Rage at Dawn (1955)

Director:

Tim Whelan

Writers:

Horace McCoy (screenplay)
Frank Gruber (story)

Release Date:

26 March 1955 (USA)

Genre:

Western

Tagline:

SHOWDOWN AT SUNUP! (original print ad - all caps)

Plot:

A special agent from Chicago is sent out west to bring in the notorious Reno brothers.

Plot Keywords:

Train Robbery | Burned Alive | Beautiful Woman | Lynching | Undercover

Cast

Randolph Scott	...	James Barlow
Forrest Tucker	...	Frank Reno
Mala Powers	...	Laura Reno
J. Carrol Naish	...	Simeon 'Sim' Reno
Edgar Buchanan	...	Judge
Myron Healey	...	John Reno
Howard Petrie	...	Lattimore, Prosecuting Attorney
Ray Teal	...	Sheriff of Seymour
William Forrest	...	William Peterson
Denver Pyle	...	Clint Reno
Trevor Bardette	...	Fisher
Kenneth Tobey	...	Monk Claxton

Also Known As:

Seven Bad Men

Runtime:

87 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound System)

Certification:

West Germany:12 (nf) | UK:U (passed with cuts) | Finland:K-16 | USA:Approved | Sweden:15

Filming Locations:

Columbia State Historic Park - 22708 Broadway, Columbia, California, USA

Company:

RKO Radio Pictures

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: Set in Indiana in 1866, the opening sequences reveal telephone poles and telephone lines in the background. Also, the U.S. and California State flag are shown on a flagpole in the background. (The film was shot in California)

Quotes:

Opening crawl: This is the true story of the Reno Brothers... Clint, a respected farmer, and Frank, Simeon, John and Bill... who were the first train robbers in American history. Looting, burning and killing, this infamous clan rode through the middle border states setting the pattern for the great outlaw bands which were to follow: the James boys, the Daltons and the Youngers... The year, 1866. The place is Southern Indiana.

Good Western; Great Cast

"Rage of Dawn" is one of a series of excellent westerns made by Randolph Scott in the 1950s. This one has Scott posing as a train robber in order to infiltrate the Reno Brothers gang in 1866.

The brothers Frank (Forrest Tucker), Sim (J. Carroll Naish) and John (Myron Healey) among others are ambushed during a holdup attempt in which their youngest brother is killed. They suspect an informer. It turns out to be Peterson Detective Agency man Murphy (Arthur Space) who is quickly eliminated. Back at the Peterson office, Mr. Peterson (William Forrest) assigns Monk Paxton (Kenneth Tobey) to the case along with ex-southern spy James Barlow (Scott). They stage a phony train robbery in order to gain the gang's confidence. They then take refuge at Barlow's "uncle's" (Ralph Moody) ranch and await contact from the gang.

Meanwhile, Barlow has become acquainted with the Reno's sister Laura (Mala Powers) and sparks fly. Good Reno brother Clint (Denver Pyle) pleads with Barlow to take his sister "away from all of this". Barlow gets in with the gang and learns that the local Judge (Edgar Buchanan), prosecutor (Howard Petrie) and sheriff (Ray Teal) are involved with the gang.

Barlow sets them up in a train robbery and the Reno Brothers are arrested. Concerned citizens Fisher (Trevor Bardette) and Dedrick (James Lydon) form a lynch mob and go to the jail, overpower the local sheriff (George Wallace) and.......

This has got to be one of the greatest casts of veteran western performers ever to appear in one film. Western lovers will know what I'm talking about. In addition to those mentioned above you'll spot Mike Ragan (aka Holly Bane), Dennis Moore, Chubby Johnson and William Phipps in other roles.

One of Scott's better westerns of the period.