Rage at Dawn (1955)

A special agent from Chicago is sent out west to bring in the notorious Reno brothers.

Director:

Tim Whelan

Writers:

Horace McCoy (screenplay), Frank Gruber (story)

Stars:

Randolph Scott, Forrest Tucker, Mala Powers

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Randolph Scott	...	James Barlow
Forrest Tucker	...	Frank Reno
Mala Powers	...	Laura Reno
J. Carrol Naish	...	Simeon 'Sim' Reno
Edgar Buchanan	...	Judge
Myron Healey	...	John Reno
Howard Petrie	...	Lattimore - Prosecuting Attorney
Ray Teal	...	Sheriff of Seymour
William Forrest	...	William Peterson
Denver Pyle	...	Clint Reno
Trevor Bardette	...	Fisher
Kenneth Tobey	...	Monk Claxton

Storyline

Terrorizing 1866 Indiana, the Reno brothers gang uses the town of Seymour as a safe haven, paying off three crooked town officials. Sent in to clean up the gang is Peterson Detective Agency operative James Barlow, who poses as an outlaw to gain the confidence of the officials and the thick-headed brothers. Complicating matters are Barlow's feelings for the Reno sister, Laura, who reluctantly keeps house for the boys out of family loyalty. Events heat up and rage surfaces as Barlow sets up the gang in a dawn train robbery.

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Plot Keywords:

revisionist western | outlaw brothers | trapped outlaw | b western | low budget film | 

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Taglines:

SHOWDOWN AT SUNUP! (original print ad - all caps)

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Genres:

Action | Adventure | Crime | Drama | Western

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Certificate:

Approved

Did You Know?

Trivia

While Barlow (Randolf Scott) is being detained and interrogated, night turns to morning, and the judge (Edgar Buchanan) is going to where Barlow is being kept, as he is entering the doorway the door is barn red, but as he's entering the room the door is white as can be.

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Goofs

Set in Indiana in 1866, the opening sequences reveal telephone poles and telephone lines in the background. Also, the U.S. and California State flag are shown on a flagpole in the background. (The film was shot in California)

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Quotes

Judge: [to the sheriff and prosecutor] You're too suspicious.
Lattimore, Prosecuting Attorney: We've a right to be suspicious. Our share keeps getting smaller and smaller; first thing you know they'll deal us out completely.
Judge: How can they? We'll be re-elected next month for two more years. They know which side their bread's buttered on.
Lattimore, Prosecuting Attorney: You think we can get away with this for two more years? Our collusion with the Reno Brothers is one of the worst kept secrets in history. Collusion, conspiracy, malfeasance. Ugly words, your honor, but ...

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Connections

Featured in The Sierra Number 3 Locomotive: A Star Is Reborn (2012)

User Reviews

Good Western; Great Cast

"Rage of Dawn" is one of a series of excellent westerns made by Randolph Scott in the 1950s. This one has Scott posing as a train robber in order to infiltrate the Reno Brothers gang in 1866.

The brothers Frank (Forrest Tucker), Sim (J. Carroll Naish) and John (Myron Healey) among others are ambushed during a holdup attempt in which their youngest brother is killed. They suspect an informer. It turns out to be Peterson Detective Agency man Murphy (Arthur Space) who is quickly eliminated. Back at the Peterson office, Mr. Peterson (William Forrest) assigns Monk Paxton (Kenneth Tobey) to the case along with ex-southern spy James Barlow (Scott). They stage a phony train robbery in order to gain the gang's confidence. They then take refuge at Barlow's "uncle's" (Ralph Moody) ranch and await contact from the gang.

Meanwhile, Barlow has become acquainted with the Reno's sister Laura (Mala Powers) and sparks fly. Good Reno brother Clint (Denver Pyle) pleads with Barlow to take his sister "away from all of this". Barlow gets in with the gang and learns that the local Judge (Edgar Buchanan), prosecutor (Howard Petrie) and sheriff (Ray Teal) are involved with the gang.

Barlow sets them up in a train robbery and the Reno Brothers are arrested. Concerned citizens Fisher (Trevor Bardette) and Dedrick (James Lydon) form a lynch mob and go to the jail, overpower the local sheriff (George Wallace) and.......

This has got to be one of the greatest casts of veteran western performers ever to appear in one film. Western lovers will know what I'm talking about. In addition to those mentioned above you'll spot Mike Ragan (aka Holly Bane), Dennis Moore, Chubby Johnson and William Phipps in other roles.

One of Scott's better westerns of the period.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

2 June 1955 (USA)

Also Known As:

Rage at Dawn

Filming Locations:

Honey Run Covered Bridge, Chico, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Nat Holt Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

87 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound System)

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1