Come on, Rangers!

Although not terribly historically accurate Come On Rangers was a fast moving and entertaining early Roy Rogers film which casts Roy as a member of the Texas Rangers post Reconstruction.

But the Rangers are about to be disbanded and the Governor of Texas at the urging of a State Senator played by Purnell Pratt wants to establish a new Texas state police. In fact Pratt feels so strongly he's going to resign his legislative seat and the perks therein to head the state police.

Pratt's seeing some real lucrative opportunities here for a lovely protection racket where the dirty work is carried out by his henchman Harry Woods and the rest of a nicely organized outlaw band. As a politician, Pratt's a real bottom feeder.

The cavalry is also on the scene, but they're not terribly affective bound up in red tape as it were. But Colonel J. Farrell MacDonald has a lovely daughter in Lynne Roberts who's got both Roy and Lieutenant Bruce MacFarlane panting after her. Roy joins the cavalry, but finds the red tape cramps his style every which way.

Playing the sidekick role is movie veteran Raymond Hatton whose career dates all the way back to the early silent era as does J. Farrell MacDonald.

Come On Rangers is a nice action western with a few Roy Rogers type songs thrown in. A Saturday matinée dream.

Texas has joined the Union and the United States Army, in the former of Cavalry colonel J. Farrell MacDonald comes in to protect the state against Indians. He has the help of his daughter Lynn Roberts and also some soldiers. That being the case, Governor Burr Caruth disbands the Texas Rangers. Rangers Captain Roy Rogers has already met Miss Lynne, so he joins the army. But the army is laden with red tape, so crooked ex-state Senator Purnell Pratt gets the governor to set up a new state police, which Pratt uses as a protection racket. When Rogers' brother is killed in an example rid, Rogers goes AWOL to seek justice.

In my other reviews of Roy Rogers movies, I've commented on the franchise's commitments to tell stories outside the usual B Western parameters, its professional casts, and efficient and interesting direction by Joseph Kane and camerawork, here by Jack Marta. I'd like to say something new and interesting, but I haven't got much. Rogers sings four songs, three of them new and the fourth the old standard "Tenting Tonight On The Old Camp Ground." Miss Roberts is, for some reason, in her phase of being credited as "Mary Hart", and while there's no real comic sidekick, Raymond Hatton as another ex-Ranger who's now a scout for the cavalry has some amusing lines and a twinkle in his eye as he delivers them dead pan. That will have to do.

Immediately after being admitted into the Union, the original Texas Rangers disband, leaving an out of work Roy Rogers to join the United States Cavalry. Without the Rangers, violence and lawlessness heat up. Roy's brother ends up being killed by a new and crooked, protection-selling "state patrol", forcing him to desert his post in order to avenge the murder.

Come On, Rangers is better produced than many of Rogers' other early features. The photography, locations, and direction are all pretty good, while the story is fast-paced and exciting, with a few good songs to smooth over the rough spots.

Roy's sidekick this time around is Raymond Hatton, who's pretty interesting in that he's not so much a comic foil as he is just an odd, leathery, squinty-eyed codger.

"Come on Rangers" is an odd sort of film--mostly because Roy behaves a bit uncharacteristically. Perhaps this is because it's an early Roy Rogers film. It begins with the Texas Rangers being disbanded around the time Texas became a state. I checked--the organization was disbanded, at least for the most part, at that time. However, it was soon reorganized and begun anew. This film is set during this interval in between. Roy wants to help protect the public, so he joins the US Cavalry. The problem is that Roy is not one to take orders and although a very accomplished cavalry man, he insists on investigating a recent spate of crimes all on his lonesome. To do so, he even goes AWOL!! This is hardly the Roy we usually love.

While he is clearly a good guy, he's also a bit undisciplined and hot-headed! While the plot is a tad unusual for one of Rogers' films, it's better than his usual films. Much of this is because there's much less singing and Rogers isn't playing a caricature of himself like he so often did in later films. Worth watching.

By the way, although the film was set in the mid-late 1840s, the costumes and weapons were clearly from the late 19th century. For instance, they all use revolvers that fires bullets--very modern bullets. Colt .45s were often in the film--a fun not invented until the 1870s. For this reason, I'm knocking it from a 7 to a 6. The history teacher in me demands this!

Texas has just become a state after a decade as the Lone Star Republic. The United States Cavalry is sent to replace the famed Texas Rangers. Roy and the other Rangers, including his brother, Ken (Lane Chandler), and sidekick, Jeff (Raymond Hatton), receive the news to disband and go home. Instead, Roy and Jeff join the cavalry commanded by Colonel Forbes (J. Farrell MacDonald) who just happens to have a beautiful daughter, Janice (Lynne Roberts, aka Mary Hart), who captures Roy's heart. She falls for him and romance blooms.

As predicted by Roy and the Rangers, once disbanded the outlaws move in to take over, this time assuming the role of peace keepers for a price. Organized by an ex-Senator (Purnell Pratt), the so-called peace keepers, or State Patrol, are led by a notorious Missouri hooligan, Morgan Burke (Harry Wood). Those that won't pay for protection are terrorized, intimidated, and often murdered. When Roy's brother refuses to pay and resists, he is killed. When Roy learns of his brother's fate, he goes AWOL to set things straight.

This is an early Roy Rogers film with more action and fewer songs than later when some of his movies were not dissimilar to the Hollywood musicals of the day. Nineteen thirty eight was the year Roy changed his stage name from Dick Weston to Roy Rogers and became a cowboy star. He had used other monikers earlier, including his birth name of Leonard Slye when singing with the Sons of the Pioneers. Roy and wife, Dale Evans, had a show on the Nashville Channel in the 80's where they would reminisce about the old days and show a few of their movies. Roy said he came up with his name because he liked the sound of "Roy" and one of his heroes was Will Rogers. So that is where "Rogers" originated.

Roy was a much better singer than Gene Autry, who was the number one cowboy at the time. Gene was a better songwriter and arranger. Roy was the best of the singing cowboys other than Tex Ritter, who had a wider voice range and a more authentic western sound. Roy did some song writing but Dale was one of the best songwriters around, although she mainly composed songs of a religious nature. In "Come On, Rangers," Roy sings three songs including the Civil War ballad, "Tenting Tonight." The Sons of the Pioneers are missing. Otherwise, the music is worthwhile.

One problem is the movie's time-line. The Texas Rangers didn't exist in Texas until after the Civil War. The feel and look of "Come On, Rangers" is post-Civil War, including the music. The story would have been better served if no mention had been made at the first concerning Texas statehood. If the viewer ignores that historical discrepancy, then the rest makes sense.

Gabby Hayes was not yet Roy's sidekick and he is sorely missed. Raymond Hatton was a top-notch actor for B westerns, but his comedy often seemed forced. In "Come On, Rangers," Hatton really has to stretch for laughs.

"Come On, Rangers" is a must for Roy's many fans. Others who like the genre should enjoy this action-packed oater which shows The King of the Cowboys in the early days of his movie stardom.