Sob as Estrelas do Oeste

"Under Western Stars" is a pretty easy way to spend a Saturday morning. The story is good, the jokes are funny and the cast is appealing. I even liked the songs. I haven't seen that many of Roy Rogers movies. But because of "Under Western Stars", I'm going to seek some of them out.

This film takes place during a time in American history when dust storms rained havoc upon several states located in the Great Plains and created extreme problems for those ranchers simply trying to make ends meet. So when a privately owned firm by the name of "The Great Western Water & Power Company" comes in and builds a dam that cuts off the only source of water for them, the ranchers--quite naturally--become extremely upset. Unfortunately, rather than listening to their pleas for help, their local congressman "William P. Scully" (Dick Elliott) only pretends to care as he has been in league with the water company from the very start. So with their anger reaching a boiling point the local citizens turn their attention to a young man by the name of "Roy Rogers" (played by himself) who just happens to be the son of their former congressman several years earlier. Needless to say, the thought of losing so much money and power infuriates the owner of the water company named "John Fairbanks" (Guy Usher) who then plots to stop Roy Rogers at every step along the way. Now rather than reveal any more I will just say that this low-budget, singing-cowboy western turned out to be a little better than I expected. Admittedly, the picture quality wasn't that great and the movie itself was rather short (approximately 65 minutes) but that is to be expected from this particular era. Be that as it may, the film had a decent storyline and a couple of catchy tunes along the way which I believe makes up for it to a certain degree and for that reason I have rated it accordingly. Average.

He was the top money-making Western film star in the 1940s and early 1950s. Yet if it weren't for a disgruntled Gene Autry, Leonard Slye would have never been a major movie actor. His major Hollywood debut in April 1938's "Under Western Stars" proved so successful that Slye, otherwise known as Roy Rogers, capitalized on his first lead movie appearance to create a gigantic empire in film, records and television.

Gene Autry discovered his movies for his employer, Republic Pictures, were reaping profits almost ten times what the pictures were costing to produce. Autry felt he was worth a lot more than the studio was paying him. He also was disgruntled by the number of personal appearances Republic was forcing him to make. He went on a personal strike when it came time to appear in his next movie, "Under Western Stars." As member of the Sons of the Pioneers, Slye was seen earlier briefly singing and yodeling in a number of films beginning in 1935. Republic studio executives were so impressed by the looks and voice of Slye they gave him the lead in "Under Western Stars." Slye beat out a number of country singers who were considered for the role of a cowboy who runs for United States Congress on the platform of water rights for the ranchers and farmers living in his district. Republic recognized the name Leonard Slye wasn't exactly suited for an actor, so the studio gave him the Western sounding first name Roy. Linking him to the late Will Rogers, it added Rogers as his last name.

"This is Roy Rogers' first starring role, but you would never know it," notes film reviewer Jessica Pickens. "He does well in the role and is also adorable." "Under Western Stars" was a departure to regular Westerns. Set in the contemporary West where the region is suffering from a severe drought, the film deals with the ranchers' attempts to extract water from a nearly full reservoir. The lake is under control of an East Coast company whose owners refuse to release its precious commodity. Roy sides with the ranchers, and in a contentious election, wins the seat where he makes his case before the United States Congress.

"Under Western Stars" was also horse companion 'Trigger's' first movie under Roy's saddle. The four-year-old Golden Palomino stallion, originally named Golden Cloud, was selected by Rogers specifically for this movie. This wasn't Golden Cloud's first movie appearance: he was Olivia de Havilland's horse in 1938's "The Adventures of Robin Hood." When Roy first rode Golden Cloud, he loved how the horse reacted quickly to his reins. "He could turn on a dime and give you some change" Roy said fondly, buying him for $2,500, and renamed him Trigger.

As a son of a shoe factory worker, Roy Rogers was born in Cincinnati and lived in a tenement apartment later torn down to make way for Riverfront Stadium. Rogers humorously noted he was born where second base stood. His family relocated to Lucasville, Ohio, where he learned to yodel so he could communicate with his brothers at a distance on the farm where they lived. Roy learned to ride horses there, and as a hobby sang and played guitar. Working odd jobs after dropping out of high school, Rogers moved with his family to southern California where he latched on to several country music groups, including the Sons of the Pioneers. The Sons were so popular they sang on a nationwide syndicated radio show. A recording contract led to several film appearances, where Roy and his singing mates strummed, sang and yodeled.

In "Under the Western Stars," Rogers sang several songs, including the Johnny Marvin tune "Dust," nominated for the Academy Awards' Best Song. Meanwhile Gene Autry's personal strike didn't last long. He and Republic Pictures soon settled their disagreements out of court, and the studio handed its star a more lucrative new contract.

Roy Rogers runs for congress and wins the hand of Carol Hughes on the platform of free water for ranchers. Miss Hughe's father, John Usher, owns the local water rights and the ranches are parched. Naturally there are several songs, comedy provided by Smiley Burnette and Trigger; Trigger is uncredited.

It's a pleasant enough movie for Roy's first starring role. It was originally written for Gene Autry. He, however, was in a contract dispute with Republic Pictures, so they shoved Mr. Rogers into the slot and the movie was successful. Apparently the dispute came fairly far into production. Autry had already co-written one song, "Listen to the Rhythm of the Range", sung by Rogers. Another song, "Dust", a serious ballad, was nominated for Best Song.

It is directed by Joseph Kane, a specialist in the B Western field. Like many efficient directors, he started in the editing booth. He directed movies through 1958, went over to directing TV westerns, and died in 1975, aged 81, the same year his last of almost 120 movies was released.

Even back at 1938, they were already fighting over scarce water. this film was made right in the heart of the dust-bowl years. lack of rain had dried up and removed the top foot of soil. Roy Rogers plays... Roy Rogers. in what seems to be his very first starring role. prior to this he was mostly un-credited or "singer". Roy's family has been in congress for years, and fighting the local water company. When the big shots in DC come out to look over the water rights situation, Roy makes sure they get a taste of how dry things really are. with his sidekick Frog (Smiley Burnette). they made nine films together! and of course, the Maple City singers. his love interest here is Eleanor, played by Carol Hughes. and watch for Dick Elliot...he's Scully, a cronie for "the bad guys". he was also the mayor on andy griffith! it's old west cowboy fun. and some great scenes of the alabama hills, near lone pine. Pretty good stuff. no surprises, but good to see a young Rogers. directed by Joe Kane, as usual. shown on Film Detectives channel!