Susanna Pass

If there is such a thing as a ROY ROGERS 'Noir Western' then SUSANNA PASS (1949) is it. Not because it was literally in a dark style because it is a brightly shot in TRUCOLOR, but that its themes were the darkess of any ROGERS film I have ever seen.

The plot features very modern concepts. The exploitation of the Earths natural resources versus their preservation and use for future generations. This time it is OIL against a natural habitat used to raise FISH and provide a experimental research center. Two (2) Brothers are on opposite sides on this matter. MARTIN MASTERS (Robert Emit Keane) wants that 'Black Gold', RUSSELL MASTERS (Lucien Littlefield) aided by KAY 'Doc' PARKER (Dale Evans) nature and research. MARTIN is assisted by escaped convict ROBERTS (Douglas Fowley) with 'Henchmen' VINCE (David Sharpe). Nothing is going to stop these Men including murder. Enter ROY ROGERS and his sidekicks who eventually bring to justice the guilty and preserve the wild. There is more too it then that, so watch the movie.

The film has several interesting features. It is filmed in TRUCOLOR a development of a early two (2) strip color process in competition with TECHNICOLOR. So GREEN is the dominant color. This was used almost exclusively by REPUBLIC PICTURES. The 'Comedy Relief' and singing are kept to a minimum compared to the typical 'Oater' of the time. Dale Evans when not in her work clothes looks very 'chic' is some 'New Look' Dior Fashions. At the end of the picture ROY rides off and 'Doc' PARKER (Dale) goes back to her research. What NO romance, yes, their relationship in this film is strictly platonic, BUMMER!