As a long time Western and Roy Rogers fan, I never thought I'd come across a picture where I could say that Dale Evans looked hot. But just check her out in the opening scene where her character Dorothy Bryant performs the 'Strictly From Dixie' song and dance number - wow! This is the only time I'll say it, and you'll have to forgive me on this point, but from a few different angles, she looked like Britney Spears. But don't take my word for it, you'll just have to check it out.
As for the story, after watching an untold number of 'B' Western flicks, it's always cool to see an element that I haven't come across before. Though the picture utilizes a nasty arch-villain attempting to pull off a classic land grab, the hook here has Miss Bryant selling what she thinks is her run down ranch for a pittance of five thousand dollars to bad guy Ben Bowman (Grant Withers). He gives her a bogus check as money down, then rustles the cattle on the ranch to come up with the rest of the payment! To top it off, the homestead she thinks she inherited is really Gabby (Hayes) Whitaker's place, a ruse attempted by Roy and Gabby to try to keep her from selling in the first place. I guess it's a good thing Gabby didn't take it too personally.
What really had me scratching my head though was that scene where Roy and Gabby wound up in the Coldbrook jail, and made their escape by 'electrocuting' the sheriff. How exactly did that work? No harm done though, that cured the sheriff's arthritis - what?!?!
Needless to say, a story like this couldn't hold muster today, but I guess audiences of the Forties weren't very critical about their entertainment. Throw in a few musical numbers with Roy, Dale, and Bob Nolan with the Sons of the Pioneers, and you could usually count on a quick paced romp in between horse chases and shoot-outs with the bad guys. What you definitely couldn't get away with today was Gabby's attitude toward women, as in his remark to Dale Evans at the train station - "No female's capable of thinking for herself". I wonder what Britney would have to say about that.
As for the story, after watching an untold number of 'B' Western flicks, it's always cool to see an element that I haven't come across before. Though the picture utilizes a nasty arch-villain attempting to pull off a classic land grab, the hook here has Miss Bryant selling what she thinks is her run down ranch for a pittance of five thousand dollars to bad guy Ben Bowman (Grant Withers). He gives her a bogus check as money down, then rustles the cattle on the ranch to come up with the rest of the payment! To top it off, the homestead she thinks she inherited is really Gabby (Hayes) Whitaker's place, a ruse attempted by Roy and Gabby to try to keep her from selling in the first place. I guess it's a good thing Gabby didn't take it too personally.
What really had me scratching my head though was that scene where Roy and Gabby wound up in the Coldbrook jail, and made their escape by 'electrocuting' the sheriff. How exactly did that work? No harm done though, that cured the sheriff's arthritis - what?!?!
Needless to say, a story like this couldn't hold muster today, but I guess audiences of the Forties weren't very critical about their entertainment. Throw in a few musical numbers with Roy, Dale, and Bob Nolan with the Sons of the Pioneers, and you could usually count on a quick paced romp in between horse chases and shoot-outs with the bad guys. What you definitely couldn't get away with today was Gabby's attitude toward women, as in his remark to Dale Evans at the train station - "No female's capable of thinking for herself". I wonder what Britney would have to say about that.