In Old Caliente (1939) User Reviews

"So my gringo friends, tomorrow your necks will be considerably longer."

[classicsoncall · 6/10 · 23 November 2004]

As Americans move westward to California in the mid 1800's, the days of the old Spanish Dons and their vast ranchos are numbered. One such landowner is Don Jose Vargas, who bemoans the loss of his way of life.

Roy Rogers is like a second son to Don Jose, but his integrity is threatened when he defends a band of white settlers who are accused of stealing gold earned in the sale of Vargas' cattle by his foreman Sujarto (Jack LaRue). Gabby Hayes is the leader of the settlers, traveling with his niece Jean (Lynne Roberts as Mary Hart). When Roy and Gabby team up to discover the bandits' hideout, they recover the gold only long enough to be framed for the robbery. Brought to Don Jose's estate, they are imprisoned in the Don's cellar, and under grim circumstances, Roy gets Gabby to join him in a duet of "We're Not Coming Out to the Dance Tonight".

Things go from bad to worse when the Don's daughter Rita (Katherine DeMille) insists that her father heed a plea from Gabby's niece to hear Roy's side of the story. As the Don is about to free Roy and Gabby, he's murdered by Sujarto, who frames Roy for the killing. Ultimately though, the good guys escape, with Roy literally chasing Sujarto down into the Pacific Ocean.

In the closing scene, Roy has joined the settlers, and is presumably ready to settle down with the pretty Jean. Gabby's trusted mutt, sporting whiskers resembling Gabby's own, acknowledges his approval by hiding under the covered wagon.

Don't Trust Halfbreeds

[bkoganbing · 5/10 · 3 June 2011]

In Old Caliente operates under the paradigm that persons of mixed racial origins are not to be generally trusted. Many a remark is passed about villain Jack LaRue and that he is what he is as a result of his parentage.

LaRue is the villain in this Roy Rogers western and while he courts Katharine DeMille daughter of Spanish landowner Frank Puglia in the early days of California statehood, LaRue is also acting as an inside man for a gang of outlaws headed by perennial western villain Harry Woods.

Roy works for the Don and he's busy courting Lynne Roberts who came west in a wagon train guided by Gabby Hayes whom she calls Uncle Gabby. LaRue murders Puglia and pins the blame on Roy and Gabby. But we know that in the end the truth will be revealed.

One thing I did like about this western was the manner in which Roy was paid for the Don's cattle on completion of the cattle drive in this film. The reason for the payment in the unusual form it takes was to foil the outlaws. It works too, I can't say more, you have to see it to believe it.

Other than the racist premise which seems to underline In Old Caliente the film is an enjoyable Roy Rogers western.

A solid B Western, only one problem......

[funkyfry · 6/10 · 7 March 2005]

This was one of the better B oaters I've seen in a while. Mostly because the story is engaging, relatively complex, and also relatively relevant in that it deals tangentially with racial prejudice and injustice.

Roy is the trusted friend "almost like a second son" to Don Vargas, a rich California cattle baron who suspects the influx of white people but trusts Roy on a personal level. When Vargas' henchman frames a wagon train for a robbery and Roy sticks with them, Vargas figures that Roy is untrustworthy and disowns him. It's up to Roy and "Gabby" Hayes (always funny and reliable acting-wise) to discover the real thief (who the audience already knows 5 minutes into the film) and expose him.

Many of the elements, including the music and the stunt work, are top of the line for this genre. The only problem I had was that while this movie more or less is designed to send a message of racial tolerance and mutual respect, it features an unabashedly bigoted portrayal of a "half-breed", who is the villain of the film. 2 separate characters in the film say "I should have known better than to trust a half-breed" or words to that effect. The movie clearly went out of its way to single out the "half-breed" and creates the impression that mixed race people are not the moral equals of everyone else. I know this was an old movie, but that just kind of spoiled it for me and I would have to warn just about anybody going into this about it. I would not, for instance, show this to young kids because I just wouldn't want them to get that message. There may be other Roy Rogers films out there with less bigotry, that would be more suitable for kids.

So-So Roy Rogers Vehicle

[FightingWesterner · 5/10 · 5 April 2010]

Roy works for an old-blood Spanish rancher in the early days of California's entry into the Union. He's fired when he takes the side of George "Gabby" Hayes and other settlers, when they're falsely accused of robbing a shipment of the Spaniard's gold, a robbery that's really the brainchild of the rancher's evil gringo-hating foreman.

A thoroughly ordinary Roy Rogers adventure, there isn't enough of the good stuff to make this very memorable. There's a few decent action scenes, but little twists, suspense, or humor. The songs are okay though.

Jack La Rue is a good villain, but Roy's love interest is rather bland and the usually animated Gabby Hayes is a bit more subdued and thus less interesting this time around.

I'd recommend this only to hardcore Rogers fans.

Good Fun with Roy and Gabby

[Michael_Elliott · 16 May 2012]

In Old Caliente (1939)

*** (out of 4)

Good "B" Western has Roy Rogers going to work for a rich, Spanish landowner (Frank Puglia) but when he's killed by Sujarno (Jack LaRue), it's Roy and Gabby that's accused of it. With the help of Gabby's granddaughter (Lynne Roberts) they must try and find a way to prove their innocence while bringing down the bad guy. IN OLD CALIENTE is pretty much what you'd expect from a film like this and fans of the genre should have a good time with it. It gives us some nice action, quick pacing, some nice songs and the story itself is fairly interesting. The story is set before the battle between the states and shows a time when white settlers were heading West and trying to get their part of the land and riches. I thought this was used to good effect as well as all the messages going on in regards to the Spanish owners. As you'd expect, the cast are in fine form with Rogers leading the way. He has no problems playing the cool, laid back good guy and there's no doubt that the actor could do this in his sleep. George 'Gabby' Hayes is also in fine form with his comic touches and especially in some scenes involving the family dog. The sequence with the earthquake is quite funny. Roberts makes a good love interest for Roy and LaRue does his very best as the hissing villain. The film also offers up some pretty good action scenes scattered throughout including the ending, which takes place in the ocean. If you're not a fan of these type of movies then it's doubtful this one will make you change your opinion but fans of the genre should get a kick out of it and there's also a duet between Rogers and Gabby, which is priceless.

Interesting Underpinning To This Early Roy Rogers Vehicle

[boblipton · 6/10 · 1 July 2023]

California is part of the United States and settlers are coming in from the east. But the old Spanish land grant dons in the person of Frank Puglia fear their time is passing. Matters are not improved when a gang of marauders steal his cattle when they drive them to market and his gold when he sends it out. He does not realize that half-breed Jack La Rue has been keeping the bandits up to date on his wealth's movement. The only gringo he trusts is Roy Rogers, but the coming of a new batch of gringos led by Gabby Hayes, and his niece Lynne Roberts looks like it will set off a pwoder keg.

This early Roy Rogers western has some good songs, a mix of Mexican-infused music as wlel as a few more typical western tunes. It also offers a balanced view of the issues of newcomers versus the settled powers than is standard for what people perceive of as typical B westerns of the period. Joe Kane directs ably and cameraman William Nobles shoots the California coast well. With Katherine DeMille, Paul Marion, and Ethel Wales.

Pointless music, OK story.

[13Funbags · 3/10 · 8 May 2017]

This is my first cowboy movie and now I know why I have avoided them for so long.Everyone who was surprised by Brokeback Mountain must have never seen this because all I learned from this is that cowboys are super gay.Even when they aren't eating pudding.The plot isn't half bad but the acting is terrible.It quickly becomes clear why Roy Rogers is known as the singing cowboy and not the acting cowboy.The best thing about this movie is that it starts with a Mexican saying they are going to lose California to the gringos because the Mexicans just sleep all day and party all night.Very refreshing.Without all the music it could have been a decent movie.

A Cowboy Accused of a Crime He Did Not Commit

[Uriah43 · 5/10 · 8 March 2023]

This film essentially begins a few years after California was admitted to the United States with a man named "Gabby Whitaker" (George 'Gabby' Hayes) in the process of leading a small wagon train there from Iowa. Apparently, on the way there, he has spoken a young lady named "Jean" (Lynne Roberts) on more than one occasion about his good friend "Roy Rogers" (Roy Rogers) who works for a wealthy Mexican rancher named "Don Jose Vargas" (Frank Puglia) just a few miles away. The scene then shifts to a small caravan headed by the aforementioned Roy Rogers and his good friend "Carlos Vargas" (Paul Marion) who have just completed a cattle drive worth tens of thousands of Pesos and are heading back to deliver the money to Don Jose. Realizing that Don Jose would welcome the news of their successful transaction, Roy decides to ride ahead to tell him about it. Unfortunately, not long after his departure, some bandits, having been tipped off about the money by Don Jose's foreman "Sujarno" (Jack La Rue), appear out of nowhere and proceed to attack the convoy. Although Carlos is wounded in the attack, he manages to escape and returns to his father's ranch to report what has just happened. As it so happens, Sujarno is also there and uses the fact that the bandits were white to accuse Roy of instigating the attack. Unable to convince Don Jose otherwise, Roy is ordered off the ranch and to never set foot on Don Jose's land again. But what Sujarno doesn't realize is that Roy isn't the type who let this matter slide and he is determined to get to the bottom of things regardless of how long it will take. Now, rather than reveal any more, I will just say that this was an okay Western for the most part with some decent action and a few musical numbers thrown in for good effect as well. It does, however, include some stereotypes which I didn't particularly care for which may also offend some viewers. Personally, I consider it a product of the times and I try to disregard comments of this nature when possible. But that's just me and I respect the fact that others may not be so inclined. In any case, while I don't consider this to be a great Western by any means, I suppose it managed to adequately fill the time in question (about 57 minutes) and I have rated it accordingly. Average.

In Hopes Of A Peaceful Settlement

[StrictlyConfidential · 5/10 · 26 November 2021]

"In Old Caliente" was originally released back in 1939.

Anyway - As the story goes - Sujarto is an informer who is betraying his patron, Don Jose, to a band of outlaws. When Carlos, Don Jose's son, is robbed, Roy and Gabby track down the outlaws but are taken prisoner and blamed for the robbery. To compound their problems, Roy is blamed when Don Jose is murdered by Sujarto. Luckily, Roy convinces Carlos of the true killer's identity, and they set up a plan to bring Sujarto and his cohorts to justice.