This is one of Roy Rogers' first starring films and one of the earliest where he's billed using this moniker. He'd appeared in a few films in small roles as Leonard Slye (his real name) as well as in a couple as 'Dick Weston'. Because of his age, he's extremely handsome and photogenic--and it's pretty obvious to see why he's now got starring roles.
I was concerned when I began watching this film. That's because I am a history teacher and hate how obscure western characters like Jesse James, The Sundance Kid and Billy the Kid have been turned into heroes--heroes that have NOTHING to do with the actual criminals they purport to be. The last thing I wanted to see was a film that made Billy look like a nice guy--and the film does NOT do that--though, as history records, he was a man who had friends among the homesteaders. It begins with the Kid in a shootout and he viciously kills a guy at close range--and this actor doing this IS Roy Rogers! Roy cannot be a murderer--it's just totally against his upright image. BUT, here is how they do it. After you see the real Billy killed by lawman Pat Garrett, Roy Rogers (playing a character named Roy Rogers!) shows up in the territory and people think he is the Kid. But he's clearly the good guy, Roy.
The people of the territory, however, don't know yet that Billy is dead and a posse captures Roy--thinking he's the outlaw. Garrett, however, comes to his rescue. Now the Sheriff and Garrett both concoct a plan where Roy will pose as Billy. First, they have to have the ersatz Billy 'escape' from jail. Then, Roy will do the good things the Kid once did--protecting the little ranchers from the corrupt bosses trying to push them around for kicks. And, hopefully, they can get some evidence of the bosses violating a federal law--since Garrett is a Marshall and has the authority to arrest them should they break any of these laws.
All in all, one of the more enjoyable Rogers films. I've seen. While I am far from an expert on his films, it was nice having Smiley along for the ride--he had a nice voice and offered some good comic relief. And, the story, which is a bit silly if you think about it, at least does NOT promote the silly wild west images of the anti-hero. Well worth seeing.
By the way, Roy's sidekick, Smiley Burnett, was a frequent sidekick for Gene Autry. Later in life, he was known on TV as one of the conductors of the train on "Petticoat Junction" and "Green Acres". Oddly, of the two who ran the train, Smiley was distinguishable because he smiled a lot less than his partner (Rufe Davis)! And, ironically, the guy who replaced him in the Autry series was Pat Butram--the same guy who played Mr. Haney on the same two TV shows!
I was concerned when I began watching this film. That's because I am a history teacher and hate how obscure western characters like Jesse James, The Sundance Kid and Billy the Kid have been turned into heroes--heroes that have NOTHING to do with the actual criminals they purport to be. The last thing I wanted to see was a film that made Billy look like a nice guy--and the film does NOT do that--though, as history records, he was a man who had friends among the homesteaders. It begins with the Kid in a shootout and he viciously kills a guy at close range--and this actor doing this IS Roy Rogers! Roy cannot be a murderer--it's just totally against his upright image. BUT, here is how they do it. After you see the real Billy killed by lawman Pat Garrett, Roy Rogers (playing a character named Roy Rogers!) shows up in the territory and people think he is the Kid. But he's clearly the good guy, Roy.
The people of the territory, however, don't know yet that Billy is dead and a posse captures Roy--thinking he's the outlaw. Garrett, however, comes to his rescue. Now the Sheriff and Garrett both concoct a plan where Roy will pose as Billy. First, they have to have the ersatz Billy 'escape' from jail. Then, Roy will do the good things the Kid once did--protecting the little ranchers from the corrupt bosses trying to push them around for kicks. And, hopefully, they can get some evidence of the bosses violating a federal law--since Garrett is a Marshall and has the authority to arrest them should they break any of these laws.
All in all, one of the more enjoyable Rogers films. I've seen. While I am far from an expert on his films, it was nice having Smiley along for the ride--he had a nice voice and offered some good comic relief. And, the story, which is a bit silly if you think about it, at least does NOT promote the silly wild west images of the anti-hero. Well worth seeing.
By the way, Roy's sidekick, Smiley Burnett, was a frequent sidekick for Gene Autry. Later in life, he was known on TV as one of the conductors of the train on "Petticoat Junction" and "Green Acres". Oddly, of the two who ran the train, Smiley was distinguishable because he smiled a lot less than his partner (Rufe Davis)! And, ironically, the guy who replaced him in the Autry series was Pat Butram--the same guy who played Mr. Haney on the same two TV shows!