"Rancho Notorious" is famous for presenting a 50 plus star Marlene Dietrich in tight pants and gorgeous gowns. As a western it isn't bad even though there are no "A" list leading men playing opposite her. Produced by the little known Fidelity Pictures and distributed by RKO, it was directed by Fritz Lang, and is beautifully photographed in glorious Technicolor.
Small time rancher Vern Haskell (Arthur Kennedy) is engaged to marry Beth Forbes (Gloria Henry). When Vern rides away a couple of ornery characters see that she is alone in her office. Kinch (Lloyd Gough) and Whitey (John Doucette in a dreadful fright wig) rob the Assay Office killing Beth when she cries out. They flee. Kinch guns down whitey when the latter threatens to talk.
Haskell meanwhile, pursues the killiers. He finds Whitey who tells him that the pair were headed to a place called Chuck-a-luck but dies before he can give directions. Haskell goes from town to town and learns of a saloon girl named Alder Keane (Dietrich) who may be able to help. Through flashbacks we learn some of Keane's back story. She has been working saloons and has most recently been fired by saloon owner Baldy Gundon (William Frawley). Gunfighter Frenchy Fairmont (Mel Ferrer) appears and gets Alder out of a tight spot.
Later, Haskell discovers that Fairmont who is the key to finding Alder, is in jail. Haskell gets himself arrested and thrown into jail with Fairmont. The two escape and go to Chuck-a-luck that turns out to be a haven for fleeing outlaws with Alder Keane in charge. Haskell suspects that the killer of his girl is among the fugitives which include (Mort Geary (Jack Elam), Wilson (George Reeves), Preacher (Frank Ferguson), Comanche Paul (Dan Seymour), Rio (Rodd Redwing), Starr (Stuart Randall) and Harbin (Francis McDonald).
Haskell and Fairmont compete for the affections of Alder. Haskell at first suspects Wilson as the killer due to his fondness for the ladies. But then Haskell spots an expensive broach that he had given to Beth on Alder's gown. He forces her to tell him who had given it to her and learns it was Harbin who is the guilty party. After an unsuccessful robbery, the gang learns of Alder's betrayal of Harbin and return to Chuck-a-luck to confront her and................................................................................
In spite of favorable lighting and camerawork, Marlene still looks gorgeous. She gets to sing a couple of forgettable songs along the way and romance two men much younger than she. Kennedy was more at home on the stage and didn't make a convincing cowboy even though he appeared in several westerns (usually with James Stewart) in the 50s. Mel Ferrer was more of a swashbuckler than cowboy.
But what the film does have is a roster of veteran western performers: Lane Chandler, William Haade, Harry Woods, I. Stanford Jolley, Fuzzy Knight, Tom London, Kermit Maynard, Emory Parnell, Dick Wessel and Forrest Taylor all unbilled and all familiar to "B" western fans. And watch for a young Russell Johnson as the Chuck-a-luck wheel spinner at William Frawley's saloon.
Small time rancher Vern Haskell (Arthur Kennedy) is engaged to marry Beth Forbes (Gloria Henry). When Vern rides away a couple of ornery characters see that she is alone in her office. Kinch (Lloyd Gough) and Whitey (John Doucette in a dreadful fright wig) rob the Assay Office killing Beth when she cries out. They flee. Kinch guns down whitey when the latter threatens to talk.
Haskell meanwhile, pursues the killiers. He finds Whitey who tells him that the pair were headed to a place called Chuck-a-luck but dies before he can give directions. Haskell goes from town to town and learns of a saloon girl named Alder Keane (Dietrich) who may be able to help. Through flashbacks we learn some of Keane's back story. She has been working saloons and has most recently been fired by saloon owner Baldy Gundon (William Frawley). Gunfighter Frenchy Fairmont (Mel Ferrer) appears and gets Alder out of a tight spot.
Later, Haskell discovers that Fairmont who is the key to finding Alder, is in jail. Haskell gets himself arrested and thrown into jail with Fairmont. The two escape and go to Chuck-a-luck that turns out to be a haven for fleeing outlaws with Alder Keane in charge. Haskell suspects that the killer of his girl is among the fugitives which include (Mort Geary (Jack Elam), Wilson (George Reeves), Preacher (Frank Ferguson), Comanche Paul (Dan Seymour), Rio (Rodd Redwing), Starr (Stuart Randall) and Harbin (Francis McDonald).
Haskell and Fairmont compete for the affections of Alder. Haskell at first suspects Wilson as the killer due to his fondness for the ladies. But then Haskell spots an expensive broach that he had given to Beth on Alder's gown. He forces her to tell him who had given it to her and learns it was Harbin who is the guilty party. After an unsuccessful robbery, the gang learns of Alder's betrayal of Harbin and return to Chuck-a-luck to confront her and................................................................................
In spite of favorable lighting and camerawork, Marlene still looks gorgeous. She gets to sing a couple of forgettable songs along the way and romance two men much younger than she. Kennedy was more at home on the stage and didn't make a convincing cowboy even though he appeared in several westerns (usually with James Stewart) in the 50s. Mel Ferrer was more of a swashbuckler than cowboy.
But what the film does have is a roster of veteran western performers: Lane Chandler, William Haade, Harry Woods, I. Stanford Jolley, Fuzzy Knight, Tom London, Kermit Maynard, Emory Parnell, Dick Wessel and Forrest Taylor all unbilled and all familiar to "B" western fans. And watch for a young Russell Johnson as the Chuck-a-luck wheel spinner at William Frawley's saloon.