By Richard Harland Smith
The Lone Ranger
Brief Synopsis
The legendary hero fights to reconcile a developer with the Natives whose land he wants to mine.
Cast & Crew
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Stuart Heisler
Director
Clayton Moore
The Lone Ranger
Jay Silverheels
Tonto
Lyle Bettger
Reece Kilgore
Bonita Granville
Welcome Kilgore
Perry Lopez
Pete Ramirez
Film Details
Genre
Western
Release Date
Feb
25,
1956
Premiere Information
New York opening: 10 Feb 1956
Production Company
Jack Wrather Pictures, Inc.
Distribution Company
Warner Bros. Pictures, Inc.
Country
United States
Location
Barracks Canyon, Utah, United States; Kanab, Utah, United States
Screenplay Information
Based on the television series The Lone Ranger , created by Fran Striker and George Trendle (15 Sep 1949--1952; 1954--1957) and the radio series of the same name, created by Fran Striker (30 Jan 1933--27 May 1955).
Technical Specs
Duration
1h 26m
Sound
Mono (RCA Sound System)
Color
Color (Warnercolor)
Film Length
7,759ft
Synopsis
After being secretly assigned by the governor to investigate unrest that has been festering between the Indian and white people of the territory, the masked rider known as The Lone Ranger and his faithful Indian companion, Tonto, head for the cow town of Brasada. On the outskirts of town, they witness a band of Indians attack rancher Pete Ramirez and come to his rescue. After ruefully recounting how the Indians slaughtered his small herd of cattle, Ramirez warns the masked man to steer clear of the town. The next day, the governor comes to Brasada, posing as a guest of wealthy rancher Reece Kilgore, so that he can meet covertly with The Lone Ranger. At a mission church, the governor keeps his appointment with The Lone Ranger, who, disguised as an old prospector, shows him a silver bullet, the mark of The Lone Ranger. After conferring with the governor, The Lone Ranger and Tonto proceed to the Indian reservation, where Chief Red Hawk promises to keep the peace and confides that his braves are furious because of the spurious accusations of the whites. In Brasada, meanwhile, Cassidy, Kilgore's foreman, assembles a crew to drive the herd to Abilene, and Ramirez reluctantly joins them. En route to Abilene, Cassidy rustles the herd owned by Sheriff Kimberly's father and shoots the old man. Upon reaching Abilene, Ramirez notices a shipment of dynamite addressed to Kilgore and soon after, is murdered in his room. When Ramirez fails to return with the others, The Lone Ranger sends Tonto into Brasada to inquire about him. Seeing Tonto, an Indian, wearing a gun, Kilgore attacks him. Although he fights valiantly, Tonto is captured by Kilgore, but manages to send his riderless horse back to The Lone Ranger, who rides to town and frees Tonto, thus saving him from a lynching. Disguised once again as the old prospector, The Lone Ranger travels to Abilene and from the storekeeper learns about the dynamite shipment and Ramirez' murder. He and Tonto then return to the reservation, where they find the Indians, led by Angry Horse, who has taken control from the ailing Red Hawk, preparing for war. While riding back to their camp, they spot four Indians burning a rancher's field and capture them and take them to Kimberly's office. When the Indians are unmasked as white men working for Kilgore, The Lone Ranger sends the sheriff to the governor's office to arrange for Kilgore's arrest. Kilgore, meanwhile, is inciting the ranchers to war against the Indians. He sends his daughter Lila to safety, but refuses to permit his wife Welcome to accompany her because he hates her for failing to bear him a son. Shortly after Lila departs, an arrow bearing her scarf is shot into Kilgore's door. Learning of the child's abduction, The Lone Ranger goes to the reservation and battles Angry Horse. After winning the fight, The Lone Ranger rescues Lila and takes her to her mother, who tells him of Kilgore's treachery. While the townspeople gather at Pilgrim's Crossing, Kilgore goes to Spirit Mountain to obtain dynamite to use against the Indians. Alone, The Lone Ranger attempts to stop him and his men, but Kilgore wounds him and flees, leaving the dynamite behind on a pack mule. Soon after, Tonto locates his wounded friend and the two discover that the mountain is laden with silver, and that Kilgore has been fomenting unrest to gain control of the mountain. Together, they take the dynamite to a narrow pass leading to the reservation, and keep the warring factions apart by hurling dynamite sticks at them. Kimberly, leading a cavalry troop, finally arrives with a warrant for the arrest of Kilgore and Cassidy. When accused of murdering Ramirez, Kilgore turns on Cassidy, who shoots him. Cassidy attempts to flee, but The Lone Ranger pursues and apprehends him. Several weeks later, The Lone Ranger goes to visit the mission church where Lila and Welcome have sought refuge. As Welcome swears to absolve the name of Kilgore, The Lone Ranger and Tonto depart before she can thank them.
Director
Stuart Heisler
Director
Cast
Clayton Moore
The Lone Ranger
Jay Silverheels
Tonto
Lyle Bettger
Reece Kilgore
Bonita Granville
Welcome Kilgore
Perry Lopez
Pete Ramirez
Robert Wilke
Cassidy
John Pickard
Sheriff Kimberly
Beverly Washburn
Lila Kilgore
Michael Ansara
Angry Horse
Frank Dekova
Red Hawk
Charles Meredith
The governor
Mickey Simpson
Powder
Zon Murray
Goss
Lane Chandler
Whitebeard
Lee Roberts
John Muller
Edward Colemans
The Padre
Bill Schallert
Mr. Clive, the governor's secretary
Russell Simpson
Kimberly's father
Rush Williams
Knuckles
Malcolm Atterbury
Phineas Tripp, storekeeper
Elmore Vincent
Abernathy
Bob Williams
Marshal
Paul Power
Businessman
Robert Filmer
Businessman
Robert Malcolm
Rancher
Crew
Gordon Bau
Makeup Supervisor
G. W. Berntsen
Set Decoration
David Buttolph
Music
Jack Casey
Pub
Mike Colgan
Sound Editing
Dave Depatie
Sound Editing
Edwin Dupar
Director of Photography
Robert Farfan
Assistant Director
Ardon Faught
First aid
Stanley Fleischer
Art Director
C. M. Folorance
2d Assistant Director
Willis Goldbeck
Producer
Al Greenway
Makeup
Lew Jennings
Camera Operator
John Jensen
Boom
Vic Johnson
Gaffer
Clarence Kolster
Film Editor
Henry Kruse
Assistant Camera
Gene J. Martin
Men's Wardrobe
Peg Mckeon
Ladies' Wardrobe
Charles Mclaughlin
Assistant props
Herb Meadow
Screenwriter
M. A. Merrick
Sound
Alice Monte
Hairstylist
Weldon H. Patterson
Props Master
Allen Pomeroy
2d Assistant Director
Meta Rebner
Script Supervisor
Paul Reuting
Sound Editing
Walter Robinson
Assistant Camera
Edward Roden
2d Assistant Director
Glen Roswold
Auditor
Ed Schroeder
Assistant cutter
Claude Swanner
Best boy
Nicholas Thoeson
Grip
Jack Woods
Stills
Jack Wrather
Company
Videos
Movie Clip
Film Details
Genre
Western
Release Date
Feb
25,
1956
Premiere Information
New York opening: 10 Feb 1956
Production Company
Jack Wrather Pictures, Inc.
Distribution Company
Warner Bros. Pictures, Inc.
Country
United States
Location
Barracks Canyon, Utah, United States; Kanab, Utah, United States
Screenplay Information
Based on the television series The Lone Ranger , created by Fran Striker and George Trendle (15 Sep 1949--1952; 1954--1957) and the radio series of the same name, created by Fran Striker (30 Jan 1933--27 May 1955).
Technical Specs
Duration
1h 26m
Sound
Mono (RCA Sound System)
Color
Color (Warnercolor)
Film Length
7,759ft
Articles
The Lone Ranger
The Lone Ranger, that masked righter of wrongs who rode the West with his Indian companion Tonto, was the creation of Francis "Fran" Striker, a radio writer who introduced the character in 1933. The first Lone Ranger adventures were broadcast over WEBR in Buffalo, New York, before landing at Detroit's, WXYZ. Aimed at children, The Lone Ranger was a big hit with Depression era adults, who took comfort in the chance to "return with us now to those thrilling days of yesteryear." The show was acquired by ABC in 1942, by which time Republic Pictures had already adapted the material for two serials. An ABC-TV series followed in 1949, starring Clayton Moore and Jay Silverheels. A big ratings winner (to the point where Moore sat out the third season over salary disputes), the series begat two feature films, the first of which was Stuart Heisler's The Lone Ranger (1956). Produced by Jack Wrather (whose wife Bonita Granville appears in a supporting role) and scripted by Have Gun - Will Travel creator Herb Meadow, The Lone Ranger added Warnercolor to the mix. Wrather produced the fourth and fifth seasons of the TV series in color before The Lone Ranger went off the air. A number of latter day revivals have been attempted - the latest being Gore Verbinski's 2013 reboot with Johnny Depp - all of which have fallen short of the immortality long ago afforded Clayton Moore and Jay Silverheels.
By Richard Harland Smith
By Richard Harland Smith
The Lone Ranger
The Lone Ranger, that masked righter of wrongs who rode the West with his Indian companion Tonto, was the creation of Francis "Fran" Striker, a radio writer who introduced the character in 1933. The first Lone Ranger adventures were broadcast over WEBR in Buffalo, New York, before landing at Detroit's, WXYZ. Aimed at children, The Lone Ranger was a big hit with Depression era adults, who took comfort in the chance to "return with us now to those thrilling days of yesteryear." The show was acquired by ABC in 1942, by which time Republic Pictures had already adapted the material for two serials. An ABC-TV series followed in 1949, starring Clayton Moore and Jay Silverheels. A big ratings winner (to the point where Moore sat out the third season over salary disputes), the series begat two feature films, the first of which was Stuart Heisler's The Lone Ranger (1956). Produced by Jack Wrather (whose wife Bonita Granville appears in a supporting role) and scripted by Have Gun - Will Travel creator Herb Meadow, The Lone Ranger added Warnercolor to the mix. Wrather produced the fourth and fifth seasons of the TV series in color before The Lone Ranger went off the air. A number of latter day revivals have been attempted - the latest being Gore Verbinski's 2013 reboot with Johnny Depp - all of which have fallen short of the immortality long ago afforded Clayton Moore and Jay Silverheels.
By Richard Harland Smith
Quotes
Trivia
Bonita Granville's last film appearance. She retired from the screen to marry Jack Wrather.
Notes
Before the opening credits, a narrator explains that out of the hostile Southwest environment, in which American pioneers risked their lives, there emerged a man known as "The Lone Ranger." The famous Lone Ranger theme, taken from The William Tell Overture, by Gioacchino Antonio Rossini, is played behind the opening credits. After Herb Meadow's writing credit is the statement that the film is "based on The Lone Ranger Legend." Although the New York Times review states that this film was made in CinemaScope, no other source mentions the process. According to an August 1954 Daily Variety news item, Jack Wrather paid $3,000,000 for the rights to this property. Included in the deal were 130 television programs, 1,500 radio transcriptions, as well as all merchandising and cartoon contracts. Wrather also received control of all stock in Lone Ranger, Inc., owned by George Trendle, who created the Lone Ranger radio series with Fran Striker. According to a Hollywood Reporter production chart, this film was shot on location in Kanab, UT. An August 1955 Hollywood Reporter news item stated that a flash flood in Barracks Canyon marooned the company for three hours, before they were finally rescued.
Although August 1955 Hollywood Reporter news items add Bob Morgan and June Blair to the cast, their appearance in the completed film has not been confirmed, and in late August, Blair was moved to the cast of Our Miss Brooks. The Lone Ranger marked Bonita Granville's last appearance before retiring from the screen to marry Wrather. A November 1955 Hollywood Reporter news item announced that the advertising and promotion budget of The Lone Ranger was $1,000,000.
This was the first of two Lone Ranger features starring Clayton Moore and Jay Silverheels that were produced to capitalize on the success of the popular Lone Ranger television series, which had been running intermittently since 1949. In October 1955, a Hollywood Reporter news item reported that a new color television series would be launched in the spring of 1956. For additional information on other films featuring the character of "The Lone Ranger" and "Tonto," please consult the Series Index and see the entry for the 1940 Republic production, Hi-Yo Silver, in AFI Catalog of Feature Films, 1931-40.
Miscellaneous Notes
Released in United States Winter February 1956
Released in United States Winter February 1956
