ThiefHott Too much of everything

Hayden Kane There is, somehow, an interesting story here, as well as some good acting. There are also some good scenes

Aubrey Hackett While it is a pity that the story wasn't told with more visual finesse, this is trivial compared to our real-world problems. It takes a good movie to put that into perspective.

Scarlet The film never slows down or bores, plunging from one harrowing sequence to the next.

arfdawg-1 When ranch foreman Roy learns the new ranch owner Dorothy Bryant and her friends are arriving, he directs them to Gabby's rundown ranch. He figures they will be discouraged and return East. But the plan backfires when Dorothy, thinking her ranch worthless, sells the real ranch at a fraction of it's value.Dale Evans sure cut a hot figure in her 30s. Roy sure was lucky. You'll be a bit unlucky if you sit through this one. Even though its just about an hour in length and sort of watchable, it's not a great film.The plot is thin and has been done countless times before.

timbertrail4444 Another Roy Rogers movie when Republic Studios had his movies loaded with songs and music which I love.You must get the uncut version of this movie to really appreciate it. Bob Nolan and the Sons of the Pioneers sing some very good songs along with Roy. Gabby Hayes has some good lines when fighting with the women who he wishes would leave the west and go back to Chicago. There is an excellent musical stage ending where they all sing the title song and several others. The one scene where Roy, Dale and the Pioneers sing Utah against a backdrop of scenes from that beautiful state is a highlight of this movie. Again watch the uncut version.

Mike Newton In 1945, Roy Rogers had become Republic's King of the Cowboys. His films were shown not only across the country, but in allied countries which were depending on US films for entertainment. In major cities, like New York, Roy's films got booking dates in first run theaters. Studio president Herbert Yates was in New York City when he saw the Broadway production of "Oklahoma." Taking note of the musical western elements, he decided that the Rogers' pictures would all feature a musical production number at the end. This is why the entire cast, including Gabby Hayes and a flock of sheep, perform on stage before a group of townspeople. This would be the agenda until 1946 when William Witney, Republic's serial director, took over the helm. It was his idea to "toughen up" the King of the Cowboys and add some realistic and bruising fight scenes.

classicsoncall As a long time Western and Roy Rogers fan, I never thought I'd come across a picture where I could say that Dale Evans looked hot. But just check her out in the opening scene where her character Dorothy Bryant performs the 'Strictly From Dixie' song and dance number - wow! This is the only time I'll say it, and you'll have to forgive me on this point, but from a few different angles, she looked like Britney Spears. But don't take my word for it, you'll just have to check it out.As for the story, after watching an untold number of 'B' Western flicks, it's always cool to see an element that I haven't come across before. Though the picture utilizes a nasty arch-villain attempting to pull off a classic land grab, the hook here has Miss Bryant selling what she thinks is her run down ranch for a pittance of five thousand dollars to bad guy Ben Bowman (Grant Withers). He gives her a bogus check as money down, then rustles the cattle on the ranch to come up with the rest of the payment! To top it off, the homestead she thinks she inherited is really Gabby (Hayes) Whitaker's place, a ruse attempted by Roy and Gabby to try to keep her from selling in the first place. I guess it's a good thing Gabby didn't take it too personally.What really had me scratching my head though was that scene where Roy and Gabby wound up in the Coldbrook jail, and made their escape by 'electrocuting' the sheriff. How exactly did that work? No harm done though, that cured the sheriff's arthritis - what?!?! Needless to say, a story like this couldn't hold muster today, but I guess audiences of the Forties weren't very critical about their entertainment. Throw in a few musical numbers with Roy, Dale, and Bob Nolan with the Sons of the Pioneers, and you could usually count on a quick paced romp in between horse chases and shoot-outs with the bad guys. What you definitely couldn't get away with today was Gabby's attitude toward women, as in his remark to Dale Evans at the train station - "No female's capable of thinking for herself". I wonder what Britney would have to say about that.