IMDb > The Legend of the Lone Ranger (1981)
The Legend of the Lone Ranger
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The Legend of the Lone Ranger (1981) More at IMDbPro »

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Overview

User Rating:
4.5/10   686 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Up 30% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
Writers:
Ivan Goff (screenplay) and
Ben Roberts (screenplay) ...
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Contact:
View company contact information for The Legend of the Lone Ranger on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
20 August 1981 (Australia) more
Tagline:
The untold story of the man behind the mask, and the legend behind the man. more
Plot:
The sole surviving Texas Ranger of an ambush arranged by Butch Cavandish returns to fight back as a masked hero. full summary | add synopsis
Awards:
3 wins & 2 nominations more
NewsDesk:
Bruckheimer Takes On The Lone Ranger
 (From WENN. 30 March 2008, 7:13 AM, PDT)

User Comments:
I liked this movie! more (29 total)

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)
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 ... Ranger Captain Dan Reid

David Hayward ... Ranger 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
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Additional Details

Runtime:
98 min
Country:
Language:
Color:
Color (Technicolor)
Aspect Ratio:
2.35 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Filming Locations:

Fun Stuff

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. more
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. more
Quotes:
[Having just thanked the Lone Ranger for saving his life, Grant now turns to Tonto]
President Ulysses S. Grant: And how can I thank you?
Tonto: You can thank me by honoring your treaties with my people.
President Ulysses S. Grant: We will try.
more
Movie Connections:
Referenced in The Stunts of 'Indiana Jones' (2003) (V) more
Soundtrack:
The Man in the Mask more

FAQ

This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.
15 out of 19 people found the following comment useful.
I liked this movie!, 25 December 2001
Author: guil fisher from New York City, NY

After reading so many bad comments on this film, I guess I'm one of the few that disagree with the critics. I really liked this movie. I thought it was well directed by William Fraker, with terrific photography and a well written story. So, for once, there isn't a lot of blood and guts all over the place. Who cares? It was also interesting to me to see how the Lone Ranger got his name and the whole silver bullet legend, which I never knew. So, thanks for filling me in on that subject.

Some wonderful performances by all of the leads. How wonderful to see Jason Robards as President Grant. He added so much to the role with his usuall unbeatable acting abilities. This is a terrific actor in all that he does. And Christopher Lloyd as "Butch" Cavendish, the villain, plays the part with simplicity and not the usuall western bad guy. It was nice to see Lloyd play a different kind of role other than the character from "Taxi" he's known for. I liked Matt Clark as the Sheriff. You see Clark in many films and most of the time his work goes un-noticed. This actor, too, does fine character work. Then we have the Lone Ranger and Tonto. Yes, there are many legends that lean on the gay relationship, but this viewer liked these two actors. I didn't know that Klinton Spilsbury's voice was dubbed as the Ranger. But I thought he had lots of charm and certainly good looks, with or without the mask. His scenes with the horse, Silver, were wonderfully humorous and appealing. His scene in the church with Amy was also well played and well photographed. I liked this actor and don't understand why he never appeared again in a film. It must have been his own choice.

As Tonto, Michael Horse was perfection. Simply played with dignity for his race, he brought some nice quality to the film. You felt that unsaid respect and devotion the two heroes had for one another. If you want to go the gay route, do so. I guess in this day and age, one must take that aspect and build on it. What, then, does that say of the Three Muskateers?

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Message Boards

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The Lone Ranger, a Fool??? texan_houston_guy
Johnny Depp to be Tonto blairk
George Clooney as The Lone Ranger? blairk
whatever happened to klinton spilsbury? JoshsDad
music spacenerd
John Barry's Score Lynn731
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