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.