Adventures of Gallant Bess

While I wouldn't say that "Adventures of Gallant Bess" is a downright awful movie, if you have seen your share of family westerns from this period (like the ones with Gene Autry and Roy Rogers), it will come across as very familiar. There is one big difference, that this western was filmed in color. However, it was photographed in the cheapo "Cinecolor" process, so that, at least in the print that I watched, the color is not very strong. And the color makes the sequences filmed on soundstages (though supposed to be taking place outdoors) look more phony than if they had been shot in black and white. Anyway, the movie as a whole doesn't provide any surprises. The standard ingredients are here - horse tricks, a love interest, a villain, etc. It does unfold a tad slow, and Cameron Mitchell doesn't have the charisma of Autry or Rogers. Still, I have seen worse horse operas.