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Thursday, November 2, 2017

RAGE AT DAWN (1953)

Made between Westerns Randolph Scott was already producing with Harry Joe Brown, and not long before their superior series with director Budd Boetticher, this one-off over @ R.K.O. feels like a big project that got shrunk. Running a mere 83", it’s odd holding back your leading man for 25, but that’s how it plays out in this fact-inspired story of the bank-robbing Reno Brothers, and Scott’s ‘Peterson’ agent (think Pinkerton) who worms his way in with them by posing as a slick train robber. Those Reno boys are a mean lot, but no worse then the town Mayor, Sheriff & D.A. who let it all slide as long as they get their cut. A neat set up, with some real history to it; plus Scott falling for Reno sister Mala Powers and a tasty supporting cast (Forest Tucker, J. Carrol Naish, Edgar Buchanan, Denver Pyle, red-haired Kenneth Tobey) in some pretty beat up TechniColor in the available Public Domain DVDs. Director Tim Whelan does journeyman’s work, at best (some of proscenium-like set ups are from dullsville), but you can still make out a good story behind the indifferent execution.

DOUBLE-BILL: Elvis Presley played a ‘good’ Reno Brother in next year’s LOVE ME TENDER/’56. Not seen here, but one of his better reviewed serious pics.

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