Eyes of Texas

While I did not hate "Eyes of Texas" like Dick-42 did, he did make an excellent point about how wildly illogical this film was at times. Too often I just found myself confused why certain plot elements were tossed into the film and they made my brain hurt!!

Let's talk about the plot first--and then the more illogical stuff. The film is set at a camp for the children of dead WWII soldiers--a rather timely plot idea considering the war had only recently ended. Thad loves the kids and this is his life. However, his lawyer sends him a cable--saying that his own dead son is, in fact, alive! When Thad visits his lady lawyer (an interesting casting decision to make her a woman), she convinces him to sign a blank will form and 'she'll fill in the rest later' so they can include the son in the will. Why would anyone agree to sign a paper like this?! Didn't he KNOW that would mean he would die only minutes later?! And, of course it happens--as she sicks a pack of vicious dogs on him! This is actually kind of cool...and silly.

The evil lawyer's plan is to create a will--giving the camp and all of Thad's money to the son--not just a portion like Thad had requested. Actually, the son really IS dead--so she has a guy who is going to pretend to be the son and collect the money AND toss all the orphans out of the camp! Can Marshall Roy save the day and expose this evil plot?

Okay...here's some of the illogical stuff (apart from someone signing a blank will form):

The locals all decide to beat up Roy and get him dismissed from his job because they think he is trying to toss out the orphans. So, because they love the kids so, they become lawless and a lynch-mob mentality develops. Of course you later learn SOME of these folks were paid by the lawyer to do this--but what about everyone else?! Why would you want to help orphans this way?!

Why did Roy slug Doc (Andy Devine)?! This sure made the angry townsfolk seem reasonable (though this happened AFTER they became angry and kind of crazy). Later, Roy said he did this because he wanted to get fired so he could better investigate what was happening. Huh?! Roy...you HIT Doc! And he's your friend! Why exactly did you hit Doc?! Huh?! What?! Hitting one of the few people in town who LIKED you is an interesting strategy, I must say!

The lawyer hates one of her vicious dogs, Lobo, because he isn't mean enough AND the dog really, really, really hates her. Later, she and her evil henchman steal this dog away from Roy. Several days later, they STILL have the dog and haven't killed it. Yet, earlier in the film they tried several times to kill the dog. Why would they keep the dog once they stole it-especially since they dog wants to kill you?! They wanted it dead, right?!? SO they kidnapped it and kept it alive! Good strategy!

Overall, this is a mildly entertaining but ludicrously confusing Roy Rogers film. Turn off your brain and stop it from questioning the plot and you'll probably have a good time watching it. Otherwise, you might just want to skip this one.

"Eyes of Texas" is more serious than most Roy Rogers movies, with less humor and singing than are found in most of his films, but it's a decent story with some real suspense, and worth watching.

In this one, Roy is a U.S. Marshall who faces a really dangerous opponent, a lawyer who is using violence, deception, and fear in an attempt to take over a family's inheritance, which would also involve shutting down a ranch that is serving as a home for orphaned boys. Roy must risk his life, his job, and his reputation in his attempt to shut down the lawyer's wicked schemes.

The movie also features Andy Devine as the town doctor, who has difficulty deciding whether or not to help Roy out on this one.

The story that follows is mostly convincing and interesting, although with a slightly different feel from many of Roy's movies. There's still plenty of Roy Rogers in it, enough to satisfy any of his fans.

When the owner of a ranch for orphan boys is murdered by trained dogs and his will fraudulently changed to benefit a nephew no one has met, Marshal Roy Rogers attempts to the bottom of the mysterious death, ending up at odds with not just the killers, but the whole community as well.

This is a fairly interesting murder mystery, though the murderers are revealed to the audience immediately. It's kind of rare to see a Saturday matinée western where the main heavy is an old woman! The real question is who the mysterious heir is and why he wants his uncle dead (an easy guess).

There's also a surprising amount of sadistic violence this time around, with Roy getting beaten, dragged behind a horse, and bull-whipped. Meanwhile, the dogs are mauling people and Roy even punches out Cookie Bullfincher!

There're some novel features in this Rogers oater—a "wolf" pack, an old lady mastermind, Devine as a veterinarian, and a home for orphaned boys. Seems an old lady (Bryant) plots to steal inheritance from the boys home, and only US Marshal Rogers stands in her way. In the process, she enlists much of the town, including Devine, to discredit Roy who doesn't help himself by slugging the popular vet. Yes, good guy Roy slugs good guy Devine. Good thing our hero has Trigger and Lobo to help, and, oh yes, a fetching Lynne Roberts who would keep any guy going.

There's some okay flying fists, and fast shooting near the end, while hard riding features the predatory wolf pack. The locations are familiar ones just north of LA, so not much b&w scenery. Nonetheless, the story's an engaging one, along with its novel aspects. I should say in reply to fellow reviewers and as a Front Row geezer that I don't watch these matinees for their logic. They weren't intended as tight story lines. Now if I were watching a polished murder mystery, a very different standard would apply. Anyway, this is a highly entertaining Rogers entry and shouldn't be missed.

I cannot believe that (Dick 47 and Snow Leopard) put their comments on this site blasting this movie. The film " Eyes of Texas " made way back in 1948 is one of the best of the Roy Rogers flicks. There were a few good ones. Several done with Penny Edwards were passable also. This film features Nana Bryant...and she is at her best as the crooked lawyer Hattie Waters. If you watch it again notice how well she attacks her lines. She had some experience on the Broadway stage and it shows here. Nana Bryant is a real serious actress and she is light-years ahead of the rest of the cast. Andy Devine is good as always . The plot was a bit shallow but it was written for a young audience. I think that the film can be appreciated by film historians as one of the best Roy Rogers movies.........John in Louisiana.....