The Lone Ranger (1956 film)

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The Lone Ranger
The Lone Ranger (1956 film) poster.jpg
Theatrical release poster
Directed by Stuart Heisler
Screenplay by Herb Meadow
Eric Freiwald
Based on
Produced by Willis Goldbeck [1]
Jack Wrather
Starring Clayton Moore
Jay Silverheels
Beverly Washburn
Cinematography Edwin B. DuPar
Edited by Clarence Kolster
Music by David Buttolph
Production
company
Wrather Productions
Distributed by Warner Bros. [2]
Release date
  • February 25, 1956 (1956-02-25)
Running time
81 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Box office$1,550,000 (US) [3]

The Lone Ranger is a 1956 Western film based on The Lone Ranger television series starring Clayton Moore and Jay Silverheels. The Lone Ranger was the first of two theatrical features based on the series; it was followed by The Lone Ranger and the Lost City of Gold in 1958.

Contents

Plot

In the American Southwest, the territorial governor enlists the help of the Lone Ranger to investigate mysterious raids on white settlers by Indians who ride with saddles. Wealthy rancher Reese Kilgore wants to expand his land to include Spirit Mountain, which is sacred to the local tribes. The Lone Ranger realizes that the natives wanted to keep settlers away so they would not discover the rich silver deposits on the mountain. In contrast, Kilgore intends to encourage a war between settlers and natives to mine the mountain himself. Working with Chief Red Hawk, the governor, Tonto, a cowboy named Ramirez, and a humorous disguise, the Lone Ranger discovers the true identities of the raiders, prevents war, protects the tribal lands, and rescues Kilgore's daughter from captivity.

Cast

The film was Bonita Granville's last credited appearance. She had retired from the screen to marry Jack Wrather in 1947. [4]

Production

Parts of the film were shot in Kanab Canyon, Barracks Canyon and Johnson Canyon in Utah. [5]

Reception

In a contemporary review for The New York Times , critic Bosley Crowther wrote: "You would think that, after all these years of championing law and order on the screen and radio, not to mention television, the Lone Ranger would be pooped. At least, you would think the people assigned to keeping him going would be tired of all those endless cattle rustles, slashing fist-fights, and western cliches. But apparently, a new team at Warners has taken over reviving the famous masked hero in all his glory in color and CinemaScope and has had at the task with the vigor of zealots inspired by a fresh idea. And 'The Lone Ranger,' which opened yesterday at the Mayfair, has the unwearied spirit of a noisy kid." [6]

Accolades

The Lone Ranger was nominated for the American Film Institute's list AFI's 100 Years...100 Heroes & Villains as a hero, [7] while his line "Hi-Yo, Silver!" was nominated for the 2005 list AFI's 100 Years...100 Movie Quotes. [8]

See also

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References

  1. Daniel, Blum (1969) [1957]. Screen World. Vol. 8. New York, N.Y.: Biblo & Tannen. p. 28. ISBN   0819602639.
  2. "After 60 Years, the Lone Ranger Still Lives". The Los Angeles Times. Retrieved September 27, 2010.
  3. 'The Top Box-Office Hits of 1956', Variety Weekly, January 2, 1957
  4. "The Lone Ranger (1956) - Trivia". TCM.com. Retrieved August 19, 2013.
  5. D'Arc, James V. (2010). When Hollywood Came to Town: A History of Moviemaking in Utah (1st ed.). Layton: Gibbs Smith. p. 289. ISBN   978-1-4236-0587-4. Wikidata   Q123575108.
  6. Crowther, Bosley (February 11, 1956). "Screen: 'Lone Ranger' Rides Again". The New York Times . p. 12.
  7. "AFI's 100 Years...100 Heroes & Villains Nominees" (PDF). Retrieved August 5, 2016.
  8. "AFI's 100 Years...100 Movie Quotes Nominees" (PDF). Retrieved August 5, 2016.