Directed by Fritz Lang
Screenplay by Daniel Taradash
Story by Silvia Richards
Produced by Howard Welsch
Director Of Photography: Hal Mohr
Film Editor: Otto Ludwig
Music by Emil Newman
Cast: Marlene Dietrich (Altar Keane), Arthur Kennedy (Vern Haskell), Mel Ferrer (Frenchy Fairmont), Gloria Henry (Beth Forbes), William Frawley (Baldy Gunder), Lisa Ferraday (Maxine), John Raven (Chuck-a-luck dealer), Jack Elam (Mort Geary), George Reeves (Wilson), Frank Ferguson (Preacher), Francis McDonald (Harbin), Lloyd Gough (Kinch), John Doucette (Whitey), Russell Johnson, Fuzzy Knight, Emory Parnell, Kermit Maynard, Tom London, I. Stanford Jolley
I love Fritz Lang’s Hollywood movies, Rancho Notorious (1952) in particular. I’ve written about it on this blog before, and it’s got a chapter in my long-promised book.
With the new Blu-Ray from Warner Archive, well, here it is again.
First, the movie. It’s very, very Fritz Lang. You have Chuck-A-Luck, a retreat for outlaws run by Altar Keane (Marlene Dietrich) — sort of an Old West variation on Dr. Mabuse and his criminal network. Then you have Vern Haskall (Arthur Kennedy), whose fiancé (Gloria Henry) is raped and murdered in a holdup eight days before their wedding. Vern is absolutely consumed with revenge, another Lang favorite, and his journey for justice leads to Keane, gunslinger Frenchy Fairmont (Mel Ferrer) and Chuck-A-Luck.
As the ballad that runs throughout tells use, it’s a story of “hate, murder and revenge” — themes that served Lang well in all those terrific noirs.
All this is placed in a low-budget, studio-bound (though there’s a little Iverson Ranch and Republic Western street in there), Technicolor setting that comes off rather dreamy and operatic. Somehow it seems more dated that Lang’s Western Union from 1941. But let me be perfectly clear — all of these are good things.
Rancho Notorious is often compared to Nick Ray’s Johnny Guitar (1954). Some folks hate it, some find it corny and laughable (especially that song). For me, however, it’s just wonderful, one of the few films I’ve watched back to back on the same evening (had to make sure I actually saw what I thought I saw).
Now, on to the new Blu-Ray. Warner Archive often shows us just how good an older film can look in high definition. Their exquisite restoration of Anthony Mann’s The Naked Spur (1953) is a shining example. Rancho Notorious has been given a new 4K transfer from the original nitrate Technicolor negative, and it’s just incredible. From the B&W RKO logo to the final fade, it’s as sharp as anything I’ve ever seen on a TV, highlighting the detail (thanks to the nitrate, grain’s almost nonexistent) and depth of Hal Mohr’s cinematography. The artifice of the whole endeavor is more noticeable than ever, and I stopped it a number of times to study the costumes, sets and backdrops.
The audio has been given plenty of attention, too, and it’s as clear as a bell. (The old DVD’s audio level was a bit low.) If Fritz Lang’s weird Western is ever gonna get the reappraisal it so richly deserves, this is the way to make it happen.
Warner Archive keeps raising the bar. This is a stunning, as-close-to-perfect-as-you-can-get presentation. Highly, highly recommended.
50 Westerns From The 50s. 
How can I resist after such a wonderful review.
Warners restorations of these old RKO classics are simply stunning even when the films are not that good (Sturges UNDERWATER a prime example just bathe in the glorious Technicolor)
The RKO I now want the most is DANGEROUS MISSION a combo of Noir, Western and Disaster Movie (after all it was an Irwin Allen production)
I hope it’s on Bob Furmanek’s 3D restorations list.
DANGEROUS MISSION has everything and I mean everything including Vincent Price.
John, you will not be disappointed. I was floored by this thing.
You’re right, Dangerous Mission would be great to see like this!
UK TV still shows GREAT DAY IN THE MORNING as a washed out 4×3 version.
The Warner Archive 2.0 remastered Superscope version is a totally different picture.
Who, I wonder own the rights to SILVER LODE I don’t think it’s Warners. SILVER LODE is such an important Western it desperately needs a 4K restoration from the master neg-if such a thing exists.
If SILVER LODE surfaced as a 4K UHD version then I’d not only upgrade my Blu Ray player but also my TV.
Am I right in thinking RIO BRAVO is set for a 4K UHD upgrade-WOW! I’d love to hear from someone who’s actually seen that thing.
Toby, RANCHO NOTORIOUS(filmed 1951, released 1952) is a strange and weird psychological Western Movie. This movie eluded me for many years, but I finally caught up with it on the GOOD TIMES PICTURE SHOW hosted by Ray Nielson on the PBS station AETN, Conway, Arkansas in 1995.
Not exactly one of my favorite Western Movies from that era, but it’s quirky and unusual and I think worth viewing. It has sort of grown on me over the years.
John K, DANGEROUS MISSION(filmed 1953, released 1954) has eluded me over the years. Have you actually viewed it? It looks like an interesting movie.
Loved your review, Toby! I recently saw RANCHO NOTORIOUS for the first time and quite enjoyed it. And I agree, the Blu-ray looks fantastic.
I wrote a review of the movie and Blu-ray a couple weeks ago which should be appearing in my Classic Movie Hub Western RoundUp column any day now!
I’ve seen DANGEROUS MISSION thanks to TCM and found it quite fun, though there are strange aspects such as mixing wonderful location shots with terrible back projections and soundstage shooting; the big climax was all filmed indoors. Despite (or even partly because of) that, I really enjoyed it.
Best wishes,
Laura
Hi Walter-
Yes I’ve seen DANGEROUS MISSION at the cinema on it’s first release-it’s one of the movies I saw as a child that really made an impression on me-the support feature was THE SEA AROUND US a documentary as I recall.
I’ve also seen it again on the revival circuit in the 60’s and I got hold of a Euro DVD which was OK nothing more.
A 4K remastered version would have great appeal for me and I hope it’s on Bob Furmanek’s 3D film restoration list,
which would mean it would have to require a 4K restoration.
Hi Laura-
I take your point regarding the switch from location to studio backdrops a flaw in so many 50’s films-PONY SOLDIER was another film that suffered that way.
I thought of you the other night as i re watched TAIL SPIN a film that we have discussed elsewhere.
I thought Alice Faye and Constance Bennett were superb especially the latter the film is more serious as it moves along. The main plot element is the “class war” staged between the two actresses-very well handled.
I guess the film could be classed as an early Feminist Movie as these plucky “Hawksian Women” take to the skies facing all sorts of dangers.
As we have discussed before I really miss these obscure Fox movies that appeared on MOD DVD’s about 10 years back. CRACK UP and 36 HOURS TO KILL both with Brian Donlevy are superb programmers and wish Fox continued to plunder their vaults for films featuring the likes of Donlevy,Lloyd Nolan, Kent Taylor,Chester Morris among others.
I understand this deal between Fox Disney and Mill Creek will cover already released material. I hope that includes the missing Michael Shayne movie DRESSED TO KILL which now costs a King’s ransom if you are able to track one down. There’s also another Shayne movie that has never had a DVD release-the title escapes me at the moment
Hi John,
I’ve picked up the Fox Cinema Archives DVD of TAIL SPIN and hope to see it soon, you’ve really intrigued me! I love both lead actresses.
Best wishes,
Laura
Whoops-
TIME TO KILL (1942) was the final Michael Shayne movie and I don’t think it’s ever had a DVD release.
That’s just the sort of movie I’d love Mill Creek to release in this tie up with Fox/Disney.
I enjoy the Shayne movies like the Boston Blackie’s they are often top heavy with comedy relief but that’s OK with me. I thought SLEEPERS WEST was the best of the Shayne’s at least of the ones that I have seen.
As much as I enjoy Lloyd Nolan I always thought Michael O Shea would have made a superb Michael Shayne-the guy who married Virginia Mayo and became a secret service agent.
Back on topic-well almost and with the lovely Virginia in mind I hope DEVIL’s CANYON is on Mr Furmanek’s 3D revival list.
John K, thanks for the interesting information on your viewing history of DANGEROUS MISSION. I would like to see this movie.
You are most welcome Walter.
Walter I feel you will really enjoy this film.
I’m pretty sure it will be a future works in progress for Mr Furmanek and Warners.
“B Movie Bliss”
was a term I learned from Laura and I tend to use it a lot these days.
I’m a bit behind with the movie news and I’ve just learned over at Laura’s there is a Anna May Wong triple set coming from Kino Lorber-three great B Movies from 3 great B Movie directors. Just when I thought my bank balance might take a breather. Unmissable!
With Kino plundering the Paramount vaults (via Universal) when are we going to get the J Edgar Hoover B Movies PERSONS IN HIDING- PAROLE FIXER-QUEEN OF THE MOB and UNDERCOVER DOCTOR surely it cannot be too long.
It heartens me that there is such a great market still for vintage B Movies (not Westerns)
Kino are also continuing their Universal Noirs series virtually all of my “most wanted” have been released or are on the way apart from UNDER THE GUN and THE STORY OF MOLLY X.
I believe the Wong set was announced earlier but somehow escaped me-I’m triple stoked about this set and didn’t those Paramount B’s have such amazing supporting casts.
One of the films in the Wong set is from a 4K restoration from the nitrate neg-I must be dreaming!!
It truly is amazing, John.
What I wouldn’t give for a set of the Hoover films! PAROLE FIXER in particular struck me as a key proto-noir film which should be seen by a wider audience.
Best wishes,
Laura
Sad news in the blog world. Carol(aka Vienna) is retiring her https://viennasclassichollywood.com/
After twelve years she is calling it a wrap.
John K – Yep, I also lament the end of that marvelous Fox Archives series of mod-dvd’s. There were still so many fine little b-films they never got around to, like “Dangerously Yours” (1937), a breezy shipboard caper-type film that’s a favorite of mine. Or, like “Man at Large” (1941), a zippy item that offered George Reeves a rare leading role, opposite bright-eyed Marjorie Weaver. I’m also a bit surprised “One Mile from Heaven” (1937) never got tapped, as it certainly has an offbeat plotline, and a good (and rare) spotlight for black actress Fredi Washington.
Plus, there are still so many other Fox B’s that I’ve never seen, but always wanted to take a gander at. Like some more of those postwar films from producer Sol Wurtzel, including “Trouble Preferred” (1948), about policewomen in training, and “Tucson” (1949), a contemporary youth/rodeo themed fluff with Jimmy Lydon. There are still some of those much later B’s from director Maury Dexter that I’d also like to check out, such as “The High-Powered Rifle” (1960) and “Police Nurse” (1963), the latter with Merry Anders, whom I’ve always liked. Of course, there are also scores of earlier ‘Fox Films’ (1929-35) that I’ve been pining to see for decades, but it’s possible the surviving elements for many of them might have been deemed too dodgy for release.
Hi Bert-
Mighty fine to hear from you.
I’ve been on a real Sol Wertzel kick at the moment his programmers certainly had A production values.
Fox took a lot of flak for releasing CinemaScope pictures as 4×3’s but some of those older B & W movies were in pretty good shape.
‘Round about 2006/7 Fox were releasing on DVD some amazing sets-Mr Moto-Charlie Chan-Mike Shayne as well as that amazing John Braham Horror set-all these releases involved countless hours of restoration.
The Fox Archives series we got just what was available and even if the quality differed it was fine to have these rare old programmers in watchable quality.
CRACK UP with Peter Lorre and Brian Donlevy was an excellent release as was 36 HOURS TO KILL also with Donlevy.
Some of these Wertzel’s did have a social message especially DANGEROUS YOUTH and CIRCUMSTANTIAL EVIDENCE both highly recommended and out on Fox Archives.
Two very tough George Marshall pictures are also very interesting SHOW THEM NO MERCY! and NANCY STEELE IS MISSING the Fox Archives prints are not in the best of shape but still watchable because of their rarity.
These were both Darryl F Zanuck specials and are tough little movies-really I would rate these two as Noir and they deserve restorations from the Film Noir Foundation.
Peter Lorre is at his creepiest in Nancy Steel and John Carradine shines as a devious “cockney” convict.
Show Them No Mercy! was reworked as a Western as RAWHIDE but Marshall’s film is a far tougher movie.
Other Wertzel’s I would love to see get released especially with this Fox Disney Mill Creek tie up even if the prints are not stellar are:
HUMAN CARGO Brian Donlevy,Claire Trevor
Directed by Allan Dwan
SHARPSHOOTERS Brian Donlevy,Lynn Bari
BOMBER’S MOON George Montgomery,Annabella,Kent Taylor
20,000 MEN A YEAR Randolph Scott, Preston Foster
CHARTER PILOT Lloyd Nolan,Lynn Bari,Arleen Whelan,
George Montgomery.
I’d also like to see the two B Westerns where Wertzel tried to make a B Western star out of football hero John
Kimborough
SUNDOWN JIM
LONE STAR RANGER.
Sundown Jim has the added attraction of Arleen Whelan and Virginia Gilmore.
I’ve never seen any of those films but would sure love to.
Of those, I’ve seen Human Cargo. It’s pretty cool.
You mentioned Nancy Steele Is Missing. You’re right, Peter Lorre is really creepy in that one.
It’s such a shame these movies aren’t easier to see.
NANCY STEELE IS MISSING is shrouded in
darkness with constant thunderstorms-
if that’s not Noir I don’t know what is-
very challenging subject matter for the time I would say.
Yes Lorre is creepy but also darkly comic-
he even makes ordering a hamburger a masterclass
in understatement.
Hello again Bert-
Every time you post something I feel I’ve just enrolled at Film School you are such a hive of fascinating information.
I’ve never heard of any of the films that you mention and they all sound worthwhile.
Thanks so much on the info on Fredi Washington.
TROUBLE PREFERRED sounds like a very early entry in the female cops genre and even pre dates the excellent
WOMEN FROM HEADQUARTERS (1950) with winsome
Virginia Huston.
Those Dexters would be welcome as well especially in the correct ratio 2.35.