With a new interpretation of the Ranger almost upon us, I thought it time to look at another, the one most of us are familiar with: the television version. The Ranger was around long before 1949, but television forever locked most of us that were kids at that time into Clayton Moore and Jay Silver heels as our favorite heroes. This one tells the same story, the origin tale so to speak, in a different manner. The role of Butch Cavendish was played by Glen Strange better known for his bartender role in the Long Branch saloon on Gunsmoke.
And I’m still not sure about Johnny Depp as Tonto and the actor playing the title role, Armie Hammer, gets third billing.
For overlooked movies, telkevision, and related matters, Todd Mason does the gathering on Tuesdays over at SWEET FREEDOM.
Not The Baseball Pitcher 
I am very fearful Depp is going to camp it up and mock it. Very fearful. This was my childhood, watching these guys. Don’t mess with it.
Never much cared for Depp, and indeed, don’t look forward to the new movie…does immersing yourself in Italian westerns over the last year or so make coming back to the likes of the Silverheels/Moore cast RANGER any different?
Not really. The Ranger is a childhood memory and you know how those can cling to you. Safer days and such. The spaghettis are a love from my late teens and on and inflame a different part of my brain. The internet has made it so much easier to find those films, good or bad.