The Legend of the Lone Ranger (1981)

Director:

William A. Fraker

Writers:

Ivan Goff (screenplay) and
Ben Roberts (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

20 August 1981 (Australia)

Genre:

Action | Adventure | Western

Tagline:

The untold story of the man behind the mask, and the legend behind the man.

Plot:

The sole surviving Texas Ranger of an ambush arranged by Butch Cavandish returns to fight back as a masked hero.

Plot Keywords:

Lone Ranger | Young Versions Of Characters | Based On Comic | Ulysses Simpson Grant | Box Office Flop

Awards:

3 wins & 2 nominations

Cast

Klinton Spilsbury	...	The Lone Ranger / John Reid
Michael Horse	...	Tonto
Christopher Lloyd	...	Maj. Bartholomew 'Butch' Cavendish
Matt Clark	...	Sheriff Wiatt
Juanin Clay	...	Amy Striker (Lucas' niece / editor of Del Rio Dispatch after his death)
Jason Robards	...	President Ulysses S. Grant
John Bennett Perry	...	Capt. Dan Reid (Texas Ranger / John's older brother)
David Hayward	...	Collins
John Hart	...	Lucas Striker (editor of Del Rio Dispatch)
Richard Farnsworth	...	Wild Bill Hickok
Lincoln Tate	...	Gen.George A. Custer
Ted Flicker	...	Buffalo Bill Cody
Marc Gilpin	...	Young John Reid
Patrick Montoya	...	Young Tonto
David Bennett	...	Gen. Aurelio Rodriguez

Runtime:

98 min

Country:

USA | UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Australia:G | Singapore:PG | Finland:K-16 | USA:PG | Argentina:Atp

Filming Locations:

Abiquiu, New Mexico, USA

Company:

Incorporated Television Company (ITC)

Trivia:

At the time of production, a rather older, yet still iconic Clayton Moore was making personal appearances as the "masked man". The Wrather Company, owner of The Lone Ranger character took the actor to court banning him from wearing the mask, citing that an elderly man didn't represent the character the way he should. Though stripped of the mask, Mr. Moore continued making personal appearances in costume, but wearing over-sized sunglasses instead of the mask. After the extremely poor box office performance of the film, Clayton Moore was allowed to make appearances as The Lone Ranger, mask and all.

Goofs:

Continuity: During the scene where the Lone Ranger is breaking Silver to ride, the horse shown changes back and forth from having blue eyes to brown eyes. It also changes from wearing a bridle with a bit to a rodeo type bronc halter.

Quotes:

Ranger: [During a gunfight in a canyon] It ain't the bullet that kills you.
[shoots a bad guy on a cliff]
Ranger: . It's the fall.
[bad guy falls from cliff]

Movie Connections:

Referenced in The Stunts of 'Indiana Jones' (2003) (V)

Soundtrack:

The Man in the Mask

The Lone Ranger Truly Does Ride Again

The Legend of the Lone Ranger is an earnest adaptation of the origin and earliest adventures of John Reid's masked alter ego. Not particularly well made or well acted, Legend does have its moments, especially after lead Klinton Spilsbury dons the familiar black mask and white hat. To hear the upbeat tempo of the William Tell Overture truly does bring shivers to old fans' spines once more. Spilsbury, despite a nationwide search, was not a good choice for the Lone Ranger. He is not especially tall, broad shouldered, or very heroic in his movments. And obviously his voice was not good enough for the role either, as James Keach was brought in to dub over Spilsbury's lines. However, Spilsbury does prove to be physically capable, and his fight scenes and shoot outs are very much like the legendary Clayton Moore's. Michael Horse has departed from Jay Silverheel's monosyllabic and subservant version of Tonto. He is an activistic sidekick, prepared to defend his people to a fault, even if he has to step over his partner, the Ranger. Look for fairly good acting from the various co-stars, including Christopher Lloyd as the fiendish Butch Cavendish, Richard Farnsworth as Buffalo Bill, and especially Jason Robards as a frequently inebriated President U.S. Grant. All in all, not a great film, but one that tries incredibly hard to keep the Legend of the Lone Ranger alive.