Synopsis: Vern Haskell, a nice rancher, seeks out to avenge his fiancé's death when she is killed during a robbery. His revenge leads him to Chuck-a-luck, Altar Keane's ranch set up to hide criminals, and he finds more than he bargains for.
Personally, I find most European "art" movies unwatchable. However, Fritz Lang's Hollywood movies are different. They have this weird arty European vibe, but combined with basic American entertainment practicality. This is what makes "Rancho Notorious" so worth watching.
Here's a list of positives:
The movie is limited by the following problems:
Personally, I find most European "art" movies unwatchable. However, Fritz Lang's Hollywood movies are different. They have this weird arty European vibe, but combined with basic American entertainment practicality. This is what makes "Rancho Notorious" so worth watching.
Here's a list of positives:
- This is just an great part for Marlene Dietrich. It fits her like a glove and she hits the ball way out of the park. Lang does a great job building Altar Keane's character with a series of flashbacks.
- Arthur Kennedy's lead character, Vern Haskell, abandons a posse and sets out on a solo epic journey to track down the killer/rapist of his fiancé. Six years later, a similar storyline formed the basis of the greatest Western ever made, "The Searchers". Unlike, Ethan Edwards, Verne travels alone, an alienated individual roaming the formless, vast West bent on revenge.
- Lang milks the concept of a community of outlaws, or brotherhood of outlaws to the maximum in this film. This is one of those arty European things that adds so much to the movie and makes watching it such a different experience from the average Western.
The movie is limited by the following problems:
- You have to look past the silly song narration to enjoy this film.
- This was shot completely in Burbank on some of the phoniest sets I've ever seen.
- Not a single Indian, Civil War or Mexican theme introduced, outside of some Mexican servants.
- Poorly developed heavy. Kinch, the rapist/murderer, has a very small part and is a blatant coward.
- No comic relief.
- Mel Ferrer seems very stiff and out of place against fine performances by Dietrich and Kennedy.
- Hey, I love Arthur Kennedy. Although he gets the most out of his acting ability in this film, he's just not a legit romantic lead, especially opposite Dietrich. Some more starpower in that spot would have elevated this movie substantially. Kennedy was a great supporting actor, see is role as Vic Hansbro in "The Man From Laramie", or as Emerson Cole in "Bend of the River".