It is the Wild West in the modern ages. The Crazy M Ranch is being attacked by imaginary bandits, apaches and varmints. Only one man can save the day. He is the only one who sees them. He is Scandalous John. This Disney movie is most uncharacteristic of the Disney genres but still has the characteristic Disney finesse when it comes to quality. The plot is well arranged, the direction is impeccable and the performances stellar.
Work started on this 1971 Disney release while Walt Disney was alive, but the movie was screened only after his tragic demise. Emile Kuri, the person responsible for set decoration and design, deserves a special mention for his choice of locations and shots. Most of the movie shows awesome scenes of New Mexico, such as outskirts of Las Cruces, downtown Alamogordo and the White Sands National Monument. An old town feel was borrowed from the landscapes of Old Tuscon, Arizona.
Scandalous John is a great example of the make-up expertise of studio artist Robert Schiffer. Brian Keith has everything going for him in the male lead. His looks are very well disguised for him to be the 79 year old gun wielding rancher. Harry Morgan has been cast as a sheriff without a gun and Simon Oakland as a mean and filthy rich banker. While Michele Carey plays John's granddaughter, Alfonso Arau gives a classic performance as the hired handyman of John. Rick Lenz stars as the banker's son.
This story is set in New Mexico where the Crazy M Ranch is. John is a rancher who protects the ranch. Though the world has moved to the modern ages, John has been unable to come out of the Wild West times. He is able to see concocted bandits and looters who threaten to take his ranch. This keeps him always ready to riddle a body full with bullets. He is always ready with his crotchet. But the modern times has brought in a different league of aggressors. They are the bankers. They are wealthy and they stink of greed. They want to grab the land in the name of area development. To stall their attempts, Scandalous Jon hires a Mexican handyman by the name of Paco, but not before John almost blasts him with his trusty crotchet. Paco is somehow convinced to stay by John's granddaughter. Gradually Paco begins to see the world through John's perspective and learns to respect him. See them take up the mission to save Crazy M Ranch and stop the bankers from executing their evil plans in Scandalous John.
Work started on this 1971 Disney release while Walt Disney was alive, but the movie was screened only after his tragic demise. Emile Kuri, the person responsible for set decoration and design, deserves a special mention for his choice of locations and shots. Most of the movie shows awesome scenes of New Mexico, such as outskirts of Las Cruces, downtown Alamogordo and the White Sands National Monument. An old town feel was borrowed from the landscapes of Old Tuscon, Arizona.
Scandalous John is a great example of the make-up expertise of studio artist Robert Schiffer. Brian Keith has everything going for him in the male lead. His looks are very well disguised for him to be the 79 year old gun wielding rancher. Harry Morgan has been cast as a sheriff without a gun and Simon Oakland as a mean and filthy rich banker. While Michele Carey plays John's granddaughter, Alfonso Arau gives a classic performance as the hired handyman of John. Rick Lenz stars as the banker's son.
This story is set in New Mexico where the Crazy M Ranch is. John is a rancher who protects the ranch. Though the world has moved to the modern ages, John has been unable to come out of the Wild West times. He is able to see concocted bandits and looters who threaten to take his ranch. This keeps him always ready to riddle a body full with bullets. He is always ready with his crotchet. But the modern times has brought in a different league of aggressors. They are the bankers. They are wealthy and they stink of greed. They want to grab the land in the name of area development. To stall their attempts, Scandalous Jon hires a Mexican handyman by the name of Paco, but not before John almost blasts him with his trusty crotchet. Paco is somehow convinced to stay by John's granddaughter. Gradually Paco begins to see the world through John's perspective and learns to respect him. See them take up the mission to save Crazy M Ranch and stop the bankers from executing their evil plans in Scandalous John.
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