Jeanskynebu the audience applauded

Micitype Pretty Good

StyleSk8r At first rather annoying in its heavy emphasis on reenactments, this movie ultimately proves fascinating, simply because the complicated, highly dramatic tale it tells still almost defies belief.

Jonah Abbott There's no way I can possibly love it entirely but I just think its ridiculously bad, but enjoyable at the same time.

dougdoepke It's Roy before pairing up with Dale, while Trigger is there but without his starring name. Still, we've got the one-and-only Gabby doing his toothless ornery bit, so the legendary crew is almost all present and accounted for. The movie's a good strong story about brothers on opposite sides during the Civil War, which gives Roy a rare chance to show his acting chops. Catch his nicely modulated reaction in the climactic escape scene. At the same time, you may need to overlook the fact that the mountains of Colorado look a lot like the scrublands of greater LA. But who cares—good old Republic Studio was never big on budgets. It's easy to forget that before Milburn Stone merged with Doc Adams of Gunsmoke fame, he had a lengthy B-movie career. Here, he and Roy make believable (and somewhat poignant) brothers. Okay, the movie's little more than a matinée Western that used to entertain us Front Row kids. But it's got a good story, good acting, some scenic action, and a pretty girl. So, what more can a Front Row geezer ask for.

bkoganbing Back when I was a lad there was a shortlived television series called The Americans which starred Darryl Hickman and Dick Davalos as the Canfield brothers who went their separate ways when the Civil War broke out. The episodes alternated back and forth with Darryl serving in the Union Army and Dick doing his bit for the Confederacy. Too bad it didn't last longer.In fact in real life a whole lot of families were torn that way. Kentucky statesman John Crittenden had two sons both of whom became generals in the opposing armies. So the premise of Roy Rogers and Milburn Stone on opposite sides is quite real.Rogers is on detached duty from the Union Army as a Pinkerton man out in Colorado trying to locate who's behind stirring up a whole variety of trouble that's tying down needed troops in the west. Of course it's his brother Milburn Stone and the pursuit plus Roy's agony about hunting one of his kin is the heart of Colorado.Rogers only gets one song, sung while he's recuperating from a gunshot wound to leading lady Pauline Moore. He's called on to do a bit more acting than would normally be the case and he handles it well.Colorado deserved a bigger budget and an A cast for the film. It was as another reviewer pointed out, badly butchered in the editing. Yet it's still worthwhile viewing.

classicsoncall "Colorado" takes place during the Civil War years, with Roy Rogers portraying a Union government agent investigating unrest in the Colorado Territory, where Union forces are being detained to contain outlaws, Indians and Confederate sympathizers. With direct authorization from President Lincoln, Lieutenant Jerry Burke (Rogers) comes to learn that his own brother is behind the trouble, under an assumed identity as a Union Officer, Captain Dan Mason. However Mason's allegiance is with the South, and he's in league with Indian Commissioner Jim Macklin (Arthur Loft), as they sell guns to the Indian tribes. Their main goal though is to prevent Union Forces from joining General Grant's army, thereby aiding the Confederate cause.You may have difficulty as I did in recognizing a young Milburn Stone as Captain Mason; Stone went on to portray Doc Adams in the Gunsmoke series. George "Gabby" Hayes is on hand as a cantankerous old timer who cheerfully latches up with Burke for the adventure. The love interest is supplied by Pauline Moore as Lylah Sanford, originally engaged to Mason, but eventually choosing Burke in a rather quick turn. Rogers and Moore also teamed up in "Carson City Kid", released in the same year, 1940.Other than the Civil War backdrop, the story is rather formulaic, as Lieutenant Burke brings the villains to justice. There is a rather unique close to the story though; with Mason in custody, he wistfully explains to his brother how if this were Mexico, his captors would at least allow him to make a run for it, since he's going to hang for his treason anyway. As Burke contemplates this, Mason makes a break with predictable results. It's probably one of the most unusual endings for a Roy Rogers film, although the final scene is one where the Rogers' character gets the girl to give the film a happier ending.

Jim Tritten Actually a pretty good movie, or at least an excellent plot with some very different twists. Actors do a very good job with the good material. Something happened in the editing room (or in shooting) since we have characters appear that are not fully explained. Low budget technique can be ignored as can the scenery being obviously not in Colorado. This is not the typical western story -- it could easily be remade today and catch the viewers interests. Watch it, you will like it.