The Legend of the Lone Ranger (1981)

User Rating:

4.5/10   

Director:

William A. Fraker

Writers:

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

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
Rick Traeger	...	German stage passenger
James Bowman	...	Gambler
Kit Wong	...	Chinese stage passenger
Daniel Núñez	...	Way station agent
R.L. Tolbert	...	Stagecoach driver
Clay Boss	...	Stagecoach shotgun guard
Jose Rey Toledo	...	First chief
Max Cisneros	...	Second chief
Ted White	...	Mr. Reid
Cheré Bryson	...	Mrs. Reid
Jim Burk	...	Ranger Stephenson (as Jim Burke)
James Lee Crite	...	Walter
Jeff Ramsey	...	Alcott
Bennie E. Dobbins	...	Lopez
Henry Wills	...	Little
Greg Walker	...	Rankin
Michael Adams	...	Palmer
Ben Bates	...	Post
Bill Hart	...	Carner
Larry Randles	...	Stacy
Robert F. Hoy	...	Perlmutter (Cavendish's lieutenant)
Ted Gehring	...	Dale Wesley Stillwell
Buck Taylor	...	Robert Edward Gattlin
Tom R. Diaz	...	Eastman (Cavendish gang)
Chuck Hayward	...	Wald
Tom Laughlin	...	Neeley (Cavendish gang)
Terry Leonard	...	Valentine
Steve Meador	...	Russell
Joe Finnegan	...	Westlake (Cavendish gang)
Roy Bonner	...	Richardson (Cavendish gang)
John M. Smith	...	Whitloff (Cavendish gang)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Rocky Taylor	...	Robert Edward Gatlin (as Rock Taylor)
Bonita Granville	...	Woman (uncredited)
James Keach	...	The Lone Ranger / John Reid (voice) (uncredited)
Kenneth Lingad	...	Pablo / Manuel (uncredited)

Directed by
William A. Fraker

Writing credits
Ivan Goff		(screenplay) and
Ben Roberts		(screenplay) and
Michael Kane		(screenplay) and
William Roberts		(screenplay)
George W. Trendle		characters &
Gerald B. Derloshon		adaptation (as Jerry Derloshon)

Produced by
Walter Coblenz	....	producer
Dick Gallegly	....	associate producer
Lew Grade	....	producer (as Lord Grade)
Martin Starger	....	executive producer
Jack Wrather	....	producer

Original Music by
John Barry

Cinematography by
László Kovács		(as Laszlo Kovacs)

Film Editing by
Thomas Stanford

Casting by
Jane Feinberg
Mike Fenton

Production Design by
Albert Brenner

Art Direction by
David M. Haber

Set Decoration by
Phil Abramson		(as Philip Abramson)

Costume Design by
Noel Taylor

Production Management
Dick Gallegly	....	production manager
Richard L. O'Connor	....	executive in charge of production

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Joseph A. Ingraffia	....	second assistant director
Charles Okun	....	first assistant director

Art Department
Dennis J. Parrish	....	property master
Michael Taylor	....	lead man

Sound Department
John Duffy	....	sound editor
Cameron Frankley	....	sound editor
Randy Kelley	....	sound effects editor
Anthony Milch	....	sound editor
Marvin Walowitz	....	sound editor
Michael D. Wilhoit	....	sound editor

Special Effects by
Terry D. Frazee	....	special effects (as Terry Frazee)

Stunts
Andy Epper	....	stunts
Jerry Gatlin	....	stunt coordinator
Terry Leonard	....	stunts
Bob Yerkes	....	stunts

Camera and Electrical Department
Bobby Byrne	....	director of photography: second unit
Bob Munoz	....	best boy grip
William A. Fraker Jr.	....	second assistant camera (uncredited)
Robert D. McBride	....	camera operator (uncredited)

Casting Department
Linda Francis	....	casting associate

Music Department
John Barry	....	conductor
Graham Walker	....	music production supervisor
Dan Wallin	....	score mixer

Transportation Department
Linda Cipperley	....	transportation
Roger Wooge	....	transportation

Other crew
Ellen Adolph	....	manager of production accounting
Sherrie Bradshaw	....	assistant production accountant
Robert Davenport	....	horse trainer
Kenneth Lee	....	livestock coordinator
Bill McCamey	....	construction nurse
Ruth West	....	auditor

Production Companies

• Incorporated Television Company (ITC)
• Wrather Productions

Distributors

• Universal Pictures (1981) (USA) (theatrical)
• Associated Film Distribution (AFD) (1981) (USA) (theatrical)
• Hoyts Distribution (1981) (Australia) (theatrical)
• American Broadcasting Company (ABC) (1983) (USA) (TV) (broadcast premiere)

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:

This movie was such a huge box-office bomb that American investors had to salvage Lew Grade's ITC by purchasing its remaining stock and then reorganizing the company as part of the newly-formed Tri-Star Pictures.

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 "Night Court: Who Was That Mashed Man? (#5.7)" (1987)

Soundtrack:

The Man in the Mask

A great movie

This movie was wonderful and one of the most memorable of my life. It was much more interesting and exciting than any of the old Clayton Moore stuff. The action sequences were well done, and it was emotionally effective. It gave me some good thrills, like when The Lone Ranger shoots the rope that is about to hang Tonto and then rides up and carries him off with a dazzling display of gunfire, and of course, all to the rousing William Tell overture. This is touching because you remember how Tonto found The Lone Ranger left for dead after the Butch Cavendish attack and nursed him back to health. I can't believe that it was not a hit. No, it wasn't perfect, but it certainly deserved a lot more respect than it got. And Jason Robards performance as Ulysses S. Grant was charming. I just hope I can find a copy somewhere as soon as possible.