I hope you enjoyed our week-long retrospective of the Lone Ranger character in the pop culture. I had a lot of fun revisiting episodes and toys I hadn't thought about at all since I was a kid. I was also delighted to see how well the original series (1949 - 1957) episodes hold up, after all this time.
I'll be curious to see how the movie handles this sturdy legend, and what you -- the readers -- think about the modern update.
Our normal schedule resumes tomorrow morning with Saturday morning blogging...
I have enjoyed your intelligent commentary all week. The Lone Ranger has long been a favorite, from pre-school days when I used to watch reruns of Clayton Moore's show with my father (I remember excitedly getting to see the three-part sequence of the LR's origin). From there, I played with the larger Gabriel toys (which fit in well along with my Legends of the West toys), and I remember reading and re-reading the comics that came with them. While I loved the Filmation cartoon (and even enjoyed seeing some chapters from Republic's serial), I did not get to see _The Legend of the Lone Ranger_ when it first came out and was not all that much at a loss for that. (I did enjoy the 3 3/4" Gabriel toys that were produced as a result, however.)
ReplyDeleteI am wary of the new film and what looks like a poorly planned approach. As you write, part of the problem with the 1981 film is it lacks direction or a clear audience. One thing that the original TV series has going for it is just how clearly it maintains its focus and message. The original series knew just who the Lone Ranger was and what he stood for.
I recently listened to a review of the 1981 film that was defending it as having been given short shrift but doing so while mocking older (and more old-fashioned) westerns. One good point they were making, however, was to point out the similarities between the origins for the LR & Batman (both brought from the deaths of family members), and you point out the connection to Superman (the last of a type, coming from tragedy). Just as there have been efforts to darken Batman and Superman in some of the retellings, there seems to be a desire to darken the Lone Ranger. However, while some LR comics have pulled this off, it seems films have been less successful. I don't think we're beyond a time for a truly earnest hero, but they make it seem that way at times.
Thanks also for the great collection of LR clips with commercials and the like (including _Happy Days_); about all that was missing was the time John Hart showed up on _Greatest American Hero_.