Films/DVD Asylum

Posted by free.ranger (A) on June 18, 2013 at 16:41:15

In Reply to: RE: The Lone Ranger looks kinda interesting, you know, what with J. Depp as Tonto. Nt posted by geoffkait on June 16, 2013 at 17:52:04

I posted below that locals here are anticipating this new version, partly because of the history posted in today's local paper, the Santa Fe New Mexican.

A front page story about the last version shot here in 1980. That movie, "The Legend of the Lone Ranger", was directed by William Fraker, and starred Klinton Spilsbury as the Ranger; Michael Horse as Tonto. Also starred Christopher Lloyd as Butch Cavendish, the evil guy.

Spilsbury tore up several bars while in town for that filming; punched up some folks, including a waitress. The Wrather Corporation bought up the film rights in 1979, and also won an injunction against Clayton Moore, forbidding him to wear the Ranger's mask in public displays. Moore was THE Ranger at that time, portraying him in the tv series with Jay Silverheels as Tonto. Locals here (and everywhere else probably) saw that move as extremely chickenshit. Moore wore the mask in public for years after the end of his show, mostly to charity and kids fund-raising events.

The movie, released in 1981, went on to extremely bad reviews, failing miserably in theaters. Spilsbury's voice (probably alcohol-inflicted) was so bad that the studio dubbed him over throughout the entire film.

Horse was a fairly good actor; an acting student under Silverheels; and went on to other successful roles. "The Legend ..." was Spilsbury's first and last film.

Against this piece of history, how bad can the new one be?