Under Nevada Skies

Under Nevada Skies has radio country singer Roy Rogers helping out acting sheriff Gabby Hayes sort out the reason for the murder of Leland Hodgson after Dale Evans comes to town and gets a job singing at his club. The film plays like a murder mystery in fact several people wind up quite dead because this particular group of villains has a bunch of people all working their own agenda.

The mystery in Under Nevada Skies is not who's doing the killing, but what is the significance of an old family heirloom that Dale Evans among many others is searching for. That only becomes clear in the last couple of minutes of the film. But some Indians led by chief George J. Lewis have a big role here, in fact they aid Roy in a shootout with Douglass Dumbrille and his henchmen. Dumbrille might have gotten away with the heirloom and its secret if he had more trustworthy help.

Roy and Dale are once again really good together and the fact they were soon to be man and wife is the reason. Roy did a whole lot of films with women other than Dale Evans, but it's always special when the two of them are together.

Definitely one of Roy's better Republic westerns.

I like old B-westerns. Sure, they are usually pretty predictable but they also can be a lot of fun. Some of them feature a hero who sings and romances (such as Roy Rogers or Gene Autry) and some don't (Hopalong Cassidy or Tim McCoy come to mind). I like both types. But something I've noticed about a few of the singing cowboys films....that after a while the TYPE of songs they sang and the style really changed. I adore the simple western tunes sung by Autry or Rogers...but in "Under Nevada Skies" the songs are completely wrong for ANY western. In fact, in the case of one of the songs, it seemed more like a showcase for Rogers' then girlfriend...and soon to be wife. She sings a song that might fit in well with a contemporary nightclub setting...but not in the west. The same with a weird song and dance number later in the film...not the least big country western in style and more like something you'd see in the nightclub once again. Fortunately, later Dale and Roy since a slower, nicer song...though it, too, isn't really the style you'd expect in a Rogers film. It's as if the film is a parody of other Rogers' films....and I found myself longing to hear Roy and the Sons of the Pioneers who performed in the best films of in the series.

As far as the story goes, it starts of VERY, VERY badly....and you wonder about what the writers were thinking. As Roy is out palling around with his American Indian friends, Dale comes barreling through in her car...nearly killing several folks and showing complete disregard for everyone. Then, when her engine is flooded and the car stalled after splashing water on Roy and the Indians, she whines about how unfair it is that her car won't start and takes no responsibility for her actions. This is NOT a 'meet cute' but seems like the perfect start to the film IF Dale is playing a villain...which she wasn't. Bad, bad writing!

Soon a guy named Tom is murdered and Dale indicates that the real reason she came out west was to get some sort of family crest Tom stole long ago. The rest of the movie consists of Roy, Dale and the baddies all working to find this crest.

Now to say that there is zero suspense about the identity of the baddie leader is an understatement. This is NOT a spoiler!! After all, in EVERY B-movie (not just westerns) Douglass Dumbrille plays a evil scum-bag...a complete rotter! This, combined with the awful songs and Dale's hateful entry into the film make this a terrible Roy Rogers film...one that would clearly disappoint fans. The only saving grace is that the film features Gabby Hayes and everyone likes Gabby!

Overall, I'd place this among Roy Rogers' worst films...one that seems to have forgotten the formula that made him such a popular cowboy star.

I specifically looked up movies with the Sons of the Pioneers in it. They sing the best western ballads guaranteed to put a smile on your face. Roy Rogers plays the guitar and sings a lot in this too. The music is so relaxing & lulls you into the warm memories of days gone by.

An above-average Roy Rogers oater, with plenty of songs, intrigue and a more cohesive plot than many. It's a satisfying and fast-moving piece of fluff. Roy is, as usual, likable, and Dale is far sexier than I remember her in the 1950s tv show. If you like B-grade westerns, you can do far worse than taking the time to watch this.

An almost enlightened view toward Native Americans is a large part of the fun. The pow-wow that the local tribe is holding is treated sympathetically, and Roy's relationship with the Native Americans is treated in a matter-of-fact, friendly manner. The Native Americans themselves are never treated in a stereotypical, demeaning manner; when Roy gets the local tribe together to chase the villains, it's such a warped parody of the usual cowboys-n-Injuns scene that I had to laugh!

Love that opening where a snooty Dale's car splashes poor Roy. But race driver Evans will be sorry when she looks for her new hat. It's a fun Rogers entry for this now Front Row geezer, more plot heavy than most. Seems two outfits are looking for a valuable crest stolen from Dale's murdered dad. But it's not just the crest that's valuable, there's something more. But what. And who's that second, mysterious party looking for it, plus why do those dead bodies keep turning up. Roy and Sheriff Gabby sure got their work cut out.

Some good hard riding and fast shooting, especially when Roy's Indian allies circle a big house while shooting inside at the bad guys. No overturned stagecoach or surrounded cavalry unit here. I guess someone in production got a big chuckle out of that switcheroo. However the one flying-fist scene is lamely done even for a matinée. Then too, don't look for scenic shots. Instead, it's familiar greater LA locations. But really, what's with that musical number done up with costumed pirates. After all, it's Sons Of The Pioneers, not Sons Of Blackbeard. Anyway, kick back and enjoy. Dale was never lovelier, Gabby never more engaging, and Roy never more King of the Cowboys. Now where is that dog-gone crest and why's it so valuable. The answer may surprise you.