I'm just about through the fourth season of "The Rifleman" on the Encore Western Channel, and I'm really starting to appreciate the work of Chuck Connors. So as I call up the TV cable listings yesterday, it's only about a minute to go before the movie "Geronimo" is set to play on Turner Classics. With no hesitation, I'm there.

With a film like this you've got to be able to get past the license taken with historical accuracy; this one is about one third true and the rest is Hollywood. But for fans of Connors, you've got a decent amount of story to work with in a movie populated by a number of his regularly appearing guests on the TV series. There's the reliable John Anderson as Jeremiah Burns, and a second half appearance by Denver Pyle as Senator Conrad. You might also be surprised to see Adam West as a cavalry officer, and Ross Martin as an Apache friend of Geronimo named Magnus.

I was surprised to see how authentic Connors looked as an Indian, probably even more so than Paul Newman as the title character in "Hombre". However I was taken aback at times where in size and appearance he resembled Arnold Schwarzenneger a bit. It's ironic actually that Connors plays the role of an Apache, when in Episode #1.37 of "The Rifleman" - 'The Raid' - Lucas McCain sets a personal high body count with seven Apaches killed in the story. He doesn't come nearly as close in this one against the white man, although one might argue they certainly had it coming.

The biggest surprise though coming out of this picture was seeing actress Kamala Devi portraying the Apache school teacher who Geronimo takes for a wife. The idea must have intrigued Connors because some time after filming, Devi became Connors' second wife for real. Not surprising, she was absolutely gorgeous.

Pay attention, and you'll catch a neat line that was a harbinger of things to come for Connors the actor. When he's on line at the San Carlos reservation to get his food rations for the first time, he's marked with a painted 'X' on his hand. In an eerily prophetic remark, Geronimo angrily tells the quartermaster - "I'm not an animal that has to be Branded"!