Out California Way

Although Roy and Dale have a cameo appearance in this movie, they are not the stars. I bought the DVD with Roy featured on the cover to watch a Roy Rogers movie. As you can see from the other commentators, this movie is not so much a western as it is about making a western, Hollywood style, and that's the story. Roy and Dale were probably the best part of the movie when they did a song together and then rode off on their horses. Of course, when you get Roy and Dale together and doing their thing, they tend upstage everyone else anyway. That is meant in a good way as it was just their natural talents and personalities that shine in any movie. The only one that I've seen that can keep up with them on the same screen is George Gabby Hayes. Anyway, the movie was OK and had some good actors. Monte Hale seemed to be a very likable fellow and sang well. In fact, I think the problem with his part was that he was being too nice, and that's not natural. If the bad guys were doing to me, what was being done to him, I'd be a little more angry. But when you're an actor you have to do it the way the director tells you if you want to work. Bobby Blake was very good as a child actor, and it is difficult to match him to the mean spirited type actor he became. Then again, life experiences have changed many a person and we all have to play the hand we are dealt. Allan "Rocky" Lane had a cameo and it was good to see a cameo of Don "Red" Barry too, as he was a favorite of mine as a kid. The female lead was Lorna Gray (aka Virginia Pound and Adrian Booth), who is one of the last surviving cast members of Columbia Pictures Three Stooges shorts. A pretty girl, she did a nice job of the part given her. John Dehner was the bad guy, as he was often cast in many westerns. Rarely a starring role but almost always a very important supporting role in more TV shows and movies than I can count. And he always did an excellent job, it just seemed to come naturally to him. I remember him as a newspaperman in the TV show of the 60's titled The Roaring 20's. This was a favorite show, as I never missed a chance to watch Dorothy Provine, who was the star of the series (OK, Donald May was in it but when Dorothy is on screen - wow!). It is said that John Dehner started out as an animator for Walt Disney and was an accomplished piano player. And of course, the pleasant tunes of Foy Willing and The Riders of the Purple Sage. If you're looking to spend a pleasant Saturday matinée type hour, then no harm done with this movie. But if you are looking to see Roy Rogers in a starring role, don't let the cover fool you, he only has those few minutes of cameo (but well worth seeing and hearing with Dale).

Routine trivial western from Republic, glossed up with their 2 color Trucolor, which makes all the actors look like they're wearing tons of rouge. One does get to see a few of the other western actors in the Republic stable as guest stars including Allan "Rocky" Lane, Don "Red" Barry, and off course Roy Rogers and Dale Evans. Monte Hale, the star of this epic though doesn't convey any charisma whatsoever, explaining his rather short career(about 20 films at Republic). They say his black and whites are better, but having seen only 1 other "Home on the Range", it too in color, one wonders why indeed Monte was ever signed.

This is a real good Republic B-western. A cowboy hero(John Dehner)on the radio wants to establish himself stronger in the movies. Standing in the way is a much younger cowboy(Monte Hale)drawing much new interest. A young boy(13 yr old Robert Blake)is also trying to get his horse into show business. The trick horse becomes a pivotal pawn in the established feud. Lorna Gray is the obligatory love interest. Cameos by Rocky Lane, Red Barry as well as Roy Rogers and Dale Evans who supply a toe tappin' tune to the half-dozen or so offerings from Foy Willing and his Riders of the Purple Sage. Just over an hour...sorta like sitting in the Kiddie Matinee on Saturday morning.

This isn't so much of a western movie, as it is a movie about MAKING western movies - set in the mid 40s. There are at least a half-dozen songs here, but many of them are quite juvenile. I guess that's supposed to play to the youthfulness of the audience at whom this must be aimed. Most of the music is provided by Foy Willing and The Riders of The Purple Sage, but Roy Rogers and Dale Evans - as part of their cameo appearance - also contribute a tune. Rocky Lane and Red Barry briefly cross the screen as well. Robert (Bobby, as he was billed back then) Blake has a main part: While trying to get his HORSE in films, he meets actor-wannabe Monte Hale. The newcomer ultimately upstages an established radio-to-celluloid cowboy, thereby establishing what little tension there is in this flick. In addition, the kid has an older sister, who provides a bit of romance involving her and Monte. The plot and dialogue throughout seems very contrived, which may be too noticeable to adults; and kids may lose interest in a few places.

A major plot point of this film is involved with terrorizing a horse in order to keep his human co-star (played by Monte Hall) from replacing the unpleasant lead actor in the film. This is all done in service of a typically mediocre singing cowboy movie. Not cool. TRIVIA: Very meta of them to call the movie they're filming in the fictional story "Out California Way."