Rancho Notorious (1952)

100% of critics liked it
(10 reviews)
63% of users liked it
(904 ratings)

The original title for Rancho Notorious was Chuck-a-Luck, which is also the title of the soundtrack ballad (written by Ken Darby) which unifies the plotline, à la High Noon. Frontiersman Vern Haskell (Arthur Kennedy) wanders throughout the West in search of the man who robbed and murdered his… More The original title for Rancho Notorious was Chuck-a-Luck, which is also the title of the soundtrack ballad (written by Ken Darby) which unifies the plotline, à la High Noon. Frontiersman Vern Haskell (Arthur Kennedy) wanders throughout the West in search of the man who robbed and murdered his fiancée. He is told that he'll probably find the culprits at Chuck-a-Luck, a combination horse ranch and criminal hideout overseen by saloon chanteuse Altar Keane (Marlene Dietrich). To gain entrance to Chuck-a-Luck, Haskell poses as an escaped prisoner. Keane warns him that the ranch has only one rule: "Don't ask questions." Still, he has ways of finding things out. Haskell is compelled to keep up his charade when the dirty denizens of Chuck-a-Luck plan a big bank holdup, but this has the result of exposing the killer of his girl. Director Fritz Lang had a rough time with RKO head Howard R. Hughes, who insisted upon making changes in the film that might have hurt it irreparably. The biggest argument centered over the title; Hughes complained that no one overseas would understand the meaning of Chuck-a-Luck, whereupon Lang riposted sarcastically that "I'm sure that everyone will understand Rancho Notorious." One of the principal villains was Lloyd Gough, but you'd never know it from the opening titles; Hughes, incensed that Gough had refused to testify at the HUAC "witch hunt," ordered that the blacklisted Gough's name be removed from the credits. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: PG, 1 hr. 26 min.
Directed By: Fritz Lang
Written By: Silvia Richards, Daniel Taradash
Genres: Western, Drama

In Theaters: Mar 1, 1952 Limited

Critic Reviews

Richard T. Jameson, Parallax View
Rancho Notorious is strange. Peculiar. Outrageous. Utterly distinctive.
Leo Goldsmith, Not Coming to a Theater Near You
There is a distinct hokeyness about Lang's vision of the West--pancake-flat sets in a generic studio-backlot Western town; giant, abstract crab-colored boulders made out of papier-mache, brazenly unnaturalistic stage-lighting--but it's the ardent phoneyne
Jeffrey M. Anderson, Combustible Celluloid
Because the small budget kept Lang sequestered on the studio lot, he found a way to use the sets for their claustrophobic, caged feel.
Michael E. Grost, Classic Film and Television
Remarkable Western with a wild mix of themes and styles
Steve Crum, Kansas City Kansan
Cool, way ahead of its day western with Dietrich and her band of baddies.
Jeffrey M. Anderson, San Francisco Examiner
A masterpiece.
Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
It's Lang's last Western and one that covers again the themes he successfully used in his noir films...

Read all 7 critic reviews

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Featured Audience Ratings

Stella D

it's not a bad film but it's not as much fun as destry rides again or the very similarly themed johnny guitar. also that 'chuck-a-luck' song got really annoying. i like arthur kennedy alright but he's a bit blah here and at 51 marlene is pushing it. i guess… More
it's not a bad film but it's not as much fun as destry rides again or the very similarly themed johnny guitar. also that 'chuck-a-luck' song got really annoying. i like arthur kennedy alright but he's a bit blah here and at 51 marlene is pushing it. i guess i just expected more from lang. obviously westerns weren't his strong suit

Cast

            Marlene Dietrich as Altar Keane

            Arthur Kennedy as Vern Haskell

            Mel Ferrer as Frenchy Fairmont

            Gloria Henry as Beth Forbes

            William Frawley as Baldy Gunder

            Lloyd Gough as Kinch

            Jack Elam as Geary

            Lisa Ferraday as Maxine

            John Raven as Chuck-a-Luck Dealer

            George Reeves as Wilson

            Frank Ferguson as Preacher

            Francis McDonald as Harbin

            Dan Seymour as Comanche Paul

            John Kellogg as Factor

            Rodd Redwing as Rio

            Stuart Randall as Starr

            Roger Anderson as Red

            Felipe Turich as Sanchez

            Joe Dominguez as Gonzales

            John Doucette as Whitey

            Lane Chandler as Sheriff Hardy

            Charlita as Mexican girl in bar

            Dick Elliott as Storyteller

            Fred Graham as Ace Maguire

            William Haade as Sheriff Bullock

            I. Stanford Jolley as Deputy Warren

            Fuzzy Knight as Barber

            Ralph Sanford as Politician

            Dick Wessel as Deputy
See full cast