The Legend of the Lone Ranger

Aug 6, 1981

1h 38m

★ 4.9

The untold story of the man behind the mask, and the legend behind the man.

Overview

When the young Texas Ranger, John Reid, is the sole survivor of an ambush arranged by the militaristic outlaw leader, Butch Cavendich, he is rescued by an old childhood Comanche friend, Tonto. When he recovers from his wounds, he dedicates his life to fighting the evil that Cavendich represents. To this end, John Reid becomes the great masked western hero, The Lone Ranger. With the help of Tonto, the pair go to rescue President Grant when Cavendich takes him hostage.

Genres

Action

Adventure

Western

Production Companies

ITC Entertainment

Wrather Productions

Associated Film Distribution

Universal Pictures

The Legend of the Lone Ranger Trailers

Cast

The Lone Ranger / John Reid

Klinton Spilsbury

Maj. Bartholomew 'Butch' Cavendish

Christopher Lloyd

Sheriff Wiatt

Matt Clark

Amy Striker

Juanin Clay

President Ulysses S. Grant

Jason Robards

Ranger Captain Dan Reid

John Bennett Perry

Ranger Collins

David Hayward

Wild Bill Hickok

Richard Farnsworth

Tonto

Michael Horse

Young John Reid

Marc Gilpin

Lucas Striker

John Hart

Gen. George A. Custer

Lincoln Tate

The Texas Rangers chase down a gang of outlaws led by Butch Cavendish, but the gang ambushes the Rangers, seemingly killing them all. One survivor is found, however, by an American Indian named Tonto, who nurses him back to health. The Ranger, donning a mask and riding a white stallion named Silver, teams up with Tonto to bring the unscrupulous gang and others of that ilk to justice.

5.9

The White Buffalo

May 1, 1977

In this strange western version of Moby Dick, Wild Bill Hickok hunts a white buffalo he has seen in a dream. Hickok moves through a variety of uniquely authentic western locations - dim, filthy, makeshift taverns; freezing, slaughterhouse-like frontier towns and beautifully desolate high country - before improbably teaming up with a young Crazy Horse to pursue the creature.

0.0

Riding with Buffalo Bill

Nov 11, 1954

Columbia Pictures elevated a run-of-the-mill B-western supporting player, Marshall Reed, to the title role in this equally run-of-the-mill western serial released in 15 chapters. Like most serials in the '50s, Riding with Buffalo Bill consisted of quite a bit of budget-stretching stock footage telling a highly fictionalized account of Buffalo Bill Cody aiding a group of ranchers in their defeat of a local crime lord. The serial's assistant director, Leonard Katzman, later produced the long-running television series Gunsmoke and Dallas.

0.0

The Yellow Haired Kid

Nov 2, 1952

Two episodes of the TV series "Wild Bill Hickok", The Yellow Haired Kid and Johnny Deuce, edited together and released as a feature.

4.5

Young Bill Hickok

Oct 21, 1940

Bill Hickok, assisted by Calamity Jane, is after a foreign agent and his guerrilla band who are trying to take over some western territory just as the Civil War is coming to a close.

6.0

The Lone Ranger Rides Again

Feb 25, 1939

Homesteaders are moving into the valley settled many years ago by rancher Craig Dolan. He wants to keep them out by legal means but his nephew Bart brings in outlaws to drive them out. The Lone Ranger is on hand to help the homesteaders battle Bart's men as he overcomes traps, ambushes, burning buildings and other obstacles in his attempt to bring peace to the valley.

5.5

Don't Touch the White Woman!

Jan 23, 1974

A highly stylized surreal farce about the events leading up to Custer's Last Stand anachronistically reenacted in an urban renewal area in modern Paris.

0.0

Secret of Outlaw Flats

Nov 15, 1953

Two episodes from the "Wild Bill Hickok" TV series edited together and released as a feature.

6.3

The Plainsman

Nov 16, 1936

Wild Bill Hickok, Calamity Jane, and Buffalo Bill go up against Indians and a gunrunner.

6.3

Annie Oakley

Nov 15, 1935

Awkward Annie loves her sharpshooting rival in Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show.

5.0

Buffalo Bill Rides Again

Apr 18, 1947

Produced by Jack Schwartz for low-budget company Screen Guild, this mild Western starring the veteran Richard Arlen was apparently the first entry in a proposed series. Arlen played the title role, here assigned by the army to quell an Indian attack on the powerless settlers. The Indians are accusing Tom Russell (John Dexter) of murdering a member of the tribe, an act, as Buffalo Bill discovers, actually committed by a gang of outlaws hired by investment company owner J.B. Jordon (Frank O'Connor). Buffalo Bill Rides Again was soundly defeated by a low budget and slipshod direction by the veteran Bernard B. Ray. Popular B-Western villain Ted Adams disappeared mysteriously halfway through the film, only to be replaced by Edmund Cobb. Jennifer Holt, the daughter of Arlen contemporary Jack Holt and by far the busiest B-Western heroine of the 1940s, had little to do other than letting herself be kidnapped by evil Gil Patric.