Rancho Notorious

Perhaps the most interesting thing about Rancho Notorious, a 1952 Western, is that it was directed by Fritz Lang. It seems a long way from Metropolis and M to this fairly standard oater, which features Marlene Dietrich as the operator of a ranch that doubles as a hideout for outlaws.

Dietrich isn't introduced until roughly halfway through the film. The opening shot is a kiss between Arthur Kennedy and Gloria Henry (who would later star on TV as the mother of Dennis The Menace). They live in a small Wyoming town and are to be married in a few days. But their romantic idyll is disturbed by robbers, who kill her. A posse is formed, but stops at the end of their jurisdiction. Kennedy presses on, and finds one of the killers, who was shot by his partner. His dying words are "Chuck-a-Luck,"

Kennedy uses that info to make his way to New Mexico, following the trail of Altar Keane, a former dance hall singer. He runs into a famous outlaw (Mel Ferrer), who is associated with Keane, who is in jail. Kennedy gets thrown in jail with him, and helps Ferrer break out, earning his trust. Ferrer leads him to Chuck-a-Luck, owned by Keane (Dietrich) who lets outlaws hide out there for ten percent of their loot.

Kennedy realizes that one of the men hiding out is the killer of his girl, and he bides his time, falling in love with Dietrich, creating a love triangle with Ferrer.

Dietrich reprises her role in Destry Rides Again, singing a few songs (when she does I can't help but think of the parody that Madeline Kahn does in Blazing Saddles) and is the highlight of an otherwise dull film. It's hard to understand how a great director like Lang made such a mediocre movie. Kennedy, otherwise a fine actor, gives a strange performance. While he's at the ranch, he keeps staring at everyone, making them suspicious and the viewer uncomfortable.

The original title of the film was The Legend Of Chuck-a-Luck (which was a gambling game) but Howard Hughes, head of RKO, made them change it, a good decision.