Bad Man of Deadwood

Better than usual Roy Rogers film, from the refreshingly different pre-Dale days, when Roy's films had plots with a few musical numbers added, instead of being musical reviews with a few plot elements added. You won't feel insulted watching this. And, if you are a B-western fan, you'll enjoy the familiar faces in the fine supporting cast.

Roy Rogers, George "Gabby" Hayes, and Sally Payne are members of "Professor Blackstone's Medicine Show". Their offering of tuneful entertainment and elixir receives a poor reception in the town of Deadwood, led by Bad Man Hal Taliaferro (as Ripper). They decide to stick around and extinguish the "Bad Man of Deadwood" and his wicked gang.

The Rogers/Hayes/Payne trio (plus cute pet) are a treat as "Medicine" show people. This is an above average, concise Rogers western. Carol Adams (as reporter Linda Barrett) is a good romantic interest for Mr. Rogers; though, they don't flirt enough. It's great to see silent star Monte Blue and weasely Jay Novello among the fine supporting players. It's all lower cost level movie stuff, but ever so pleasant.

***** Bad Man of Deadwood (1941) Joseph Kane ~ Roy Rogers, George 'Gabby' Hayes, Carol Adams

It wouldn't be a western wthout Roy Rogers and/or Gabby Hayes, and they are both here. Hayes runs a snake oil and singalong side show, but gets run out of town by the local hoods. Bill Brady, one of his group is a sharp shot (Roy ), and that will come in handy later. Roy Acuff, Monty Blue, and Yak Canutt are in here as well. Everyone who has been mistreated or run out of town is gathering up and working together to fight back. When one of the thugs tries to get Brady, we see how corrupt the legal system is here in Deadwood. Carol Adams and Sally Payne co-star. It's way out of copyright, so in some parts,the sound and picture quality are turrible, turrible. When Gabby is robbed, the crew must come up with a plan to try to get his money back. Chasing, shooting. more chasing, more shooting. a very typical western. Story by James Webb, who will win the oscar for How the West was Won. They do pack a lot into this shortie from Republic Pictures. Filmed in the hills north of LA. Directed by Joe Kane, king of the westerns. worked with John Wayne, Roy Rogers, Gene Autry. Pretty good. showing on Film Detective Channel.

All you need to know: If you have to pick a single movie to introduce someone to B westerns, Bad Man of Deadwood is a good choice.

Bad Man of Deadwood starts off with Roy, Gabby, and the always likable Sally Payne putting on a show with Roy singing a song. They meet the bad guys soon into the story and Roy is shooting it out with the bad guys for the rest of the movie in one gun fight after another. Each shootout fits into the story. Nothing is wasted.

Roy Rogers was a big star, and his movies got extra attention. Bad Man of Deadwood has the look of the perfect cowboy movie in the way scenes are set up and edited together. This one never slows down, hits a lull, or has any filler.

Roy Rogers, Gabby Hayes, and Gabby's daughter Sally Payne roll up in their medicine show to Deadwood. But Deadwood doesn't want any independent merchants, thanks to the protection racket run by Henry Brandon. With the help of Judge Herbert Rawlinson and Carol Adams, they break into the bank and take a look at the records to discover where all the money is going. But Brandon has a few tricks up his sleeves, and plenty of henchmen.

I didn't enjoy this particular Roy Rogers movie, although that may be due to the poor condition of the print and the removal of three songs. IMDb trivia indicates there was no copyright renewal, which often leads to poor prints circulating. While it's certainly superior to most of the B westerns of the era, in this form it's no pleasure to watch.