TV Classic Westerns: Roy Rogers

Editorial Reviews

Who knew that legendary outlaw William Bonney was a dead-ringer for Roy Rogers -- or vice versa -- yet here they both are and so is Pat Garrett, impersonated by Wade Boteler. Billy and Garrett have their final fatal encounter, but the former is barely cold before Roy and Trigger turn up in New Mexico looking for work. Everyone mistakes Roy for Billy, of course, but, as Marshal Conway (Joseph Crehan) explains, Billy couldn't sing if his life depended on it, so go prove you're not him. Or words to that effect. Roy naturally doesn't waste any time, but happily strums his guitar, and, accompanied by old pal "Frog" Millhouse (Smiley Burnette), warbles "Sing a Little Song About Anything" by Burnette and Eddie Cherkose. That almost settles the matter once and for all and Roy can go on with the pleasant business of romancing Lynne Roberts, who, to her surprise and bewilderment, found herself billed as Mary Hart in this her first of eight films with Rogers. According to Roy, someone higher up at Republic Pictures had suggested that "Rogers & Hart in Billy the Kid Returns" would look just great on a theater marquee. Although not much of an actor this early in his screen career, Roy Rogers is a pleasing personality, and with him at the helm, Billy the Kid Returns makes an easy 58 minutes or so of musical Western entertainment. But don't forget the sight of the usually so stalwart Roy, as Billy the Kid, coolly killing a man whose horse he has just stolen. ~ Hans J. Wollstein, Rovi Well-directed by William Witney and eschewing long musical interludes in favor of action, Grand Canyon Trail remains less of a Roy Rogers tour de force than a vehicle for actress/singer Jane Frazee, a fine comedienne and Roy's best leading lady next to Dale Evans. This is the last of five Westerns for the team and director William Witney allows Frazee to dominate much of the goings-on, which she manages with her tongue firmly planted in cheek. She is much more active than the usual prairie heroine, and it is Jane who gets to dispatch villainous Robert Livingston with a handy rock, thus saving Roy's life. Foy Willing & the Riders of the Purple Sage make their first appearance in a Rogers Western and Grand Canyon Trail also features a rather subdued James Finlayson, of Laurel and Hardy fame, as the sheriff. ~ Hans J. Wollstein, Rovi Anyone curious to learn what the German-accented Wiere Brothers were doing in a Roy Rogers Western should check out Hands Across the Border, restored to its full length after various television trimmings and released on DVD in 1999. Grandly awarded "introductory" billing, although they had appeared in films as far back as 1937, the Wieres take center stage near the end of the film performing the title-tune in drag. Part of Hollywood's ongoing "friendly neighbor" wartime policy towards Latin America, Hands Across the Border is filled with Latin rhythms performed not only by the Wiere Brothers, but also by leading lady Ruth Terry, Spanish-accented Janet Martin, the Guadalajara Trio, the Steve Condos dance team, and, of course, Roy himself. Add to that the presence of Duncan Renaldo, who, although Romanian by birth, typified the Hollywood "Latin lover" for decades, and a Mexican-flavored Busby Berkeley-style chorus line. With all this song and dance, it is a wonder that the scant 73 minute running time also leaves space for a little skullduggery by villainous Onslow Stevens and a Big Race featuring Roy on Trigger. With comedy relief supplied by Guinn "Big Boy" Williams and Mary Treen (when asked if she's afraid of Indians, Treen quips "not if there are cigar stores behind them"), the restored version of Hands Across the Border is a bright and entertaining package of wartime escapism, Republic Pictures style. ~ Hans J. Wollstein, Rovi