I love this movie so much

That was an excellent one.

Good concept, poorly executed.

By the time the dramatic fireworks start popping off, each one feels earned.

Released in 1955 and directed by Tim Whelan, "Rage at Dawn" stars Randolph Scott as a special agent sent to Indiana to infiltrate the notorious Reno Gang, who carried out the first three peacetime train robberies in the USA. The stolen money was largely never recovered. Forrest Tucker plays the top member of the gang, Frank, while Mala Powers plays the honest sister of the brothers, Laura, whom Scott's character decides to romance.There's only one other movie based on the exploits of the Reno Gang, which was Elvis' debut film "Love Me Tender," released the year after "Rage at Dawn." "Rage" is more faithful to the true story, although the special agent played by Scott is fictitious and Laura, while not part of the gang, wasn't squeaky clean as depicted, plus she was loyal to her brothers. But the movie's accurate in that Clint Reno (Denver Pyle) refused to be part of the gang and was called Honest Clint, not to mention the notorious ending is faithful to history, albeit no one was apprehended for the "crime" (I'm being ambiguous because I don't want to give it away).Scott is at his charismatic best here as he romances a girl that's clearly younger than half his age. Randolph was 56 during filming whereas cutie Mala was 23 (!), but this is okay once you understand that Scott's character is supposed to be around 35 (even though he looks like he's at least 50). Forrest Tucker is also great as the malevolent Frank Reno.Unfortunately, the obvious California locations ruin the movie because the story's set in the Ohio River region of Indiana, Missouri and surrounding areas, which look nothing like California. Moreover, the last act isn't very engaging despite the action; it somehow loses the interest attained in the first two acts. Still, "Rage at Dawn" is one of only two movies based on the Reno Gang and it's the more accurate of the two; not to mention the principle actors are great.The movie runs 87 minutes and was shot in Columbia, Sonora & Chico, California.GRADE: C+

I am a great fan of westerns. Knowing the state of California quite well, I particularly like to identify locations used in films. As the primary California locations are the Alabama Hills in Inyo Co., Vasquez Rocks in LA Co., Red Rock Canyon in Kern Co. and various areas near Bishop, I was interested in the locale used here....just south of the present New Melones Reservoir in Calaveras Co. and the state park in Columbia... especially as they were supposed to be somewhere in southern Indiana. This movie had a very strong cast but a bit of a choppy plot. I would also add that neither the vegetation nor the rock outcroppings fit with Indiana, and for a western buff, will distract from an otherwise acceptable film.

Western about one of the most famous outlaws bandits of them all . The year 1866 , the location is southern Indiana , this is the true story about Reno brothers : Frank , Simeón , John , Bill , being exception the good Clint , a respected farmer (Denver Pyle) . It's a retelling of the wild adventures that made the Reno brothers clan legendary among outlaws passing into American folklore . They were the first train robbers in American history and killing and looting . This famous gang rode through the middle border states , setting the model for the future noted bandit bunches as : Doolin , James , Younger, Dalton.. Forrest Tucker and J.Carroll Naish are the leaders of the Southwestern outlaws gangs pursued by lawmen . Reno brothers join forces with town authorities , judge and sheriffs (Edgar Buchanan and Ray Teal) . Film starts with a fateful raid but they have been betrayed and execute a killing , burning to agent Peterson for revenge . Then , a special agent (Randolph Scott) along with a supporter (Kenneth Tobey) are assigned in order to get the bad guys , as they carry out a set-up , simulating the train robbery . Meanwhile , the protagonist falls in love with gang's sister (Mala Powers). The picture is based on facts that had a sad finale . As ten members of the Reno gang were lynched in three separate incidents in 1868 . The first three were taken by vigilantes from a train . Three others were lynched at a later time . They were technically in federal custody when they were lynched. This is believed to be the only time in U.S. history that a federal prisoner had ever been lynched by a mob before a trial. Good Western in which the Reno gang pull off raid banks , treasure offices , trains , and other robberies in post-civil war , Indiana . Stylish , fast paced , solid , meticulous and a violent look with numerous shootouts . Randolph Scott leaving time ago the secondary roles as when he was still playing supporting characters in top films as ¨Jesse James¨ (Henry King) , ¨Virginia city¨ (Michael Curtiz) and ¨The spoilers¨ (Ray Enright) . Scott also played a famed outlaw in ¨Doolins of Oklahoma¨ (Gordon Douglas) . The support cast makes equally notable performances . The film is shot in California State parks as it is shown on the colorful cinematography by the nice cameraman Ray Rennahan . Storyline by Horace McCoy and Frank Gruber , two usual and important Western screenwriters . The motion picture was splendidly directed by Tim Whelan (co-author ¨Thief of Bagdag¨) . The flick will appeal to Western lovers and Randolph Scott fans

First a bit of trivia: In the opening segment as the Reno Boys are riding into the Indiana Territory township for the robbery you can see an American Flag (with 48 stars I imagine) in the background with a California state flag underneath it, with it's bear in the center. The movie was shot in part in California's Columbian Historic Park in 1955..................... Anyway, I thought the movie was excellent and realistic, well told, the writing was excellent and well acted by everyone involved. What a superlative cast: Tucker was excellent, as evil as I ever saw him in any movie, Buchanan, a wonderful actor, was his sly self to perfection, as usual, Mala Powers as beautiful as usual in what I consider an unnecessary part (I wonder if this was a true part of the story), in 1955 you had to have a love interest to sell movie tickets or they supposed it to be. You also had Jimmy Lydon (Henry Aldrich), Arthur Space, Myron Healey, Kenneth Tobey, Denver Pyle, all familiar faces even today, doing what they did best; act, under the fine direction of Tim Whelan, creating what I would think 1866 was like. Also with great music by Paul Sawtell and photographed beautifully by Ray Rennahan. A Fine film that held my interest.