Search - Song of Texas on DVD

"Roy Rogers B-Western Series ... Song of Texas (1943) ... Re

J. Lovins | Missouri-USA | 10/09/2007

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Republic Pictures present "SONG OF TEXAS" (14 June 1943) (69 mins/B&W) (Fully Restored/Dolby Digitally Remastered) --- Roy Rogers (born Leonard Slye) moved to California in 1930, at the age of 18 --- played in such musical groups as The Hollywood Hillbillies, Rocky Mountaineers, Texas Outlaws and his own group, the International Cowboys --- In 1934 he formed a group with Bob Nolan and Tim Spencer called "Sons of the Pioneers" --- While in that group he was known as Leonard Slye, then Dick Weston and finally Roy Rogers --- Their songs included "Cool Water" and "Tumbling Tumbleweeds" --- They first appeared in the western "Rhythm on the Range" (1936), starring Bing Crosby --- In 1937 Roy went solo and made his first starring film in 1938, "Under Western Stars" (1938) --- He made almost 100 films --- then came television, "The Roy Rogers Show" (1951) ran on CBS from October 1951 through September 1964.

Under Joseph Kane (Director), Harry Grey (Producer), Winston Miller (Screenwriter), Reggie Lanning (Cinematographer), Morton Scott (Musical Direction/Supervision), Tony Martinelli (Editor), Russell Kimball (Art Director) - - - - Our story line and plot, A feud develops between Roy and his boss when the star quits the Calvert Brothers Rodeo to begin his own show --- The plot becomes more complicated when Roy loans his ranch to an old down and out rodeo star to insure that his daughter, coming for a visit from the east, will not be disillusioned by her father's run of bad luck --- appearing as Sue Bennett was actress Sheila Ryan who in real life was Mrs Pat Buttram from 1952 until her death in 1975 --- some veterans character actors show up to add to the fun Barton MacLane, Wally Wales, Hank Bell, Forrest Taylor, Jack O'Shea, Horace Murphy, Tom London and Yakima Canutt --- some wonderful tunes, MEXICALI ROSE -- MOONLIGHT AND ROSES -- RAINBOW OVER THE RANGE -- ON THE RHYTHM RANGE -- FAR WAY -- I LOVE THE PRAIRIE COUNTRY -- CIELITO LINDO.

the cast includes
Roy Rogers ... Roy Rogers
Trigger ... "Smartest Horse in the Movies"
Sheila Ryan ... Sue Bennett
Barton MacLane ... Jim Calvert
Harry Shannon ... Sam Bennett
Bob Nolan ... Bob Nolan, (leader, Sons of the Pioneers)
Pat Brady ... Pat, Sons of the Pioneers
Lloyd Perryman ... Ranch hand / Son of the Pioneers
Tim Spencer ... Tim, (Sons of the Pioneers)
Hugh Farr ... Ranch hand / Son of the Pioneers
Karl Farr ... Ranch hand / Son of the Pioneers
Arline Judge ... Hildegarde Gray
William Haade ... Fred Calvert
Eve March ... Miss Murray
Wally Wales ... Henchman (as Hal Taliaferro)
Alex Nehara Dancers ... Dancers at fiesta
Hank Bell ... Replaced Driver
Fred Burns ... Race Official
Yakima Canutt ... Rodeo performer
Tom London ... Race Official
Horace Murphy ... Notary
Jack O'Shea ... Bill (driver)
Forrest Taylor ... Race Official

BIOS:
1. Roy Rogers (aka: Leonard Franklin Slye)
Date of Birth: 5 November 1911 - Cincinnati, Ohio
Date of Death: 6 July 1998 - Apple Valley, California

Check out a new book from Empire Publishing - "THE ROY ROGERS BOOK: A REFERENCE TRIVIA SCRAPBOOK" (Paperback) --- reference trivia scrapbook of Roy Rogers written by Western film historian David Rothel whose accounts of thrilling adventures of B-Western heroes during the Saturday matinees of yesteryear takes us back to our childhood, family and friends --- this is a wish come true, reliving those wonderful years from the past through the pen of David Rothel --- Roy was a top box office draw for Republic Pictures when you went to see him on the big screen, you got exactly what the marquee said --- plenty of thrills, action and hard riding with a song or two thrown in for good measure --- Elected to the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1980 as a member of the "Sons of the Pioneers" and elected again in 1988 as Roy Rogers "King of the Cowboys" --- Roy got his horse "Trigger" in 1938 and rode him in every one of his films and TV shows after that --- "Trigger" died in 1965 age of thirty-three --- Roy's dog's name was "Bullet" and appeared in almost as many of his films as "Trigger" did --- Roy's theme song, "Happy Trails", was written by Queen of the West and his wife Dale Evans --- inducted (with his wife Dale Evans) into the "Hall of Great Western Performers of the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum" in 1976 --- inducted as a member of the "Sons of the Pioneers into the "Hall of Great Western Performers of the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum" in 1995 just three years before his death --- Don't miss this one --- now appearing on Amazon and Empire Publishing --- Don't hesitate - rush out and pick up your copy today --- Great reading in the days and weeks to come --- I guarantee it!

Hats off and thanks to Les Adams (collector/guideslines for character identification), Chuck Anderson (Webmaster: The Old Corral/B-Westerns.Com), Boyd Magers (Western Clippings), Bobby J. Copeland (author of "Trail Talk"), Rhonda Lemons (Empire Publishing Inc), Bob Nareau (author of "The Real Bob Steele") and Trevor Scott (Down Under DVD Com) as they have rekindled my interest once again for Film Noir, B-Westerns and Serials --- looking forward to more high quality releases from the vintage serial era of the '20s, '30s & '40s and B-Westerns ... order your copy now from Amazon where there are plenty of copies available on DVD --- stay tuned once again for top notch action mixed with musical adventure --- if you enjoyed this title, why not check out Amazon where they are experts in releasing B-Westerns --- all my heroes have been cowboys!

Total Time: 69 min on VHS/DVD ~ Republic Pictures ~ (5/07/2007)"