SUNSET SERENADE

Roy Rogers listens as Gabby Hayes sings

SUNSET SERENADE (1942). Director: Joseph Kane.

Although Vera Martin (Joan Woodbury) thought she was going to inherit a ranch from the deceased owner, it actually goes to his nephew, a one-year-old baby in the care of Sylvia Clark (Helen Parrish of X Marks the Spot). Sylvia doesn't know that Vera and her friend, Jackson (Onslow Stevens), are scheming to get the ranch away from her for a song. Wouldn't you know that Roy Rogers, Gabby Hayes, Bob Nolan (of Heldorado) and his Sons of the Pioneers ((including Pat Brady) are in the vicinity, out of work cowboys who are practically starving. In exchange for vittles, most of which are "et" by Gabby, Roy and his buddies help out Sylvia. Later on they have a shoot-out with Jackson's gang when he tries to steal cattle that Sylvia just sold to Clifford Sheldon (Frank M. Thomas) and Roy saves the man from a rushing river when a dam is exploded. There are also some forgettable songs sung by Roy, Bob, Pat and even annoying Gabby. Trigger doesn't have much to do in this one. Roy Barcroft of G-Men Never Forget plays one of the gang of bad guys. A "modern" western from Republic studios. 

Verdict: Acceptable but mediocre Roy Rogers entry. **. 

HELDORADO

A disheveled Roy Rogers after a fist fight 

HELDORADO (1946). Director: William Witney.

In this "modern" western, Nevada State Ranger Roy Rogers (Roy Rogers) nearly arrests Gabby Hayes (also playing himself) for putting up posters for the annual Las Vegas celebration and defacing government property. (Although the posters for the event all through the movie read "Helldorado" with two "l"s, the movie's title has only one "l" -- go figure!) Roy "meets cute" with heiress Carol Randall (Dale Evans), who is dating Alec Baxter (Brad Dexter) without knowing he's a crook helping to pass phony cash in the casinos. Carol has not only been made Queen of Helldorado -- or Heldorado -- but also an honorary deputy sheriff, and she annoys Roy by taking her duties too seriously, trying to find out who murdered Alec when his body is found with bullets in it. Which of them will get to the killer or killers first? And how many songs will Roy sing with or without the Sons of the Pioneers?

Brad Dexter as playboy Alec

Heldorado is certainly not an awful movie but I wish it had been more entertaining. Even serial specialist William Witney, who certainly knew how to pace a movie, can't do much with mediocre and over-familiar material. Like Rogers' voice, the songs are perfectly pleasant, although the title tune sounds as if it were ripped off from somewhere else. The best performance is probably from Brad Dexter as the amiable mountebank Alec. Paul Harvey (of Unmasked) is also effective as the deceptively friendly Driscoll, a bad guy who locks Dale in a refrigerator at one point. The Sons of the Pioneers, with Bob Nolan and Pat Brady, are along for the ride and sing as well. There's also a treasure hunt that doesn't have much to do with the rest of the story, but seems to function as padding.

Verdict: Nothing's too terrible if Roy Rogers is in it! **1/4.