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+
