Idaho (1943) User Reviews

Above average.

[planktonrules · 6/10 · 14 March 2013]

The problem with watching Roy Rogers films is that most of them were chopped to pieces in the 1950s so they could be shoved into TV time slots. And, in many cases there are both the shortened and the full-length versions floating around out there to watch. In my case, I saw the expurgated 52 minute version. While I have no idea if the longer one is better, the shortened one played well and didn't seem like the story had been hacked to pieces.

This film stars Roy and Smiley Burnett as his sidekick--no Gabby or Dale in this one. The story is about Judge Gray--a tough man who enforces the law but has a secret--he was once in prison himself! When some bandits learn who he is as well as some gamblers, they try to blackmail him into helping them. But Gray is a swell fellow now--and calls their bluff. Not surprisingly, the set out to ruin him and it's up to Roy and Smiley to help him out of this predicament and restore law and order and niceness to the west.

Because this was the shortened version, the film's pacing is not hindered by as many songs as you might find in the average Roy Rogers flick. Plus, Smiley's songs are usually rather enjoyable and the action and plot are above average. Enjoyable fluff.

"Once a thief, always a thief!"

[weezeralfalfa · 7/10 · 24 March 2019]

I was fortunate to see the uncut version displayed at YouTube. The central character of this tale is Judge Grey((Harry Shannon). He will soon be in hot water because of his conflict with 3 people. One is Belle Bonner(Ona Munson), who runs a gambling saloon in town(Canyon City). Gray is prepared to recommend to the city council that her establishment be declared illegal. Also, Grey's former partners in crime, Spike Madagan, and Duke Springer, happen to drop by and ask him for protection from their pursuers, which he refuses to do. Spike and Duke tell Belle that Grey, long ago, was their partner in crime. They can hold this over him to get what they want. Surprisingly, Grey tells them to go ahead and tell the press, if they are to be believed. He still won't do their bidding. Back, 20-30 years ago, during his criminal career, and while he was in prison, Grey was known as Tom Allison. His former partners also know that he was known for leaving an apologetic note at the scene of his crimes. Thus, they decide to rob the local bank, and leave such a note, signed T.A.. So, who is T.A.?, the press wants to know. An anonymous 'old-timer' writes the paper explaining what the T. A. probably stands for, and the customary note. Soon, there is a news headline: a $10,000. reward for the capture of Tom Allison. Judge Grey's daughter raises a vigilante group and ride around looking for Allison, until she is told her father is Allison. An old prison photo crops up, and the resemblance between Allison and Judge Grey is noted. Soon, the local newspaper trumpets that Allison is Grey, and that he has reverted to his criminal personality, and is being charged with robbery and the murder of a bystander."Once a thief, always a thief", shouts one. After ranch hand Smiley Burnette(Frog), tells Spike and Duke about an $80,000. shipment by truck the next day, the 2 decide on a heist, again attaching a note by A.T. nearby........I will leave you to discover the further troubles and eventual triumph of Judge Grey and friends(including Roy), except to say that Roy, on Trigger, has an unusual trick to stop Spike and Duke in their speeding car. I won't say what it is, except that it was very dangerous, requiring perfect timing to avoid serious injury to Roy........Terry Grey is the teacher at the school for wayward boys, sponsored by her father. All the boys, of roughly the same age, are members of Bob Mitchell's Boy Choir, who are featured in several of the songs, including the traditional "Holy, Holy, Holy", "Home on the Range", and "Get Along Little Dogies", and even take part in the drama occasionally. The Sons of the Pioneers dominate in singing the novel songs "Idaho", "Don Juan", "Lone Buckaroo", and "Stop!".........There is a running gag between Roy and Bob Nolan about which one is going to marry the beautiful Terry. She keeps turning them down until she gives in at the end.........Smiley Burnette attempts to take the place of Gabby Hayes' role as a comical older associate of Roy's, with only partial success. He's characterized as more brainless, and illiterate....... See at YouTube

Roy Rogers vs. Belle Watling

[bkoganbing · 7/10 · 29 April 2011]

Idaho is your typical Roy Rogers western with the interesting exception that the chief villain is a woman, not normal for one of Roy's vehicles or in fact for B westerns at the time which were aimed at the kiddie trade. And what a villain we have here, none other than Ona Munson who was Belle Watling in Gone With The Wind.

The citizens of the Idaho town where Munson has an establishment probably not unlike the one she had in Atlanta in Gone With The Wind are being aroused by Judge Harry Shannon to clean out her place as a breeder of vice and corruption. The judge is a moral sort, he even runs a boys ranch for wayward youth and the residents are played by the Robert Mitchell Boys Choir.

But the judge also has a past as a notorious western bank robber from years ago. A couple of his old cronies look him up to gain a hideout and Shannon tells Arthur Hohl and Dick Purcell where to go. But Shannon has not told his daughter Virginia Grey about her father's past. Therein lies his weakness.

And pretty soon Munson is joining forces with Hohl and Purcell to bring the judge into disrepute and ruin. It will be up to state ranger Roy Rogers to set everything right and of course win Virginia Grey for himself.

Idaho is a good western for Roy Rogers containing all the things his young fans would have liked back in the day including a couple of good songs. But the presence of Ona Munson who made all too few films in her short life really makes this one of Roy's better western features. B movie cowboy heroes don't often come up against bad women and Ona lends a little something not usually seen in these kinds of films, sex.

Standard Roy Rogers Feature, Satisfactory Light Entertainment

[Snow Leopard · 9 July 2001]

"Idaho" has all of the characteristics that one expects in a Roy Rogers feature, and it works pretty well as light entertainment. Roy takes on some rather inept villains, while trying to win the girl, and there is a little singing, some comic relief (this time from Smiley Burnette), and some very short scenic shots meant to suggest the hills of Idaho.

The story concerns a respected judge who is trying to clean up a saloon run by the notorious Belle Bonner. Belle has discovered some secrets about the judge's past, and she has her brutish accomplices try to frame the judge for some of their own crimes. Deputy Roy trusts the judge, but his boss does not, setting up a fast-paced if mostly predictable story.

This is very much a normal Roy Rogers film, decent light entertainment without any surprises.

"You get the picture Judge? You're gonna hold up a payroll truck".

[classicsoncall · 6/10 · 10 October 2010]

Canyon City, Idaho is the setting for this Roy Rogers vehicle. At some point I'll be tempted to investigate how many states Roy and his counterpart Gene Autry found themselves in as part of their adventures. In this one, Roy's a deputy State Ranger to boss Bob Stevens (Onslow Stevens), who after a while go head to head when it's learned the respected town judge is a former bank robber. Roy attempts to prove Judge Grey (Harry Shannon) is being framed for a stagecoach job while being blackmailed to keep his identity secret.

Roy and Ranger Bob have a gimmick going between them over how many times each is turned down for marriage by pretty Terry Grey (Virginia Grey), daughter of the judge. For her part, Terry's profile marks a stunning resemblance to that of Drew Barrymore which I found to be uncanny. No need to bet who wins out by the end of the picture between Roy and Bob.

Smiley Burnette's on hand for Roy's comedy relief here; not so much a sidekick as a character written into the story for some fun and a few musical numbers. There's also Pat Brady with the Sons of the Pioneers, who's given a couple spots to solo with the group, even though he's not credited. He strums a mean bass violin and has a decent voice, though like Smiley's Frog character, he's there for some light amusement.

What kept me distracted whenever he appeared on screen was Roy's horse Trigger. I'm sure I've never seen it before, so that's why I mention it, but for some odd reason, part of Trigger's mane was lopped over his forehead and kept in place by the bridle. It seemed distracting to Trigger too, because he looked like he kept trying to brush it out of the way.

Framed

[StrictlyConfidential · 6/10 · 8 September 2021]

"Idaho" was originally released back in 1943.

Anyway - As the story goes - A respected judge in a Western town looks to clean up the crime found in the area, much of it caused by a gang headed by a female gambling operation owner. After meeting up with some of the judge's former associates, embarrassing things from his past come up to cause him trouble.

Can Rogers and Ole Frog save the Judge?

[hines-2000 · 10/10 · 11 January 2022]

Judge John Grey (Harry Shannon) keeps his past as an ex-con a secrete until Dick Purcell and Arthur Hohl spoil the party. Belle Bonner (One Munson) now has some leverage on the judge who wants to shut her gambling hall down. Roy Rogers and Ole Frog (Smiley Burnette) are caught in the crossfire. Rogers is also caught between State Ranger Bob Stevens (Onslow Stevens) and the woman they both love, the judge's daughter Virginia Grey. The great singing is not only provided by Rogers but also by Bob Nolan, Sons of the Pioneers and The Robert Mitchell Boy Choir. Although he didn't get much face time, old time cowboy and stuntman Hal Taliaferro is Bonner's henchman. Top western director Joseph Kane delivers another good one for Republic.

Great song

[McVouty · 4 March 2003]

The song "Idaho" reportedly was written for this movie. The composer was the late Jesse Stone, who later wrote "Shake, Rattle and Roll." Stone also wrote using the name Charles Calhoun. According to Stone's obituary (AP, 1999), "'Idaho' was a big hit for Guy Lombardo, selling three million copies in the mid-1940's. Benny Goodman and Jimmy Dorsey also had hit recordings of the tune." It was also recorded by Gene Autry, June Christy and Bud Powell, among others -- and most recently by Denver saxophonist Keith Oxman.

Good Imaginative Touches, Despite Complex Plot

[dougdoepke · 26 June 2022]

The oater's got some good imaginative touches, like Roy's car-chasing showdown or the big gun-toting posse hidden behind a ridge. No western cliches here.

It's a complex plot set in contemporary times, as Roy tries to win reward money to save a needy boys' ranch. Trouble is bad girl Bonnie also wants the money for her ritzy beer joint, while bad guy Duke robs a bank, leading people to think reformed good guy Judge Grey has done it. Too bad Sheriff Bob is Roy's rival over sweetie Terry's affections though she keeps rejecting both. So Roy's got his work cut out for him, in more ways than one. Plus, you may need a scorecard to keep up.

Anyway, there's lots of good outdoor visuals, along with plenty of hard riding, but few fast guns, and no flying fists. And catch that opening scene with actress Ona Munson as baddie Bonnie. It fairly oozes an evil of cowboy noir, if there were such a thing. Then too, comical sidekick Burnette gets as much solo screentime as hero Roy, which he uses humorously and in a skillful way. Nonetheless, the youthfully handsome Roy shows who's in charge, despite the lesser screentime.

All in all, it's an imaginative oater with fewer genre cliches than usual, so catch it if you can. And, oh yeah, speaking of leading lady Grey as sweetie Terry, I'd sure like to ride off into the sunset with her. Okay, I can dream can't I.