On the Old Spanish Trail

Roy Rogers deserved his title of "King of the Cowboys." He could sing western songs better than any of the other singing cowboys with the possible exception of Tex Ritter, plus he was one of the best yodelers around, which few people realized. He also fit the image of a singing cowboy from the old west, even though he was actually from Ohio. His horse, Trigger, was called "The Smartest Horse in the Movies," because he probably was. Roy had a winning personality with a certain magnetism that drew kids to him. He had helped start the Sons of the Pioneers, one of the best vocal groups around, with a top notch songwriter from Canada, Bob Nolan. All these things combined to make a Roy Rogers western a real treat. He later found a partner on and off the screen who could be called "The Queen of the West," the talented and lovely Dale Evans.

All of these things, except Dale is not in the film, should have made "On the Old Spanish Trail" a winner. It also had a competent funny man, Andy Divine, to help out in the humor department. The villain was not Roy Barcroft this go around but rather Charles McGraw who would later star in the film noir classic "Narrow Margin." There are also two beautiful leading ladies rather than one, Jane Frazee and Estelita Rodriguez, who plays somewhat of a spitfire as the Gypsy's (Tito Guizar) jealous girlfriend. And the action sequences, especially the stagecoach chase toward the end, are marvelous. Only Republic could do such a splendid job in 1947.

But there is a problem with "On the Old Spanish Trail" and it is a big one. Republic tried to give the fans not only two leading ladies but also two leading men. Roy is purposely overshadowed in several scenes by Tito Guízar who plays sort of a Zorro type character known as the Gypsy. He is also a singer. Tito had a great voice but it was much too refined and proper for singing cowboy ballads. He possessed a fine operatic voice. Tito's acting was also at times on the hammy side. I gather from all this that Republic was apparently grooming Tito for his own Saturday matinée series. If the viewer can overlook the spotlight being thrust on Tito throughout much of the film, then this Roy Rogers outing should be pleasing for his many fans.

In order to keep The Sons Of The Pioneers' equipment from being repossessed, Roy Rogers, Bob Nolan and the boys attempt to pull off a lucrative joint appearance and claim a reward on a not-very-dangerous outlaw known as The Spanish Gypsy.

A featherweight adventure, there isn't much to recommend this time around. Songs are less than memorable, even Roy's featured song, a duet of "My Adobe Hacienda". Action, suspense and (real) romance are almost non-existent until the finale.

With Dale Evans missing in action, sidekick Andy Devine not given much to do and Trigger spending most of his time grazing, this is recommended only for the most die-hard Rogers fan.

Sad to say that I saw a truncated version of On the Old Spanish Trail, one that must have been edited for television as a previous reviewer mentioned. And it was black and white.

What little I saw convinced me it was a good film with both lots of music and a good plot if you could fill in the blanks.

There was a sequence missing, but alluded to in the film I saw about Andy Devine believing he dreamed he saw the villains trying to break Tito Guizar out of jail. If so it must have been a very funny sequence as only the befuddled Mr. Devine could make it.

Because we had not only Roy Rogers, but Tito Guizar and pinch hitting for Dale, Jane Frazee there was a lot more singing in this than normal. Great for those who like singing cowboys.

I believe Dale might have been on family leave from Republic. She and Roy had only one natural child from their marriage, they adopted two others, and she and Roy both had kids from their previous marriages. (Yes they were married to others, Roy's wife died and Dale was divorced from her first husband). Jane Frazee though is a fine musical performer and fills Dale's cowgirl outfits out just fine. Roy and Dale's child would have been born around the time this and a succeeding film came out.

Best song of the picture is the title tune. Both Rogers and Gene Autry recorded extensively from their films, though Gene had far better success as a recording artist than Roy did.

If you get to see On the Old Spanish Trail, try to see a full length version.

This movie was very corny and fun to watch. I'd never seen a Roy Rogers picture before, but my expectations were not disappointed. The stage chases really seem fast-paced, like a big budget Mummy movie. But really, the stuntmen were very good (with horses). Roy is kind of a dope, but fulfills the classic trusting cowboy a baby boomer would need for a hero. (My dad) Jane Frazee is pretty hot in black and white. But the silver screen was a sexy thing. Tito Guizar's voice is quite beautiful, singing clear melodies that remind me of old, pasty, pre-bugs bunny cartoons and merry old England for some reason. Anyway, it's worth a middle of the night view - and if you're going on your 3rd day of awake, it's entertaining. Dopey happy endings that would make John Wayne's reversable, matching red and blue flannels jealous.

With "The Great Southwestern Tent Show" in town, cowboy king Roy Rogers (as Roy Rogers) learns a featured attraction, his singing "Sons of the Pioneers" pals, have a $10,000 I.O.U. debt due. From sleepwalking constable Andy Devine (as Cookie Bullfincher), Mr. Rogers learns about a convenient $10,000 reward for the capture of a bandit known as "The Gypsy". Rogers wants to capture the Spanish outlaw, and pay off his friends' debt. But, Rogers' target, Tito Guízar (as Rico), may not be the guiltiest gun in the west…

This colorful "cross-over" western for singing cowboys Rogers and Mr. Guízar is better than "The Gay Ranchero" (1948), a similar vehicle. Pretty Dale Evans stand-in Jane Frazee (as Candy Martin) arouses romantic feelings in both men; she has an amusing introductory scene, with Rogers collecting her undergarments from a fallen suitcase - watch as he holds her slip in his teeth! Estelita Rodriguez (as Lola) is memorable. The songs are smooth and forgettable, except for Ms. Rodriguez' lively "Guadalajara". The ending is well staged.

***** On the Old Spanish Trail (1947) William Witney ~ Roy Rogers, Tito Guízar, Estelita Rodriguez