The Riders of the Purple Sage Movies

Republic Pictures trotted out some of their popular Western stars -- including Roy Rogers, Dale Evans, Trigger, Allan Lane and Don "Red" Barry -- for this backstage musical starring the company's newest singing cowboy, Monte Hale. To top it all off, the studio "inaugurated" Trucolor, which, in reality, was the old Magnacolor system under a more enticing name. Hale played himself, a cowboy seeking employment with "Globe Pictures" along with such other newcomers as little Bobby Blake (later Robert Blake) and his dancing horse Pardner. Monte and the horse are hired to appear in the newest Rod Mason (John Dehner) Western extravaganza, but the self-important Mason grows increasingly jealous of Monte's success and engages in a bit of sabotage. Pardner is slightly injured as a result, and although he is wanted for a series of his own, Monte takes time out to heal the animal's wounds. Mason immediately accuses his rival of not only kidnapping the horse but mistreating him as well. Assisted by Foy Willing and the Riders of the Purple Sage, Monte eventually forces Rod and his henchman Ace (Fred Graham) to admit their culpability in Pardner's injuries, doing so the oldfashioned way -- by brute force. In addition to offering an enticing glimpse behind the scenes at Republic Pictures in its heyday, Out California Way also included such songs as Boogie Woogie Cowboy, Rose of Santa Fe, Little Bronc of Mine, and the title tune. Columnist and occasional screenwriter Jimmy Starr appeared briefly as himself. ~ Hans J. Wollstein, Rovi

Released in Republic Pictures' low-budget Trucolor and filmed at the majestic location of the title, Grand Canyon Trail stars Roy Rogers is a rancher going up against a crooked mining engineer played by fellow Western star Robert Livingston. The latter, Bill Regan, has conned eastern silver magnate J. Malcolm Vanderpool (Charles Coleman) into believing that his Sintown mine is worthless. But Vanderpool's pretty secretary, Carol Martin (Jane Frazee), is suspicious and travels to the ghost town masquerading as the boss' daughter. Rancher Rogers and his hired hands -- Foy Willing & the Riders of the Purple Sage in their first Rogers Western -- have all invested in the mine, courtesy of hayseed blacksmith "Cookie" Bullfincher (Andy Devine), and are doing a bit of digging themselves. The only person with knowledge of the location of the mine, elderly stage driver Ed Carruthers (Emmett Lynn), is kidnapped by the gang and later murdered. Carol, whom Roy accuses of being in cahoots with the villains, is kept captive in a cabin during a rainstorm and when Mike Delsing (Ken Terrell), one of Regan's men, turns up, she mistakenly believes he has come to rescue her and hits Roy over the head with a vase. Realizing her error, Carol later aids Roy and the Riders capture the gang and their leader, Regan, whom she dispatches with a well-appointed rock. In between the action, Roy and the Riders perform "Everything's Going My Way," by Foy Willing and "Grand Canyon Trail" and "Colorado Joe" by Jack Elliott. ~ Hans J. Wollstein, Rovi

The tragic death from a heart attack of veteran supporting player LeRoy Mason marred the filming of this, Monte Hale's first music western of 1948. Returning to the town of Gunnison to investigate the murder of his uncle, Hale is mistaken for a notorious outlaw (Daniel M. Sheridan) and hired as the town's new sheriff by crooked mayor Douglas Evans. Assigned to run the local gold miners off their claims, Hale and sidekick Paul Hurst instead work to trap the real culprits, nasty Tristram Coffin and his gang of cutthroats. Coffin, who also appears disguised as a dimwitted Indian, was in many ways LeRoy Mason's replacement as Republic Pictures' resident Mustachioed Boss Villain. Filmed in the studio's low-budget color system, Trucolor, California Firebrand once again teamed Hale with the singing group Foy Willing & the Riders of the Purple Sage, this time featuring girl singer Alice Tyrrell. According to an unsubstantiated claim, Forrest Tucker dubbed the voice of supporting actor Daniel M. Sheridan. ~ Hans J. Wollstein, Rovi

Bells of Coronado was another of Roy Rogers' always-entertaining Republic "specials," blessed with script and production values that would have done any "A" picture proud. Roy plays an undercover insurance investigator who hopes to ascertain the whereabouts of a vein of gold ore--and to solve the murder of the vein's owner. It follows, as night follows day, that the least-likely suspect is the criminal mastermind. Before Roy finds this out, though, he must contend with the villain's principal henchmen, played by former Our Gang kid Clifton Young. Dale Evans, Pat Brady, and Foy Willing and the Riders of the Purple Sage all do their usual, which is all anyone could ask. Given second billing, just below Roy and just above Dale, is Trigger, "The Smartest Horse in the Movies." ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Roy Rogers goes "PC" in North of the Great Divide. In this one, Roy champions the cause of the Oseka Indians, whose supply of salmon has been cut off. The perpetrator is fish-cannery owner Banning (Roy Barcroft), who has been hogging the salmon for his own business. Not only that, Banning contrives to frame the Oseka chief for murder. No matter how many obstacles are thrown in the good guys' path, Roy Rogers still finds time to sing three tunes with Foy Willing and the Riders of the Purple Sage. The pro-conservation, pro-Native American stance of North of the Great Divide makes this one of the most prescient of Roy Rogers' feature films. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Sunset in the West finds Roy Rogers playing a deputy sheriff in a wide-open town. Roy must contend with a vicious gun-smuggling ring, this time aided and abetted by a bloodhound (not Rogers' "wonder dog" Bullet). The climax, set aboard a moving freight-car festooned with cases of live ammunitions, is one of the more exciting in the entire Rogers canon. Though Penny Edwards plays the nominal heroine, Estelita Rodriguez dominates the proceedings as a peppery South American songstress. Also contributing to the musical portion of the program are Foy Willing and the Riders of the Purple Sage. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Roy Rogers and Trigger, "The Smartest Horse in the Movies," enjoy above-the-title billing in Heart of the Rockies. This time, Rogers (playing himself) is pitted against Andrew Willard, a crooked but very powerful landowner, played with relish by Ralph Morgan. Opposing the construction of a new highway, Willard dispatches his toughest henchmen, headed by Devery (Fred Graham, one of Hollywood's top stunt men), to prevent the road workers from completing their job. When not duking it out with Devery and his pals, Rogers is kept busy trying to rehabilitate a gang of tough street kids. Penny Edwards plays the heroine, who happens to be the niece of the head villain. The musical portion of the program is provided by the golden-throated Mr. Rogers, together with Foy Willing and the Riders of the Purple Sage. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi