The Lone Ranger *** (1956, Clayton Moore, Jay Silverheels, Bonita Granville) – Classic Movie Review 11,744

Director Stuart Heisler’s 1956 The Lone Ranger stars Clayton Moore, who ‘hi yo’s’ away like a good ‘un as The Lone Ranger masked crusader stopping dastardly landowners from overrunning an Indian camp and starting a bloody battle.

The admirable Jay Silverheels features as his Native American chum Tonto in this pacy, actionful, genial junior-league Western, based on their fondly remembered TV series, but freshly served up in smart colour and some better production values for the cinema. Lyle Bettger makes a fine villain as wealthy rancher Reese Kilgore, the bad guy trying to force the Native Americans off their ore-valuable lands. Bonita Granville came out of early retirement to play his daughter Welcome Kilgore. It is Granville’s last credited film appearance, having retired from movies to marry the producer of this film, Jack Wrather, in 1947.

It is the first of two cinema spinoffs, followed by The Lone Ranger and the Lost City of Gold (1958).

It was originally a radio series by Fran Striker. Then there were two cinema serials: The Lone Ranger (1938 serial) and The Lone Ranger Rides Again (1939 serial).

The TV show ran from 1949 to 1957, lasting 221 episodes.

Also notable in the cast are Bonita Granville, Beverly Washburn, John Pickard, Perry Lopez, Robert J Wilke, Frank DeKova, Michael Ansara, and Lane Chandler.

Location shooting took place in Kanab Canyon, Barracks Canyon, and Johnson Canyon in Utah.

The Lone Ranger’s line ‘Hi-Yo, Silver!’ was nominated for the 2005 list AFI’s 100 Years…100 Movie Quotes.

The TV show had five seasons over nine years, black-and-white (1949–1956) and then colour (1956–1957).

It is followed by The Legend of the The Lone Ranger (1981), The Lone Ranger TV film (2003) and The Lone Ranger (2013).

The cast are Clayton Moore as The Lone Ranger, Jay Silverheels as Tonto, Lyle Bettger as Reese Kilgore, Bonita Granville as Welcome Kilgore, Perry Lopez as Pete Ramirez, Robert J Wilke as Cassidy, John Pickard as Sheriff Sam Kimberley, Beverly Washburn as Lila Kilgore, Michael Ansara as Angry Horse, Frank DeKova as Chief Red Hawk, Charles Meredith as Governor, Mickey Simpson as Powder, Lane Chandler as Chip Walker, Zon Murray as Goss, Hank Patterson as Old Man Kimberley, Lee Roberts as John Muller, Elmore Vincent as Mr Abernathy and William Schallert as Clive.

The Lone Ranger is directed by Stuart Heisler, runs 86 minutes, is made by Wrather Productions, is released by Warner, is written by Herb Meadow, is shot in WarnerColor by Edwin B DuPar, is produced by Jack Wrather and Willis Goldbeck, and scored by David Buttolph, with Art Direction by Stanley Fleischer.

© Derek Winnert 2021 Classic Movie Review 11,744

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