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
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
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:

John Hart, who cameos as Lucas Striker in the film, spent a season behind the mask in the "The Lone Ranger" (1949).

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:

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.

Movie Connections:

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

Soundtrack:

The Man in the Mask

I liked this movie!

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?