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The Legend of the Lone Ranger (1981)
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Overview
User Rating:
Director:
Writers:
Release Date:
20 August 1981 (Australia)
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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
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Awards:
3 wins
&
2 nominations
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NewsDesk:
User Comments:
The Lone Ranger Truly Does Ride Again
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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 | ... | 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 |
Additional Details
Parents Guide:
Runtime:
98 min
Language:
Color:
Color (Technicolor)
Aspect Ratio:
2.35 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Certification:
Filming Locations:
Fun Stuff
Trivia:
Stuntman Terry Leonard, was badly injured while duplicating the famous horse to stagecoach transfer, that was originated and perfected by Yakima Canutt. Seen first in John Ford's Stagecoach (1939) and the Republic serial Zorro's Fighting Legion (1939), the stunt went bad when Leonard's leg was caught under one of the wheels of the stagecoach.
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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.
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Quotes:
Second chief:
[Tonto has brought a wounded John Reid to the Indian camp, where he can hide from Butch Cavendish] ... The Palefaces make many promises to us, yet they keep only one: they promise to take our land, and they take it. And now you bring one of them here, to be nursed back to health? Tonto, why?
Tonto: No one has greater cause than I to fill his heart with hatred for the White Man. He has taken my wife and my child from me. But the Paleface I have brought here today is my brother, and I will guard his life with my own if it comes to such. If I am wrong about him - if he proves to be an enemy - then I, Tonto, will decorate my lance with this White Man's hair. But until that day comes - UNLESS it comes - let him be judged not by his skin, but by his heart.
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Tonto: No one has greater cause than I to fill his heart with hatred for the White Man. He has taken my wife and my child from me. But the Paleface I have brought here today is my brother, and I will guard his life with my own if it comes to such. If I am wrong about him - if he proves to be an enemy - then I, Tonto, will decorate my lance with this White Man's hair. But until that day comes - UNLESS it comes - let him be judged not by his skin, but by his heart.
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Movie Connections:
Referenced in "Night Court: Who Was That Mashed Man? (#5.7)" (1987)
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Soundtrack:
The Man in the Mask
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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.