Johnny Reno

1966

1h 23m

IMDb RATING

6.4/10

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Action

Western

The townsfolk are set on lynching an accused killer held in the town lockup. But US Marshal Johnny Reno stands in their way.

Directors

R.G. Springsteen

Writers

Steve Fisher(screenplay by)

Steve Fisher(story by)

Andrew Craddock(story by)

Stars

Dana Andrews

Jane Russell

Lon Chaney Jr.

See production, box office & company info

Top cast

Johnny Reno

Nona Williams

Sheriff Hodges

Ed Tomkins

Jess Yates

Joe Conners

Ned Duggan

Jake Reed

Marie Yates

Charlie - Bartender

Indian Brave

Wooster

Ab Conners

Chief Little Bear

Bellows

Townsman

Title Song Singer

Indian (uncredited)

Directors

R.G. Springsteen

Writers

Steve Fisher(screenplay by)

Steve Fisher(story by)

Andrew Craddock(story by)

All cast & crew

Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

The mistake I made was being born. Johnny Reno is directed by R.G. Springsteen and written by Steve Fisher and Andrew Craddock. It stars Dana Andrews, Jane Russell, Lyle Bettger, Lon Chaney Jr., John Agar and Tom Drake. A Technicolor/Techniscope production, with music by Jimmie Haskell (title tune song by Jerry Wallace) and cinematography by Harold Stine. Andrews is Johnny Reno, a tough no nonsense U.S. Marshal who after arresting suspected Indian killer Joe Conners (Drake), takes him to the jail in Stone Junction in Kansas. But once there Johnny finds a hostile and corrupt town that want Conners lynched before trial. Why? Does this town have a secret? Is Conners really as innocent as he proclaims? Reno must stand alone against the town to find the truth. Safe Western film making 101, Johnny Reno has just enough about it to keep it from stinker status. There's a fine cast involved, but they are either winding down their long careers or merely going through the motions. The direction is standard fare, with the action sequences constructed only adequately, and the musical score is at times more befitting a comedy serial episode. Yet the premise, as simple as it is, plays out well for dramatic purpose. Reno is a two fisted hard bastard type of guy, and it's fun to watch him tackle the whole of Stone Junction, including, naturally, affairs of the heart by way of Russell's Nona Williams. The narrative has some observations on corruption, racism and vigilantism that are to be applauded, while the Techniscope photography around Vasquez Rocks Natural Area Park is most easy on the eye. It is what it is, a Western in the late 60s trying to keep with the formula traditions of the "B" grade Oaters from the previous decade. It succeeds on that front for sure, where even though it has plenty of faults, it's a decent enough time waster for fans of the stars or those who like the said undemanding Westerns of the 50s. 6/10

John Chard14 May, 2017