Duelo no Oeste

Although he was a notorious gunman in his early days, a man by the name of "Johnny Reno" (Dana Andrews) has since obtained a new lease on life and become a U. S. marshal intent on upholding law and order. To that effect, this film begins with him riding in the country when, quite unexpectedly, he is fired upon by two men who believe he is chasing after them. Much to their regret, neither of them turn out to be nearly as good with a gun as their intended target and as a result one of them named "Ab Conners" (Dale Van Sickel) is killed while his brother "Joe Conners" (Tom Drake) is subsequently wounded and forced to surrender. It's only then that Joe learns that Marshal Reno was going to Stone Junction on an entirely different matter and had never heard of him or his brother until that moment. That being said, having found out that Joe is wanted for murder, Marshal Reno has no choice but to take him into the nearest town where he can be bandaged before being escorted to Kansas City to stand trial. However, once he gets to Sone Junction, he finds that, rather than having his prisoner tried in a legal setting, the mayor of Stone Junction "Jess Yates" (Lyle Bettger) insists that he be lynched instead--and he is quite willing to do whatever is necessary to see that happen. Now, rather than reveal any more, I will just say that, even though it wasn't necessarily a spectacular Western by any means, it had several well-known actors like Jane Russell (as "Nona Williams"), Lon Chaney Jr. ("Sheriff Hodges") and the aforementioned Dana Andrews all performing in their usual solid manner and I have rated it accordingly. Average.

"Johnny Reno" is one of the thirteen low-budget westerns produced by A.C. Lyles in the sixties. It stars Dana Andrews, Jane Russell, Lon Chaney, Richard Arlen, Lyle Bettger and Tom Drake. The premise is a simple one. Sheriff Andrews is heading to a small town in order to see his one-time sweetheart (Russell). On the way, he is set upon by two brothers who think he is after them. Forced to shoot one, he captures the other (Drake) and brings him into town. His prisoner insists he is innocent of the crime the whole town wants him hanged for, and after hearing his story, will Andrews believe him? The film is an enjoyable time waster, mostly for the appearances of the veteran stars, but the story is also fairly suspenseful. Previously available only on a full screen videocassette, "Johnny Reno" has been released on DVD in a well-preserved widescreen edition. Hopefully, the rest in the series will follow.

This is a Western that isn't made with enough hate for the Beavis and Butthead viewers that dominate the critics board of the late twentieth and early twenty first centuries.

Hopefully, the later generations won't be as negative and unprovoked in hatred' Dana Andrews plays a very daring role that most actors wouldn't dare to play, someone who isn't a homicidal maniac. But there are other homicidal maniacs to make the haters happy. Of course they don't fare so well, which is what makes this a different sort of Western.

JOHNNY RENO is just one of many second feature Westerns produced by A.C. Lyles at Paramount in the 1960's. These Westerns were of great interest to me when they were shown at our local cinema as they always had many veteran actors in supporting roles. For example take a look at the credits for "Johnny Reno" - Dana Andrews, Jane Russell, Lon Chaney Jr, John Agar, Lyle Bettger, Tom Drake, Richard Arlen, Robert Lowery, and (uncredited) DeForest Kelley. Quite an impressive cast for a second feature western!! I always used to sit up and pay attention when the words "An A.C. Lyles Production" came up on the screen as I knew this film was going to be rather special!! One of A.C.s best friends was James Cagney who only directed one film in his entire career - "Short Cut to Hell" (1957) which he did purely as a favour to A.C. to get him started as a producer. (It was a remake of the Alan Ladd film "This Gun for Hire"). Now in his 80's A.C. still has an office on the Paramount lot which he visits most days. A.C. can be seen regularly on the TV series "Biography" where he is often interviewed with his memories of the "Golden Days of Hollywood" and the many stars he knew personally from that era. Clive Roberts.

How ironic if Tom Drake and his brother hadn't fired on U.S. Marshal Dana Andrews one of them wouldn't have wound up dead and we would have had no film called Johnny Reno.

Dana Andrews plays the title role and he's drawn into a nasty local situation when that ambush happens. He brings Drake back to town to stand trial, but finds the town in a strange mood. They literally genuflect when their Mayor Lyle Bettger gives an order. Bettger really did not want to see Drake again.

Drake's accused of killing the son of a nearby Kiowa chief. That in it self is strange, why is Bettger and the town all worried about the death of an Indian which Drake protests he never did? Turns out there's a lot more going on than meets the eye.

A.C. Lyles once again provides work for several players of the forties and fifties who unless they were doing television found work increasingly hard to get. Jane Russell reprises one of her tough as nails, heart of gold women she took out a patent on. Lon Chaney, Jr. plays the part of an over the hill sheriff, very similar to what he did in High Noon. He does show why Gary Cooper did not want him backing him up in that.

Lyle Bettger adds another to his collection of twisted psychos he did like no one else could in the fifties. Richard Arlen and John Agar have decent size roles in this as well.

Not a great western, but thank you A.C. for bringing all of this cast together.