Post by Brad Nelson on Sept 20, 2020 8:08:45 GMT -8
Although this is rated at 7.0 at IMDB, I didn't find Rancho Notorious to be particularly gripping.
Arthur Kennedy plays a rancher whose fiancé (Gloria Boom Boom Henry) is murdered by an outlaw. He goes in search of her killer. Not knowing his identity, he follows the trail any way he can. This leads him to join forces with outlaws, pretending to be one of them.
Eventually he finds his way to Rancho Notorious, an outpost of seedy living and criminal enterprise run by Altar Keane (Marlene Dietrich). The plot is tired and mostly dull. The one compelling thing for me is that it brought into light just how magnificent Madeline Kahn’s saloon song is in Blazing Saddles. Frankly, I didn’t know when I first watched that movie that she was spoofing Marlene Dietrich.
Nothing about this film really works. The only thing that can be said is the Mel Ferrer, as fast-shooting outlaw French Fairmont, has Arthur Kennedy beat in the hair department.
The hair stylist was kept busy on this film. So…Vern gets in bed with the criminals (mainly Frenchy), kinda-sorta does criminal stuff himself, falls in love with Altar Keane, and then does a show of righteous indignation at the end when he does find his wife’s killer. Frenchy and Vern have a minor conflict over who gets Altar but it’s resolved in the end.
Arthur Kennedy is a pretty good actor. He may be best known as the reporter in Lawrence of Arabia. He plays the intellectual and opportunistic cynic well. But he’s miscast as a hero. His locks can't change that. Everything about this movie is just a little off. But if you have low expectation and view it as a Pulp Western, you might enjoy it for that. It’s directed by Fritz Lang.
Arthur Kennedy plays a rancher whose fiancé (Gloria Boom Boom Henry) is murdered by an outlaw. He goes in search of her killer. Not knowing his identity, he follows the trail any way he can. This leads him to join forces with outlaws, pretending to be one of them.
Eventually he finds his way to Rancho Notorious, an outpost of seedy living and criminal enterprise run by Altar Keane (Marlene Dietrich). The plot is tired and mostly dull. The one compelling thing for me is that it brought into light just how magnificent Madeline Kahn’s saloon song is in Blazing Saddles. Frankly, I didn’t know when I first watched that movie that she was spoofing Marlene Dietrich.
It seems less of a spoof a more like a spot-on imitation.
Arthur Kennedy is dolled up in curly locks and is the sex symbol of the movie as Vern Haskell (perhaps Eddy Haskell’s father). Dietrich plays a pants-wearing sort of man-woman who still keeps her female charms and control of the bandits around her. By providing a safe haven (it’s never explained why her ranch is safe), she’s takes a 10% cut of the loot.
The hair stylist was kept busy on this film. So…Vern gets in bed with the criminals (mainly Frenchy), kinda-sorta does criminal stuff himself, falls in love with Altar Keane, and then does a show of righteous indignation at the end when he does find his wife’s killer. Frenchy and Vern have a minor conflict over who gets Altar but it’s resolved in the end.
And somehow none of Vern’s criminal behavior sticks to him and he can just walk away. None of this is explained. William Frawley plays the owner of a tavern where Altar Keane worked before he fired her. This backstory is just there (and is one of the best parts of the movie) but doesn’t contribute much to a coherent plot.
Jack Elam plays one of the bad guys who frequents the ranch. But despite his presence, the movie bogs down with scenes at the ranch where nothing much at all happens. But with the scene not changing, that must save money.
Arthur Kennedy is a pretty good actor. He may be best known as the reporter in Lawrence of Arabia. He plays the intellectual and opportunistic cynic well. But he’s miscast as a hero. His locks can't change that. Everything about this movie is just a little off. But if you have low expectation and view it as a Pulp Western, you might enjoy it for that. It’s directed by Fritz Lang.