. Micah picked a bad day to give up drinking. Pardee, who we are assured will either hang or die by violence one day according to the lyrics of the song, decides to challenge Lucas boy to a gun fight, just to add another verse to his legend. While everyone else in town hides under their bed, the two of them meet in the street. Luke aims his super rifle at Jake and has his hand ready to deliver the kill shot when he tells Pardee to draw. This doesn't seem like a fair fight and Jake realizes that as he starts crying like a baby. Pardee's fellow prison escapees then turn on each other, leaving the streets of North Fork safe for another week.

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    Related interests

    Drew Barrymore and Pat Welsh in E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982)
    Family
    John Wayne and Harry Carey Jr. in The Searchers (1956)
    Western

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Lyrics for the Jake Pardee song: Jake, Jake Pardee; Someday you'll hang. - He chased the bride and women 'til; They felt his vicious breath The fate he had in store for them; Was truly worse than death Jake, Jake Pardee; Someday you'll hang. -Interlude His eyes were cold as ice when; He when on a shooting binge He leered down on his victims 'cuz; He liked to see them cringe Jake, Jake Pardee; Someday you'll hang. - One day in Peckinpah's Saloon; He had too much to drink The sheriff took him by his neck; And threw him in the clink Jake, Jake Pardee; Someday you'll hang. - Jake Pardee was a highwayman; A price was on his head In every town that he came through; He killed some people dead Jake, Jake Pardee; Someday you'll hang. Jake, Jake Pardee; Someday you'll hang. -Commercial He sat in jail for five long years; And planned and plotted well He pistol-whipped the Sheriff when; He opened up his cell Jake, Jake Pardee; Someday you'll hang. -Interlude (more of a lighter and bouncier interlude than the others) -Break Then Jake took up where he left off; A murderer and a thief Oh, for the torment that he caused; Oh, for the tears of grief Jake, Jake Pardee; Someday you'll hang. -Interlude -Break -Interlude He can't escape his sorry end; No matter how he cries He lived his life by violence; By violence he'll die Jake, Jake Pardee; Someday you'll hang. -Interlude -Break His eyes were cold as ice; When he went on a shooting binge He leered down on his victims 'cuz; He liked to see them cringe Jake, Jake Pardee; Someday you'll hang. -Interlude -Break He sat down to a poker game; And when he lost his stack He let the winner start for home; And shot him in the back Jake, Jake Pardee; Someday you'll hang. -Interlude -Break -Interlude He can't escape his sorry end; No matter how he cries He lived his life by violence; By violence he'll die.
    • Goofs
      When Jake Pardee shoots the cans on the shelves in the general store; as they fall they are clearly empty. The hollow sound of empty cans clanging against each other is heard.
    • Quotes

      Lucas McCain: Mr. Weltz, one wrong move and Hattie and Micah will be dead for a long, long time.

    • Crazy credits
      The ending credits displayed shows that the Jake Pardee song was sung by "BILL LEE" ... but sure sounds like Thurl Ravenscroft.
    • Connections
      Referenced in iCarly: iLike Jake (2007)
    • Soundtracks
      The Ballad of Jake Pardee
      Music by Herschel Burke Gilbert

      Lyrics by Alfred Perry

      Sung by Thurl Ravenscroft

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • April 7, 1959 (United States)
    • Language
      • English
    • Filming locations
      • Republic Studios - 4024 Radford Avenue, North Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA(Studio)
    • Production companies
      • Four Star Productions
      • Sussex Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 30m
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.33 : 1

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