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:

ONE MAN'S COURAGE CAN BREAK THEIR GRIP OF TERROR! (origina poster-all caps)

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Genres:

Action | Adventure | Crime | Drama | Western

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

2 June 1955 (USA)

Also Known As:

Seven Bad Men

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

Did You Know?

Trivia

Ten members of the Reno gang were lynched in three separate incidents in 1868. The first three were taken by vigilantes from a train. Three others were lynched at a later time. The last lynching, which included three Reno brothers, Frank, Sim, and Bill, actually claimed a fourth victim, gang member Charlie Anderson. Anderson and Frank Reno were technically in federal custody when they were lynched. This is believed to be the only time in U.S. history that a federal prisoner had ever been lynched by a mob before a trial.

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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

James Barlow: I'm sorry if I disappoint you, Miss Laura, but as you know in our business, a little dishonesty's necessary now and then.

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Connections

Version of Love Me Tender (1956)

User Reviews

Better than average Western

It is more than twenty minutes into the movie before its star Randolph Scott makes his appearance and his lean craggy presence gives a decided lift to proceedings .He plays an undercover agent sent to pose as a train robber and infiltrate the Reno brothers gang who -aided by corrupt local officials -are wreaking havoc in Indiana .He then persuades the gang to embark on a train robbery with a view to entrapping them . The script is by the cult pulp crime novelist Horace McCoy and is based on a story by another feted pulpster ,Frank Gruber, and it is slick and efficient with solid performance from a sturdy supporting cast which includes dependable performers like Forrest Tucker ,and J Carroll Naish as two of the Reno brothers Handsome photography and the brisk direction of Tim Whelan are distinct assets and the historically accurate finale ends proceedings on a gritty and powerful note as frontier justice takes over from the rule of law .

A good little movie which Western devotees will like