Johnny Reno (1966)

Dana Andrews plays Johnny Reno, a marshal who survives an ambush, killing one man and hauling another to the nearest jail.

But the folks in the Stone Junction — at least the town leaders — aren’t happy to see him.

Seems the man he’s brought in was framed for a murder done at the mayor’s bidding. The individual killed was a young Indian, who happened to be courting the mayor’s daughter.

Now, Johnny Reno is threatening to stir up an unwelcome hornet’s nest when his only real goal was a reunion with a former love.

That would be Nona Williams (Jane Russell), owner of the Palace Saloon in Stone Junction.

She and Johnny Reno were lovers until she broke her brother out of prison years earlier, a mistake Reno couldn’t forgive. He believes in doing things by the books.

But Nona’s bitterness with Johnny fades as she realizes how much trouble he is in.

The mayor had everyone gunning for the young Indian. Now he has everyone gunning for Johnny.

Dana Andrews as Johnny Reno, trying to get to the bottom of a mystery in Stone Junction in Johnny Reno (1966)

Jane Russell as Nona Williams, her bath interrupted by old beau Johnny Reno in Johnny Reno (1966)

Review:

Plodding and implausible. A mayor can convince an entire town to kill at his bidding?

Well, a young Indian, perhaps. But a federal marshal? An equally implausible ending doesn’t help any.

Lyle Bettger plays the mayor, villain of the piece. Jane Russell was 45 when the film was released, but has a bathtub scene that was highly publicized in the marketing of the film.

Her relationship with Johnny Reno is all spit and vinegar when they are reunited. But that attitude doesn’t last for long.

One of the most interesting touches in the film is Rosie Red Toes, a doll Johnny won in a shooting contest and gave to Nona years earlier and that she still keeps in her bar.

Lyle Bettger as Mayor Jess Yates, a mayor whose trouble starts when a U.S. marshal shows up in town in Johnny Reno (1966)

Tom Drake as Joe Collins, the man Stone Junction wants to lynch, allegedly for killing an Indian in Johnny Reno (1966)

Directed by:
R.G. Springsteen

Cast
Dana Andrews … Johnny Reno
Jane Russell … Nona Williams
Lon Chaney … Sheriff Hodges
John Agar .. Ed Tomkins
Lyle Bettger … Jess Yates
Tom Drake … Joe Collins
Tracy Olsen … Maria Yates
Richard Arlen … Ned Duggan
Robert Lowery … Jake Reed
Tracy Olsen … Marie Yates
Regis Parton … Bartender
Rodd Redwing … Indian brave
Charles Horvath … Wooster
Dale Van Sickel … Ab Connors
Paul Daniels … Chief Little Bear
Chuck Hicks … Bellows

Title tune: “Johnny Reno”
Sung by: Jerry Wallace

Lon Chaney as Sheriff Hodges, a lawman who eventually does his duty in Johnny Reno (1966)

Tracy Olsen as Maria Yates, a young girl clashing with father Jess Yates in Johnny Reno (1966)

Memorable lines

Joe Connors to Johnny Reno: “You killed my brother. He never harmed anybody. Anybody in his whole life.”
Reno: “He tried to bushwhack me.”
Indeed, the Connors brothers had just taken a few shots at our dear sheriff.

Johnny Reno: “It’s been a long time since I helped a woman dress.”
Nona Williams: “You braggin’ or complainin’?”

Nona Williams to Johnny Reno: “Here we are, face to face. Saint and sinner. You and your halo and me and my pretty red garters.”

Dana Andrews as Johnny Reno, showing up in Nona Williams’ room with Rosie Red Toes in Johnny Reno (1966)

Jane Russell as Nona Williams, her dress tattered in an encounter with Mayor Jess Yates in Johnny Reno (1966)

John Agar as Ed Tomkins, the cattle baron in cahoots with Stone Junction Mayor Jess Yates in Johnny Reno (1966)

Robert Lowery as Jake Reed, a store owner conspiring with Mayor Jess Yates in Johnny Reno (1966)

Regis Parton as Charlie, one of Nona Williams’ bartenders, aligned with Mayor Yates in Johnny Reno (1966)

Dana Andrews as Johnny Reno, trying to calm down an upset Maria Yates (Tracy Olson) in Johnny Reno (1966)

Lyle Bettger as Mayor Jess Yates, threatening saloon owner Nona Williams in Johnny Reno (1966)

Jane Russell as Nona Williams talking about a sordid past with former beau Dana Andrews as Johnny Reno in Johnny Reno (1966)