Johnny Reno

5/14/2017

The mistake I made was being born. Johnny Reno is directed by R.G. Springsteen and written by Steve Fisher and Andrew Craddock. It stars Dana Andrews, Jane Russell, Lyle Bettger, Lon Chaney Jr., John Agar and Tom Drake. A Technicolor/Techniscope production, with music by Jimmie Haskell (title tune song by Jerry Wallace) and cinematography by Harold Stine. Andrews is Johnny Reno, a tough no nonsense U.S. Marshal who after arresting suspected Indian killer Joe Conners (Drake), takes him to the jail in Stone Junction in Kansas. But once there Johnny finds a hostile and corrupt town that want Conners lynched before trial. Why? Does this town have a secret? Is Conners really as innocent as he proclaims? Reno must stand alone against the town to find the truth. Safe Western film makin

12/30/2021

_**Decent ‘second feature’ mid-60’s Western with Dana Andrews and Jane Russell**_ A Federal marshal (Dana Andrews) rides into Stone Junction with a prisoner (Tom Drake) whom the mayor wants lynched (Lyle Bettger), but he discerns that the mayor’s minions are too gung ho and his captive may be innocent. Jane Russell plays his romantic interest while Lon Chaney Jr. is on hand as the sheriff. “Johnny Reno” (1966) is an A. C. Lyles Western, who produced over a dozen ‘B’ Westerns in the mid-60s, which all featured past-their-prime actors and shot in 10-14 days. The teams Lyles gathered always knew what they were doing and did it competently and efficiently, albeit with little artistic merit and just a notch above a TV movie. His Westerns worked well enough if you’re in the mood for tradit

4/17/2026

Despite the presence of an half decent supporting cast, Dana Andrews doesn't really do much with this disappointingly formulaic western. He is the eponymous federal marshal who has apprehended 'Conners' (Tom Drake) after coming under fire en route to visit 'Nona' (Jane Russell). With his charge safely locked up and protesting his innocence, 'Reno' realises that the townsfolk are scenting blood, and that they don't really care for judicial process - they just want to hang the man. Increasingly egged on by 'Yates' (Lyle Bettger), the townspeople are becoming both restless and hostile - but is everything as black and white as it seems? Why the haste to string up 'Conners' - who is also wanted for killing the son of the local Chief 'Little Bear'? What else is afoot? All the ingredients are her