The Lone Ranger (2003 film)

The Lone Ranger is a 2003 American western action television film. It was an attempt by The WB to revive the Lone Ranger franchise for a new generation. The character first appeared in 1933 in a radio show conceived either by WXYZ (Detroit) radio station owner George W. Trendle,[1][2][3] or by Fran Striker,[4] the show's writer. The radio series proved to be a hit and spawned a series of books (largely written by Striker), an equally popular television show that ran from 1949 to 1957, comic books, and several movies.

The Lone Ranger
Title card
GenreWestern
Action
Based onThe Lone Ranger by Fran Striker Jr.
George W. Trendle
Written byStacy Title and Jonathan Penner
Directed byJack Bender
StarringChad Michael Murray
Nathaniel Arcand
Theme music composerRoger Neill
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of episodes1
Production
ProducersSusanne Daniels
Mel Efros
Eric Ellenbogen
CinematographySteven Fierberg
EditorsLuis Colina
Mark Melnick
Running time120 minutes
Production companiesTNT Productions
Turner Television
Warner Bros. Television
DistributorWarner Bros. Television Distribution
Release
Original networkThe WB
Original releaseFebruary 26, 2003 (2003-02-26)

The film, intended as a pilot for a new television series, stars Chad Michael Murray as the Lone Ranger (the name of the Ranger's secret identity was changed from "John Reid" to "Luke Hartman") and Nathaniel Arcand as his Native American companion Tonto.

Plot

This version takes a look at the character in the years before he became a legend. It all begins with the introduction of Luke Hartman, a 20-year-old Boston law student who witnesses the murder of his brother, a Texas Ranger. He himself is wounded in the midst of the chaos, but is rescued by the Apache Tonto, and subsequently becomes smitten with Tonto's sister Alope. He then devotes his life to avenging the death of his brother and fighting injustice, and in the process becoming a worldwide legend.

Cast
Actor Role
Chad Michael Murray The Lone Ranger / Luke Hartman
Nathaniel Arcand Tonto
Anita Brown Alope
Fay Masterson Grace Hartman
Sebastian Spence Harmon Hartman
Wes Studi Kulakinah
Bradford Tatum Tryon
Jeffrey Nordling James Landry
Lauren German Emily Landry
Tod Thawley Tera
Gil Birmingham One Horn
Paul Schulze Sheriff Landry

Critical reception

The show was met with mixed reviews, criticizing the changes to the characters, comedy and soundtrack, and the pilot didn't get picked up for a full series.[5][6][7]

References
  1. "The Lone Ranger". Museum of Broadcast Communications. Retrieved March 7, 2011.
  2. "The Lone Ranger". Radio Hall of Fame. Archived from the original on April 24, 2011. Retrieved March 7, 2011.
  3. "Radio: The Masked Rider". Time magazine. January 14, 1952. Retrieved March 3, 2010.
  4. Dennis McLellan (June 9, 1993). "A Gathering of Kemo Sabes : TV's Lone Ranger, Fans Return to Those Thrilling Days of Yesteryear". Los Angeles Times.
  5. "The Lone Ranger". Pop Matters. Retrieved 2010-09-26.
  6. Johnson, Steve (2003-02-26). "WB's `Lone Ranger' is small in the saddle". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 2010-09-27.
  7. "Who Was That Masked Man, Really?". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved 2010-09-27.
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