Under Western Stars

For his debut feature, Roy Rogers was given an interesting story, a usually capable director, and a cast of great talents ... but it still came out rather flat.

Roy was so good, so poised and comfortable-looking, so controlled, it's hard to believe he'd not been making movies for years. Perhaps it's because he'd been performing in public as a singer, and there are many other examples of that: Frank Sinatra, Judy Garland, Molly Ringwald, to name just a few.

Whatever the reason, his looks and his charm would not have been enough to make him "the King of the Cowboys" if he had not also had the talent.

Among his fellow cast members, Smiley Burnette got to play something other than a silly side-kick, although there was too much silliness. Burnette is someone I didn't appreciate until recent years, I guess because his roles were so often so silly. The fact is, though, he had immense talent. He was actually a very good actor, and a good cowboy performer, as well as an extraordinarily talented musician.

Their female lead was the wonderful, the adorable Carol Hughes, who should be better known, and who should been in dozens more movies. She showed so much personality in her role here, it is really a puzzle why she was not much busier as an actress.

At YouTube there is an interesting "uncut" version, part of a TV show produced around a daughter of Roy Rogers, but it is in lousy condition, fuzzy focus and distorted sound. I'm afraid it's watchable only for its historical value. I hope there is another print somewhere.