Skip to content
The Ranger, the Cook and a Hole in the Sky poster
6.0 / 10(13 votes)IMDb19951h 32mUnited States of America

The Ranger, the Cook and a Hole in the Sky

“The year is 1919 - a time when being a ranger meant forest fires were fought with guts and courage.”

Synopsis

A young ranger in the Montana wilderness discovers the great forces of nature while learning the importance of honor, trust and integrity. Legendary veteran ranger Bill Bell educates the young man and guides him toward manhood. The year is 1919-a time when being a ranger meant more than operating expensive equipment. Forest fires were fought with guts and courage, not chemicals and airplanes. Bill Bell was the toughest ranger in an elite crew of very rugged men. A figure of heroic proportions, he was generally feared and respected by all. It was even rumored that he had at one time killed a sheep farmer, which only fueled his already enormous reputation. The young ranger does everything to remain in the good graces of Bill Bell, the senior ranger he idolizes. Their tentative rapport grows into a friendship through a hilarious and heroic rite of passage in which the younger ranger meets the test-and the woman of his dreams.

Play Movie

Trailers, Teasers & Extra Featurettes

Official promotional previews, behind-the-scenes footage, and exclusive clips.

The Ranger, The Cook and a Hole In the Sky & Murder One promos, 1995

Type: Trailer • Published 2017-11-12

Release History & Theatrical Window

Theatrical Premiere

June 15, 1995

Wide Cinema Exhibition

Key Information & Fast Facts

Director
John Kent Harrison
Screenplay & Story
Norman Maclean, Robert Wayne
Original Score
Lawrence Shragge
Original Title
The Ranger, the Cook and a Hole in the Sky
Country of Origin
United States of America
Spoken Languages
English
Runtime
1h 32m
Production Studios
Signboard Hill Productions

Creative Leadership & Key Crew

Director

John Kent Harrison

Screenplay & Story

Norman Maclean, Robert Wayne

Original Score & Music

Lawrence Shragge

Director of Photography

Henry M. Lebo

Film Editing

Michael D. Ornstein

Producers

Richard Welsh, Brent Shields

Department Leadership Roster

John Kent Harrison

Director

Henry M. Lebo

Director of Photography

Michael D. Ornstein

Editor

Brent Shields

Producer

Lawrence Shragge

Original Music Composer

Official cinematic photography and background stills for The Ranger, the Cook and a Hole in the Sky.

Featured In Curated Collections

Editorial lists, community rankings, and cinematic collections featuring The Ranger, the Cook and a Hole in the Sky.

list_TV_Movie

Movies categorized under TV_Movie

1493 titles

Pluto TV US - Western Movies

Curated list of Most Popular on Pluto TV (US). Updated frequently. Last updated August 28, 2026.

150 titles

Tubi TV US - Western Movies

Curated list of Most Popular on Tubi (US). Updated frequently. Last updated August 28, 2026.

150 titles

Prime Video US - Western Movies

Curated list of Most Popular on Amazon Prime (US). Updated frequently. Last updated August 28, 2026.

150 titles

My Personal Collection...

My collection of DVD's

1802 titles

List 1

A grouping of movies that are available to watch... Likely movies I enjoy as well

4146 titles

More Like The Ranger, the Cook and a Hole in the Sky

Recommended titles matching themes, cast, and genres.

6.7
6.4
6.7
5.8
6.9
6.4
6.5
6.9
7.2
6.5
6.6
6.7

Frequently Asked Questions About The Ranger, the Cook and a Hole in the Sky

Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.

What is The Ranger, the Cook and a Hole in the Sky about?

A young ranger in the Montana wilderness discovers the great forces of nature while learning the importance of honor, trust and integrity. Legendary veteran ranger Bill Bell educates the young man and guides him toward manhood. The year is 1919-a time when being a ranger meant more than operating expensive equipment. Forest fires were fought with guts and courage, not chemicals and airplanes. Bill Bell was the toughest ranger in an elite crew of very rugged men. A figure of heroic proportions, he was generally feared and respected by all. It was even rumored that he had at one time killed a sheep farmer, which only fueled his already enormous reputation. The young ranger does everything to remain in the good graces of Bill Bell, the senior ranger he idolizes. Their tentative rapport grows into a friendship through a hilarious and heroic rite of passage in which the younger ranger meets the test-and the woman of his dreams.

Who directed The Ranger, the Cook and a Hole in the Sky?

The Ranger, the Cook and a Hole in the Sky was directed by John Kent Harrison.

Who stars in The Ranger, the Cook and a Hole in the Sky?

The principal cast of The Ranger, the Cook and a Hole in the Sky includes Sam Elliott, Jerry O'Connell, Ricky Jay, Molly Parker, Don S. Davis.

When was The Ranger, the Cook and a Hole in the Sky released and how long is it?

The Ranger, the Cook and a Hole in the Sky was released in 1995 with a total runtime of 1h 32m.

Who composed the musical score for The Ranger, the Cook and a Hole in the Sky?

The original motion picture soundtrack for The Ranger, the Cook and a Hole in the Sky was composed by Lawrence Shragge.