Reviews (2)

Above average Roy Rogers, below average DVD transfer . . .
. . . but if you pay under [dollar amount] for a DVD, you can't really complain. Unfortunately, all of Roy's movies will probably be shuffled off to DVD with just as little care. The sound crackles sometimes, and some of Dale's delightful solos are a bit distorted; the picture is fuzzier sometimes than others (even "jumps" once, as though it were a tape), and you have to turn the volume up pretty high compared to typical DVD.

Though the quality leaves at least as much to be desired as one would expect considering the price, "Yellow Rose of Texas" is above average Roy Rogers fare. Included are the classic framed man with a beautiful daughter (Dale, of course), Roy's undercover identity as insurance agent, a stunt with Trigger to save a boy in a runaway wagon, a multi-fisted fight featuring the Sons of the Pioneers (minus Pat Brady, since this is 1944), the classic shot of black "blood" dripping through two ceiling boards to give away the winged fugitive (at a rate that says he must have hit an artery and is in serious need of a transfusion!), and lots more great nostalgia inducers. One number by the Sons of the Pioneers, "Timber," is musically even better than usual. It's also interesting to see Dale Evans before that "Queen of the West" persona, which she was originally so against, was firmly established; you'll hear her sing and see her pout those pretty lips, but she won't be riding a horse. (This is partially due, of course, to the fact that much of this setting has to do with riverboats and shows rather than ranches and the frontier.) Even her hair is different than the typical "Cowgirl Dale" look that we fans take for granted.

All in all, if you want to see Roy and Dale in restored glory, don't bother with the Alpha Video releases. But if you want to see them on DVD at all, you may have to settle for these, and "Yellow Rose of Texas" is a perfect place to start.

Good sing-along title song.
Roy Rogers portrays a singing cowboy insurance investigator on a showboat. I know it sounds too weird, but just go with it. Life will be easier. Five years ago Dale Evans' father was framed for an express robbery, and he is still on the run. Roy and the sheriff are both hot on Dad's trail while the real crooks make more mischief. This is a lesser effort by RR and crew. This is one of those "modern" Westerns that feature autos as well as horses. From the complaint department, the emphasis on elaborate song-and-dance numbers detracts from the B Western fun. There is some blazing six-gun action, but not enough to give one time to use up an entire roll of caps. It's always good to see Bob Nolan and The Sons of the Pioneers. Gabby Hayes is not in this one. This movie is of moderate interest to staunch RR fans and those who relish the nostalgia of Saturday matinees. Remember the days when every kid on the block wanted to be a cowboy? From that perspective, viewing and ownership is of value. ;-) ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Fun
After watching the not so good Song of Arizona I was confused about Roy Rogers following. This movie has made it clear to me. This was Dale Evans first time with Roy in a film. But she's more of a supporting character. The main female star in this movie is Mary Lee which was all right with me. Mary was a spunky teenager with a beautiful voice. She looks so pretty here and steals the show. The plot Roy Rogers and his friend help Mary find some gold that her dead uncle hid. For a while Dale is even a villian!

Great Classic Western!!
In this 1944 movie starring Roy Rogers and Dale Evans is Dales 1st with Roy portraying Isobel Martinez.Her cousin has left her a gold mine and Roy helps foil an attempt to seize it.This Movie is a great classic western!! ... Read more

Reviews (2)

good western
Roy Rogers realizes before everyone else does that Stuart Hamblen is not the man people make him out to be. It isn't before long that his theory turns out to be right. Stuart Hamblen and his gang have signed up to the Confederate army but their fight is not ethical. They're louting and killing the people who went to the Union side. It's Roy Rogers and Gabby Hayes duty to stop it. This is a more dramatic effort than the usual Rogers vehicle. Stuart Hamblen is great as the cold bad guy. Off the subject I liked his album Hymns. The leading girl in this is a lot like the one in The Old Corral, a proper girl taking vocal lessons. More like 2.5.

Roy Rogers: Hero in Gray
Classic action B Western with Roy playing a Confederate Officer at the outset of the Southern War for Independence who is trying to track down a murderous renegade who is fighing the war and innocent civilians for his own gain. The villain is loosely based on William Quantrill.

Great Shootouts, horse chases and fun. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Gene Autry western introducing Leonard Sly (Roy Rogers)
This is one of my favorites to watch over and over. Gene plays a local sheriff who arrests the Okeff brothers for robbing a bus. Many people I know point to this movie as Gene giving Roy Rogers his start. Roy is listed as Leonard Sly, his real name. He appears with Bob Nolan, the song writer for the Sons of The Pioneers, and the rest of the group as the O'keff brothers. The real plot involves Eastern crooks that are looking for a girl who witnessed a shooting. It is a must have for a Roy Rogers or Gene Autry collector. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Gene Autry western introducing Leonard Sly (Roy Rogers)
This is one of my favorites to watch over and over. Gene plays a local sheriff who arrests the Okeff brothers for robbing a bus. Many people I know point to this movie as Gene giving Roy Rogers his start. Roy is listed as Leonard Sly, his real name. He appears with Bob Nolan, the song writer for the Sons of The Pioneers, and the rest of the group as the O'keff brothers. The real plot involves Eastern crooks that are looking for a girl who witnessed a shooting. It is a must have for a Roy Rogers or Gene Autry collector. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Still Public Cowboy #1
In this movie, Gene Autry plays Deputy to William Farnum. The show is about a meat packing company who uses trucks, short wave radios and airplanes to rustle cattle. It seems that with all the modern technology, an old fashioned sheriff has a hard time catching these rustlers and a Detective agency from the East is called in, but then thanks to his loyal deputies Gene Autry and Frog Millhouse, the sheriff's department succeeds in capturing the cattle rustlers. This movie has good music, a love story, great comedy from Smiley Burnette and plenty of action. All in all, a great western in the unique style of most Autry Westerns. A Western with automobiles, airplanes and plenty of modern know how. Even though a early movie in the career of Autry, it shows a star at his best!! Highly recommended by this Autry collector, because Gene Autry was considered a Public Cowboy #1 on screen and off, from the beginning of his career to the day he left us on October 3rd, 1998!!

Bad News for Bad Men!
Deputy Gene Autry rides to the rescue when modern rustlers use airplanes, short wave radios, and refrigerator trucks to ply their trade. Cowboys and 1937 technology result in an ersatz era that only exists in Hollywood fiction. Occasional chuckles are a side effect. The leading citizens consider Gene's friend and mentor, old Sheriff Doniphan, outdated. They hire a team of modern detectives. Hot on the trail, the detectives' car is stuck in a stream, and their teargas grenades explode accidentally. Gene and his cowboy pals ride through a teargas fog to bypass this obstacle in pursuit of the crooks. Surrealism abounds. Gene does a fair amount of singing, but lengthy musical numbers are thankfully absent. As comic sidekicks go, Smiley Burnette leaves one yearning for Gabby Hayes. The story includes cliff-hanging action and light humor. The outbursts of violence are bloodless enough to be "G" rated. B movie meister, Joseph Kane, directed this little flick. Nobody made Westerns like Republic. Great Saturday matinee fun. ;-) ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Gene Autry western introducing Leonard Sly (Roy Rogers)
This is one of my favorites to watch over and over. Gene plays a local sheriff who arrests the Okeff brothers for robbing a bus. Many people I know point to this movie as Gene giving Roy Rogers his start. Roy is listed as Leonard Sly, his real name. He appears with Bob Nolan, the song writer for the Sons of The Pioneers, and the rest of the group as the O'keff brothers. The real plot involves Eastern crooks that are looking for a girl who witnessed a shooting. It is a must have for a Roy Rogers or Gene Autry collector. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Interesting as a cultural history of the 1930's
A Great Depression morality tale, wherein the outlaws are really good boys who love their mother, and the capitalists and banker are really black-hearted crooks who prey on the innocent. I'd give it one star for its sheer tedium but a very youthful Roy and Trigger look terrific and who doesn't like Gabby Hayes? As usual in these old oaters, the horseriding is spectacular. Roy has one love song, while playing the pump organ. The movie inspired me to look up the history of the James gang to find out what they were actually like. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

This is Roy Rodgers first starring role
This is the first Movie that Leonard Sly starred in as Roy Rogers and rode Trigger. It is a must have for a RR fan and collector. It Premeried in my Hometown Dallas, Texas, 1939. They say Gene Autry did not show up for this, or possibly another, movie at Republic Pictures so Roy was promoted from a member of the Sons of The Pioneers and a bit actor to Star, to give Gene some competition. It didn't bother Gene much, he still made more pictures and recorded more songs that Roy. Obviously I am a fan of them both. Some say Gene was going into the army at this time and flying supply planes. Roy appeare in many of Gene's films previous to this movie. ... Read more