Damals in Caliente

California is part of the United States and settlers are coming in from the east. But the old Spanish land grant dons in the person of Frank Puglia fear their time is passing. Matters are not improved when a gang of marauders steal his cattle when they drive them to market and his gold when he sends it out. He does not realize that half-breed Jack La Rue has been keeping the bandits up to date on his wealth's movement. The only gringo he trusts is Roy Rogers, but the coming of a new batch of gringos led by Gabby Hayes, and his niece Lynne Roberts looks like it will set off a pwoder keg.

This early Roy Rogers western has some good songs, a mix of Mexican-infused music as wlel as a few more typical western tunes. It also offers a balanced view of the issues of newcomers versus the settled powers than is standard for what people perceive of as typical B westerns of the period. Joe Kane directs ably and cameraman William Nobles shoots the California coast well. With Katherine DeMille, Paul Marion, and Ethel Wales.

This film essentially begins a few years after California was admitted to the United States with a man named "Gabby Whitaker" (George 'Gabby' Hayes) in the process of leading a small wagon train there from Iowa. Apparently, on the way there, he has spoken a young lady named "Jean" (Lynne Roberts) on more than one occasion about his good friend "Roy Rogers" (Roy Rogers) who works for a wealthy Mexican rancher named "Don Jose Vargas" (Frank Puglia) just a few miles away. The scene then shifts to a small caravan headed by the aforementioned Roy Rogers and his good friend "Carlos Vargas" (Paul Marion) who have just completed a cattle drive worth tens of thousands of Pesos and are heading back to deliver the money to Don Jose. Realizing that Don Jose would welcome the news of their successful transaction, Roy decides to ride ahead to tell him about it. Unfortunately, not long after his departure, some bandits, having been tipped off about the money by Don Jose's foreman "Sujarno" (Jack La Rue), appear out of nowhere and proceed to attack the convoy. Although Carlos is wounded in the attack, he manages to escape and returns to his father's ranch to report what has just happened. As it so happens, Sujarno is also there and uses the fact that the bandits were white to accuse Roy of instigating the attack. Unable to convince Don Jose otherwise, Roy is ordered off the ranch and to never set foot on Don Jose's land again. But what Sujarno doesn't realize is that Roy isn't the type who let this matter slide and he is determined to get to the bottom of things regardless of how long it will take. Now, rather than reveal any more, I will just say that this was an okay Western for the most part with some decent action and a few musical numbers thrown in for good effect as well. It does, however, include some stereotypes which I didn't particularly care for which may also offend some viewers. Personally, I consider it a product of the times and I try to disregard comments of this nature when possible. But that's just me and I respect the fact that others may not be so inclined. In any case, while I don't consider this to be a great Western by any means, I suppose it managed to adequately fill the time in question (about 57 minutes) and I have rated it accordingly. Average.

In Old Caliente operates under the paradigm that persons of mixed racial origins are not to be generally trusted. Many a remark is passed about villain Jack LaRue and that he is what he is as a result of his parentage.

LaRue is the villain in this Roy Rogers western and while he courts Katharine DeMille daughter of Spanish landowner Frank Puglia in the early days of California statehood, LaRue is also acting as an inside man for a gang of outlaws headed by perennial western villain Harry Woods.

Roy works for the Don and he's busy courting Lynne Roberts who came west in a wagon train guided by Gabby Hayes whom she calls Uncle Gabby. LaRue murders Puglia and pins the blame on Roy and Gabby. But we know that in the end the truth will be revealed.

One thing I did like about this western was the manner in which Roy was paid for the Don's cattle on completion of the cattle drive in this film. The reason for the payment in the unusual form it takes was to foil the outlaws. It works too, I can't say more, you have to see it to believe it.

Other than the racist premise which seems to underline In Old Caliente the film is an enjoyable Roy Rogers western.

Roy works for an old-blood Spanish rancher in the early days of California's entry into the Union. He's fired when he takes the side of George "Gabby" Hayes and other settlers, when they're falsely accused of robbing a shipment of the Spaniard's gold, a robbery that's really the brainchild of the rancher's evil gringo-hating foreman.

A thoroughly ordinary Roy Rogers adventure, there isn't enough of the good stuff to make this very memorable. There's a few decent action scenes, but little twists, suspense, or humor. The songs are okay though.

Jack La Rue is a good villain, but Roy's love interest is rather bland and the usually animated Gabby Hayes is a bit more subdued and thus less interesting this time around.

I'd recommend this only to hardcore Rogers fans.

In Old Caliente (1939)

*** (out of 4)

Good "B" Western has Roy Rogers going to work for a rich, Spanish landowner (Frank Puglia) but when he's killed by Sujarno (Jack LaRue), it's Roy and Gabby that's accused of it. With the help of Gabby's granddaughter (Lynne Roberts) they must try and find a way to prove their innocence while bringing down the bad guy. IN OLD CALIENTE is pretty much what you'd expect from a film like this and fans of the genre should have a good time with it. It gives us some nice action, quick pacing, some nice songs and the story itself is fairly interesting. The story is set before the battle between the states and shows a time when white settlers were heading West and trying to get their part of the land and riches. I thought this was used to good effect as well as all the messages going on in regards to the Spanish owners. As you'd expect, the cast are in fine form with Rogers leading the way. He has no problems playing the cool, laid back good guy and there's no doubt that the actor could do this in his sleep. George 'Gabby' Hayes is also in fine form with his comic touches and especially in some scenes involving the family dog. The sequence with the earthquake is quite funny. Roberts makes a good love interest for Roy and LaRue does his very best as the hissing villain. The film also offers up some pretty good action scenes scattered throughout including the ending, which takes place in the ocean. If you're not a fan of these type of movies then it's doubtful this one will make you change your opinion but fans of the genre should get a kick out of it and there's also a duet between Rogers and Gabby, which is priceless.