Posted in Dale Evans, Joe Kane, Republic Pictures, Roy Rogers, William Witney on November 5, 2025| 13 Comments »
Roy Rogers
November 5, 1911 – July 6, 1998
Here’s to the King Of The Cowboys, Mr. Roy Rogers, on what would’ve been his 114th birthday.
The state of his filmography is a bit of a mess, as most fans are well aware. I’ve been slowly making my way through the videos out there, trying to separate the junk from the jewels. My plan is to put together a guide that builds on the tiny thing I put together years ago. Stay tuned.
Posted in 1950, Columbia, Lyle Talbot, Penny Edwards, Republic Pictures, Roy Rogers, Sam Katzman, William Witney on October 26, 2025| 3 Comments »
Raleigh, North Carolina — October 26, 1950. Roy Rogers in Sunset In The West (1950) in Trucolor — and a chapter of Atom Man Vs. Superman. Wow.
Posted in Roy Rogers on December 25, 2024| 8 Comments »
Here’s hoping you’re all having a terrific Christmas, or that your Hanukkah is getting off to a great start.
Thanks for riding the cinematic range with this blog. It means more to me than you’ll ever know.
And, of course, that’s Roy Rogers, the King Of The Cowboys.
Posted in Roy Rogers, Sons Of The Pioneers on November 28, 2024| 1 Comment »
Here are Roy Rogers, The Sons Of The Pioneers and a turkey — ready to sit down and enjoy a Thanksgiving feast. Well, I guess the turkey’s not enjoying it so much. This is from Utah (1945.)
Hope you’ve all got plenty to be thankful. Me, among so many other things, I’m thankful for movies like Utah.
Posted in Film Masters, Joe Kane, Republic Pictures, Roy Rogers, Smiley Burnette on August 23, 2024| 1 Comment »
Film Masters gave me the terrific opportunity to do a commentary for Under Western Stars (1938), Roy Rogers’ first starring film. And they’ve posted it on their YouTube page so you can check it out for free. Just click on the ad up top.
This shows you how lovely their DVD and Blu-Ray of Under Western Stars look. Go get one!
Posted in DVD/Blu-Ray Reviews, Film Masters, Jack Marta, Joe Kane, Republic Pictures, Roy Rogers, Smiley Burnette on July 26, 2024| 3 Comments »
Directed by Joseph Kane
Associate Producer: Sol C. Siegel
Screenplay: Dorrell McGowan, Stuart McGowan & Betty Burbridge
Original Story: Dorrell & Stuart McGowan
Photography: Jack Marta
Film Editor: Lester Orlebeck
Cast: Roy Rogers (Roy Rogers), Smiley Burnette (Frog Millhouse), Carol Hughes (Eleanor Fairbanks), Maple City Four, Guy Usher (John Fairbanks), Tom Chatterton (Congressman Edward H. Marlowe), Kenneth Harlan (Richards), Alden Chase (Tom Andrews), Brandon Beach (Senator Wilson), Earl Dwire (Mayor Biggs), Dick Elliott (William P. Scully)
Joe Kane’s Under Western Stars (1938) is a pretty big deal. It was Roy Rogers’ first film as a star, his first film as Roy Rogers and his first film with Trigger. Plus, it was a huge hit — and landed an Oscar nomination for Best Song. All that’s evidently enough to get it added to the Library Of Congress’ National Film Registry.
For those of us who’ve seen all of Roy’s films (countless times?), it’s a bit of an oddity. It plays much more like a Gene Autry movie — which is exactly what it started out to be — than an early Rogers picture.
For a film with so much going for it, it was a crime that it had been condemned to PD Hell:you’ll find it either looking abysmal or edited down to 54 minutes (an old TV print) — or both! Well, folks, the fine folks at Film Masters have come riding in like the cavalry with a nice-looking, complete DVD and Blu-Ray of Under Western Stars.
It’s easy to recommend the film, which hints at a couple movies to come along later — Mr. Smith Goes To Washington (1939), with its naive young man who enters into politics, and Chinatown (1974) with its backdrop of the fight for water rights in southern California.
We may never see Under Western Stars look any better. Roy’s filmography is a big fat mess, thanks to Republic’s mishandling of its material as they prepared these things for TV. And a big thanks to Film Masters for rescuing this one! Highly, highly recommended!
Posted in Republic Pictures, Roy Rogers, William Witney on May 15, 2024| 14 Comments »
William Witney
(May 15, 1915 – March 17, 2002)
William Witney was born 109 years ago. He was a true innovator in how action makes its way to the movie screen. He was working at Republic Pictures, and while on location for the 1937 serial The Painted Stallion, the director, Ray Taylor, was too drunk to work. Witney took over at just 21.
Watching Busby Berkeley put together one of his famous dance numbers, Witney realized that fight sequences could be choreographed and shot the same way. He under-cranked the camera to speed up the action — merely fast became death-defying. He experimented with the best place to put the camera car when tracking a chase — along the side of the car or stagecoach vs. shooting head-on, with horses charging straight at the camera.
After serving in a Marine combat camera unit in World War II, Witney returned to Republic for his last serial, The Crimson Ghost (1946), then took over the Roy Rogers movies. Dialing up the action, putting less emphasis on the music and bringing in a decidedly darker, more violent tone, Witney breathed new life into Roy’s final films.
William Witney was a genius, and his contribution the cinema has been pathetically under-appreciated.
Posted in DVD/Blu-Ray News, Film Masters, Jack Marta, Joe Kane, Republic Pictures, Roy Rogers, Smiley Burnette on May 13, 2024| 2 Comments »
Directed by Joe Kane
Starring Roy Rogers, Smiley Burnette, Carol Hughes, the Maple City Four
Over at my other blog, we’ve been really excited about what the folks at Film Masters have been up to. In addition to their line of nice restorations packed with all sorts of goodies on Blu-Ray, they’ve kicked off a run of more obscure pictures on DVD. So far, each title has been a significant improvement on anything that’s been available before.
Now they’ve turned their attention to a Western, Roy Rogers’ first film as a Republic star, Under Western Stars (1938). Republic wanted to get their new singing cowboy off to a good start, and this picture really delivers. Roy’s trying to help local farmers get the water they need, winning a spot in Congress along the way. (The film’s story of Southern California water rights in the late 30s would be revisited in 1974’s Chinatown.)
Roy is joined by Smiley Burnette and Carol Hughes. He sings a few songs, accompanied by the Maple City Four. One of them, “Dust,” would be nominated for an Oscar.
Directed by Joe Kane and shot by Jack Marta, you know it’s terrific, even if Roy seems a little uncomfortable in a lead role. Not exactly sure when this will be coming out, but I’m sure it’ll be a quality release. Highly, highly recommended.
Posted in Allan Dwan, Audrey Totter, Ben Cooper, Brian Donlevy, Budd Boetticher, Burt Lancaster, Charlton Heston, Clark Gable, Clint Walker, Dorothy Malone, DVD/Blu-Ray News, Edwin L. Marin, Ernest Borgnine, Fess Parker, Forrest Tucker, Frank Ferguson, Gary Cooper, George Sherman, Glenn Ford, Glenn Strange, Gregory Peck, Hank Worden, James Arness, Joe Kane, Joel McCrea, John Ford, John Sturges, John Wayne, Lydecker Brothers, Margia Dean, Marie Windsor, Maureen O'Hara, Nicholas Ray, Olive Films, Paramount, Paul Fix, Peggie Castle, Raoul Walsh, Republic Pictures, Robert Mitchum, Roy Rogers, Scott Brady, Skip Homeier, Sterling Hayden, William Castle, William Witney, Zachary Scott on August 27, 2023| 11 Comments »
You may remember a recent post about Olive Films shutting down. They put out some great DVDs and Blu-Rays over the years, particularly things from Republic and Paramount. (In fact, I watched their The Night Riders this morning, one of my favorite B Westerns.)
Some of these titles have already been re-issued by others (or are on the way). But some may never see the light of day again, given the current state of physical media. From Republic’s Three Mesquiteers series with John Wayne to a handful of Regalscope pictures, there are some real jewels here.
For those trying to pick these things up before they’re either gone or getting crazy collectors’ prices, here’s a list of their Westerns, ranging from the Silents into the 60s. If I missed anything, please let me know.
Special thanks for Laura from Laura’s Miscellaneous Musings, who was a HUGE help with bringing this thing together.
Wagon Tracks (1919)
Neath The Arizona Skies (1934)
The Lawless Nineties (1936)
The Lonely Trail (1936)
King Of The Pecos (1936)
Overland Stage Raiders (1938)
Red River Range (1938)
Santa Fe Stampede (1938)
Pals Of The Saddle (1938)
The Night Riders (1939)
Three Texas Steers (1939)
Wyoming Outlaw (1939)
Westward Ho (1939)
Man Of Conquest (1939)
Frontier Horizon (AKA New Frontier) (1939)
Dark Command (1940)
In Old Oklahoma (AKA War Of The Wildcats) (1943)
Ramrod (1947)
Angel And The Badman (1947)
Pursued (1947)
The Fighting Kentuckian (1949)
South Of St. Louis (1949)
Rio Grande (1950)
Silver City (1951)
Bullfighter And The Lady (1951)
Only The Valiant (1951)
High Noon (1952)
Denver & Rio Grande (1952)
Pony Express (1953)
Woman They Almost Lynched (1953)
Johnny Guitar (1954)
Run For Cover (1955)
The Americano (1955)
King And Four Queens (1956)
Stranger At My Door (1956)
Gun The Man Down (1956)
The Quiet Gun (1957)
Showdown At Boot Hill (1958)
Ambush At Cimarron Pass (1958)
The Hangman (1959)
The Jayhawkers! (1959)
McLintock! (1963)
The Hallelujah Trail (1965)
The Night Of The Grizzly (1966)
I’ll forever appreciate the folks at Olive Films. Night Of The Grizzly was my first commentary track.
The non-Westerns list is now available over at The Hannibal 8.
Posted in 1950, Republic Pictures, Roy Rogers, William Witney on May 15, 2023| 1 Comment »
William Witney
(May 15, 1915 – March 17, 2002)
William Witney was born 108 years ago. He was a true innovator in how action makes its way to the movie screen. He was working at Republic Pictures, and while on location for the 1937 serial The Painted Stallion, the director, Ray Taylor, was too drunk to work. Witney took over at just 21.
Watching Busby Berkeley put together one of his famous dance numbers, Witney realized that fight sequences could be choreographed and shot the same way. He under-cranked the camera to speed up the action — merely fast became death-defying. He experimented with the best place to put the camera car when tracking a chase — along the side of the car or stagecoach vs. shooting head-on, with horses charging straight at the camera.
After serving in a Marine combat camera unit in World War II, Witney returned to Republic for his last serial, The Crimson Ghost (1946), then took over the Roy Rogers movies. Dialing up the action, putting less emphasis on the music and bringing in a decidedly darker, more violent tone, Witney breathed new life into Roy’s final films.
William Witney was a genius, and his contribution the cinema has been pathetically under-appreciated.
Photo up top: William Witney and Cheryl Rogers on the set of Trail Of Robin Hood (1950). Photo courtesy of Jay Dee Witney.
50 Westerns From The 50s.