Hi-yo, Silver! Away! -- "The Lone Ranger" (1956)

This film is a color B+ Western based on the "The Lone Ranger" television series, starring Clayton Moore, Jay Silverheels and Michael Ansara.  It was the first of two feature films made in the 1950s based on the TV series, the second was The Lone Ranger and the Lost City of Gold (1958). 

The Lone Ranger (1956) was directed by Stuart Heisler, and was filmed mostly at the Kanab Movie Ranch in Utah.  

But, it has a few good outdoor scenes lensed at Bronson Cave, Chatsworth's Iverson Ranch and Corriganville.

Plot:

A Southwestern territorial governor has asked the Lone Ranger to investigate mysterious raids on white settlers by Native Americans who ride with saddles (screenshot above). 

A greedy rancher Reese Kilgore (Lyle Bettger - screenshot above) is trying to expand his ranch to include Spirit Mountain which is sacred the Indians. 

The Lone Ranger discovers that Kilgore is trying to start a war between settlers and the Indians to scare settlers away because he has discovered rich silver deposits on Spirit Mountain (screenshot above left).  Spirit Mountain is actually a matte painting (on glass) that was added to the scene.

The Masked Man and his faithful Indian companion ride in to hopefully stop a conflict between settlers and the Indians (screenshot above).

All in all The Lone Ranger (1956) is a highly entertaining Western movie that isn't nearly as hokey as some of the television episodes.  

Best of all it has all the components that made the TV series a success:

The "William Tell Overture" by Gioachino Rossini is played in background over the opening credits. 

Clayton Moore once again dons his old prospector disguise as he did many times in the TV series (screenshot above).  

The Lone Ranger's trusty horse Silver rescues him after he is wounded by outlaws (screenshot above).

  

And, as in the television series, Tonto always shows up just in the nick of time when he is most needed.

The film has all the explosive action you could want in a good Lone Ranger yarn.

Cast:

Clayton Moore (above) as The Lone Ranger

Jay Silverheels (above) as Tonto

Lyle Bettger as Reece 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

Zon Murray as Goss

Lane Chandler as Chip Walker

Production Company: Wrather Productions (as Lone Ranger Inc.)

Distributors: Warner Bros. Pictures

Who was that masked man?  I wanted to thank him...  He's the Lone Ranger!

The supporting cast also includes Bonita Granville (wife of Producer Jack Wrather - screenshot above right) as Bettger's wife in her last film appearance.

This was one of my favorite movies I remember seeing on the big screen as a youngster.  I was also at the Los Angeles Sheriff's Rodeo that year (1956) when fans were treated by visit from Roy Rogers, Dale Evans, The Lone Ranger and Tonto (photo above).  Yippy Yi Yea!

Learn more about Reel Cowboy Clayton Moore at

http://a-drifting-cowboy.blogspot.com/2012/02/reel-cowboys-of-santa-susanas-clayton.html

For more information about the Chatsworth filming locations visit http://www.cowboyup.com/ and learn about my books: Rendezvous at Boulder Pass: Hollywood's Fantasyland © 2010 (ISBN: 978-0-615-21522-8) and Reel Cowboys of the Santa Susanas © 2008 (ISBN: 978-0-615-21499-3)

Reel Cowboys of the Santa Susanas -- Rex Bell

Rex Bell (1903-1962) was an American B-western cowboy star and a politician (photo courtesy of Bruce Hickey).  

In 1931, Rex married actress Clara Bow.  Clara (a silent film star) was known as 'The "It" Girl'.  "It" symbolizing the tremendous progress women were making in society.  Rex and Clara are the parents of actor Rex Bell Jr.

In 1944 Bell ran for the United States House of Representatives on the Republican ticket, but lost.  In 1954 he was elected the 21st Lieutenant Governor of Nevada.  He died of a heart attack shortly after attending a July 4th campaign event while running as the Republican candidate for Governor of Nevada in 1962.

His final film appearance was a brief cameo as a cowboy in John Huston's film The Misfits (1961), which was shot on location in Nevada.

Rex Bell's Santa Susanna locations filmography:

The Idaho Kid (1936) starring Rex Bell, Marion Shilling and David Sharpe - Colony

Law and Lead (1936) starring Rex Bell, Hal Taliaferro (as Wally Wales) and Harley Wood - Colony

Men of the Plains (1936) starring Rex Bell, Joan Barclay and George Ball (Brandeis Ranch) Colony

Saddle Aces (1935) starring Rex Bell, Ruth Mix and Buzz Barton (Chatsworth Train Tunnel) Resolute

Stormy Trails (1936) starring Rex Bell, Bob Terry and Lois Wilde (Brandeis Ranch) Colony

The Tonto Kid (1934) starring Rex Bell, Ruth Mix and Buzz Barton - Resolute

Too Much Beef (1936) starring Rex Bell, Constance Bergen and Forrest Taylor - Grand National

West of Nevada (1936) starring Rex Bell, Joan Barclay and Al St. John - Colony 

Supporting roles:

Tombstone: The Town Too Tough to Die (1942) starring Richard Dix, Edgar Buchanan and Frances Gifford - Paramount

Rex campaigning for Lieutenant Governor of Nevada in 1955 (photo courtesy of Bruce Hickey).

Disclaimer: This list of movie titles and credits has been compiled from many sources.  It has not been independently verified.  Titles with location credits in parentheses are either movies I own or come from a source I feel has a higher level of creditability. 

'Reel Cowboys of the Santa Susanas' is a continuing series about "six-gun heroes that performed on movie location ranches in Chatsworth, California.  For more information about Chatsworth filming locations see http://www.cowboyup.com/ to find information about my books: Rendezvous at Boulder Pass: Hollywood's Fantasyland - 2010 and Reel Cowboys of the Santa Susanas - 2008.

Index for all 'Reel Cowboys of the Santa Susanas' -- Chatsworth's Six-Gun Heroes

http://a-drifting-cowboy.blogspot.com/2012/05/reel-cowboys-chatsworths-six-gun-heroes.html

Meanwhile back at the ranch -- Grove Relay Station

Located on the western half of the grove--about one yards south of the Iverson Western Street--a two-story stagecoach relay station was tucked into a rocky cove.  It was partially hidden from view by a stand of trees as you can see in the still above from Arizona Territory (1950) (starring Whip Wilson).  It has come to be known as the 'Grove Relay Station.'

The 2009 photo above shows the rocky cove and the location of the Grove Relay Station as it appears today.  Most of the eucalyptus trees in the photo were fully mature when John Ford filmed Wee Willie Winkie in 1937.

The screen capture above from a scene Columbia's Blackhawk: Fearless Champion of Freedom (1952) serial shows you the location as filmed from a distance.  It sure looked like a secluded hide-away in this shot.

The screenshot above from Charles Starrett's The Fighting Frontiersman (1946) gives you a better look at the front of the structure.

Above is a look at a narrow chase road that headed west from the station as seen in The Phantom Rider (1946) serial.  This Republic serial starring Robert Kent, Peggy Stewart and LeRoy Mason was also known as Ghost Riders of the West.

This final screen capture from another Blackhawk: Fearless Champion of Freedom (1952) scene gives you a good look at both the east and north elevations of the cabin as well as a glimpse of the rock outcroppings behind.

'Meanwhile back at the ranch' is a continuing series about "rock stars" (landscape features) on the old Iverson Movie Location Ranch in Chatsworth, California.  For more information about the Iverson Movie Ranch see: http://a-drifting-cowboy.blogspot.com/2011/10/iverson-movie-location-ranch-chatsworth.html

An index for all of Chatsworth's Rock Stars can be seen here:

http://a-drifting-cowboy.blogspot.com/2012/05/chatsworths-rock-stars.html

Was Billy the Kid (1930) filmed in Porter Ranch?

During my early research of Santa Susana Mountains filming locations I encountered a credit for Billy the Kid (1930) that said it had been filmed at Porter Ranch.  That was it--just Porter Ranch--not Porter Ranch, California or Porter Ranch, San Fernando Valley.  

Publicity still for Billy the Kid (1930) depicting Lincoln, New Mexico

Having ridden horses in the San Fernando Valley's Porter Ranch I was skeptical because I believed the chaparral should have been denser than that depicted in the movie.

Recently I found another Billy the Kid (1930) movie still (above), and because--in my opinion--the photo resembles Oat Mountain I decided to do some additional research.

I've discovered two books that state Porter Ranch, California had a Western town set (built by MGM) that was used to portray Lincoln County, New Mexico (the home of William Bonney, also known as Billy the Kid, circa 1880). 

Those books are Location Filming in Los Angeles (Page 113), written by Karie Bible, Marc Wanamaker and Harry Medved, published 2010 and When Hollywood Came to Town: A History of Moviemaking in Utah (Page 286), authored by James V. D'Arc, also published in 2010.

I won't say whether or not I'm convinced, so I'll just borrow a line from one of my favorite movies…  

At the end of The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (1962) a newspaper man, finally understanding the truth about the killing of Valance, burns his notes and says: "This is the West, sir. When the legend becomes fact, print the legend".

Billy the Kid (1930) was filmed at Porter Ranch, California

Directed (in widescreen) by King Vidor and starring Johnny Mack Brown, Wallace Beery and Kay Johnson.

Billy the Kid (1930) is a tale about the relationship between an 1880s New Mexico outlaw Billy the Kid (Johnny Mack Brown) and sheriff Pat Garrett (Wallace Beery), the man who later killed him.  The movie is based on the book The Saga of Billy the Kid, written by Walter Noble Burns.

Behind the scenes Johnny Mack Brown gets a little coaching from William S. Hart (the original two-gun man).  The pistols carried in the movie by Johnny Mack Brown were the real pistols that had belonged to the real Billy the Kid.  William S. Hart had them in his private collection and loaned them to MGM.

For more information about the Chatsworth filming locations visit http://www.cowboyup.com/ and learn about my books: Rendezvous at Boulder Pass: Hollywood's Fantasyland © 2010 (ISBN: 978-0-615-21522-8) and Reel Cowboys of the Santa Susanas © 2008 (ISBN: 978-0-615-21499-3)

Reel Cowboys of the Santa Susanas -- Harry Carey

Harry Carey (1878-1947) was an American actor and one of silent film's earliest superstars.  He was the father of Harry Carey Jr., who was also a prominent actor.  John Wayne always said Harry Carey was his hero.

Harry Carey's Santa Susana locations filmography:

Last of the Mohicans, The (1932) [serial] starring Harry Carey, Hobart Bosworth and Frank Coghlan Jr. (Iverson Ranch) Mascot

Night Rider, The (1932) starring Harry Carey, Elinor Fair and George 'Gabby' Hayes - States Rights

Rustlers Paradise (1935) starring Harry Carey, Gertrude Messinger and Edmund Cobb - Ajax

Ghost Town (1936) starring Harry Carey, David Sharpe and Ruth Findlay (Brandeis Ranch) Commodore Pictures

Last Outlaw, The (1936) Starring Harry Carey, Hoot Gibson and Tom Tyler (Iverson Ranch) RKO

China’s Little Devils (1945) starring Harry Carey, Paul Kelly, Ducky Louie (Iverson Ranch) Monogram

Supporting roles:

Duel in the Sun (1946) starring Jennifer Jones, Joseph Cotten and Gregory Peck (Chatsworth)(Corriganville) Selznick

'Reel Cowboys of the Santa Susanas' is a continuing series about "six-gun heroes that performed on movie location ranches in Chatsworth, California.  

For more information about Chatsworth filming locations see http://www.cowboyup.com/ to find information about my books: Rendezvous at Boulder Pass: Hollywood's Fantasyland - 2010 and Reel Cowboys of the Santa Susanas - 2008.

Index for 'Reel Cowboys of the Santa Susanas' -- Chatsworth's Six-Gun Heroes

http://a-drifting-cowboy.blogspot.com/2012/05/reel-cowboys-chatsworths-six-gun-heroes.html

Meanwhile back at the ranch -- Grove Cabin

In an earlier post I described 'The Grove' that bordered the southern edge of Indian Hills.  What's left of that grove is located on private property south of the present day Indian Hills Mobile Home Village.  Just off the main chase road that ran through the grove sat a small stone cabin that was partially secluded behind Pear Rock.

In the still above from a scene in Arizona Territory (1950) you can get a glimpse of the cabin's front porch.

The Grove Cabin bit the dust long ago, but there are still some iron fittings clinging to Pear Rock (above left) that once anchored the cabin in position.  The chase road circled around Pear Rock in such a manner that is was possible to film action next the boulder without seeing the cabin hidden behind it.

The Grove Cabin made an appearance in Wild Bill Elliott's The Taming of the West (1939) as a flat roofed shack as you can see the the screen capture above.  I've often wondered if the cabin wasn't a remnant from the Wee Willie Winkie sets constructed in 1937.

In the above screenshot from a scene in Johnny Mack Brown's Pony Post (1940) we can see the roof is still flat, and we get a good look at Pear Rock to the east.

By 1942, when the cabin appeared in Prairie Gunsmoke (1942) (screenshot above) the roof had been improved to a sloping hip roof.

Even tho there was a stagecoach relay station in another section of the grove, the Grove Cabin was also used as a relay station on occasion as you see here in a screen capture from Cheyenne Wildcat (1944).

The capture above from Bells of Rosarita (1945) (starring Roy Rogers) gives you a good look at the front of the cabin.  A portion of Pear Rock can be seen on the left and the stacked rock is seen at the rear.

The screenshot above from the Republic serial Blackhawk: Fearless Champion of Freedom (1952) gives us a better look at the stacked rock behind the cabin on the west side.

In this color screen capture from Wild Stallion (1952) the camera (located at the south end of the Western Street) is facing south and catches a glimpse of the Grove Cabin located in the trees south of town.

The cabin can also be seen in The Desert Horseman (1946), Law of the Canyon (1947) and The Westward Trail (1948) just to mention a few more.

'Meanwhile back at the ranch' is a continuing series about "rock stars" (landscape features) on the old Iverson Movie Location Ranch in Chatsworth, California.  For more information about the Iverson Movie Ranch see: http://a-drifting-cowboy.blogspot.com/2011/10/iverson-movie-location-ranch-chatsworth.html

An index for all of the 'Meanwhile back at the ranch' posts is located here:

http://a-drifting-cowboy.blogspot.com/2012/05/chatsworths-rock-stars.html

Best Chatsworth Movies -- Wee Willie Winkie (1937)

Wee Willie Winkie (1937) is an American adventure film directed by John Ford, and starring Shirley Temple, Victor McLaglen, C. Aubrey Smith and Cesar Romero.  The setting is Northern India in 1897.

Plot

Wee Willie Winkie is a tale about a young girl (Priscilla Williams) traveling with her widowed and impoverished mother (Joyce Williams) to join her paternal grandfather (Colonel Williams).

Colonel Williams is a stern military man who commands a remote military outpost on the northern frontier of India, and he unaccustomed to women and children.

When Priscilla and her mother arrive in India they are met at the train station by warmhearted Sergeant Donald MacDuff who befriends Priscilla.  While still at the train station Priscilla witnesses the capture rebel leader Khoda Khan, and finds a talisman he lost in the struggle.

Convinced her grandfather disapproves of her Priscilla decides to become a soldier to win him over.  Sergeant MacDuff helps Priscilla and nicknames her 'Wee Willie Winkie,' from an old Scottish rhyme.

Priscilla visits Khoda Khan in prison to return his talisman.  He is grateful to have the talisman back, and is touched by her attempt to cheer him up.

Later, on the night a formal dance, Khan's rebel forces attack the outpost and free him. 

While on patrol Sergeant McDuff is fatally wounded, so Winkie decides to go to Khoda Khan to ask him stop the fighting.  Mohammet-dihn, the colonel's servant (who is actually Khan's spy) smuggles her off the post and takes her Kahn's mountain fortress. 

Khoda Khan believes the colonel will bring his entire regiment to rescue Winkie, and plots their destruction.  Under a flag of truce the colonel makes a dramatic climb up the steps to Kahn's fortress.  When he is shot at by Kahn's rebels Winkie bolts and runs to his side. 

Kahn admires the courage of the colonel, and wants no harm to come to the child, so he orders his rebels to cease fire.  Kahn and the colonel negotiate a peace and the war ends.

Cast

Shirley Temple as Priscilla Williams [later becomes Wee Willie Winkie]

Victor McLaglen as Sergeant Donald McDuff

C. Aubrey Smith as Colonel Williams

Cesar Romero as Khoda Khan

June Lang as Joyce Williams

Michael Whalen as Lieutenant 'Coppy' Brandes

Willie Fung as Mohammet-dihn

Director John Ford had several elaborate sets built for the movie including the military outpost seen in the still above.

Khoda Kahn's fortress was constructed along side the famous 'Iverson wall'.  In the still above you see can Crown Rock at the top right.

Steps leading to the rebel strong hold begin in the Iverson gorge and ascend to the plateau where the wall is located.  Three Ages Rock is located top left in the still above.

Ford's adaptation of this Rudyard Kipling story brings about continuing themes found in all of his movies… the civilizing influence of women and children, respect between enemies, sacrifice, and courage.

John Ford brought out the very best of Shirley Temple who always said Winkie was her favorite film, and that she got along well with Ford.

All in all this is a delightful adventure story that just happens to star a charming child actor.  It's one of my favorite Chatsworth films, and it features some of the best 'Rock Stars' on the Iverson Ranch.

Awards

In 1938, William S. Darling and David S. Hall were nominated for an Academy Award for Best Art Direction.

For more information about the Chatsworth filming locations visit http://www.cowboyup.com/ and learn about my books: Rendezvous at Boulder Pass: Hollywood's Fantasyland © 2010 (ISBN: 978-0-615-21522-8) and Reel Cowboys of the Santa Susanas © 2008 (ISBN: 978-0-615-21499-3)