In Old Caliente (1939)

Americans come west to California in the hope of peaceful settlement. Roy and Gabby sing a duet: "We're Not Coming Out Tonight." Other songs include "Sundown on the Rangeland" and "Ride on Vaquero."

Director:

Joseph Kane

Writers:

Norman Houston (story), Norman Houston (screenplay),

Stars:

Roy Rogers, Lynne Roberts, George 'Gabby' Hayes

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Roy Rogers	...	Roy Rogers
Lynne Roberts	...	Jean (as Mary Hart)
George 'Gabby' Hayes	...	Gabby
Jack La Rue	...	Manuel Delgardo / Sujarno
Katherine DeMille	...	Rita Vargas
Frank Puglia	...	Don José Vargas
Harry Woods	...	Curly Calkins
Paul Marion	...	Carlos Vargas (as Paul Marian)
Ethel Wales	...	Aunt Felicia
Merrill McCormick	...	Pedro

Storyline

Don Jose's foreman Sujarto is an informer for an outlaw gang. After Don Jose's son Carlos is robbed, Roy and Gabby find the outlaws but end up captured and blamed for the robbery. They get even deeper into trouble when Sujarto kills Don Jose and blames Roy. They are able to escape and Roy convinces Carlos that Sujarto killed his father. Roy then has a plan that will bring Sujarto and the gang into the open.

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Plot Keywords:

horse

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Genres:

Western

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

19 June 1939 (USA)

Also Known As:

Damals in Caliente

Filming Locations:

Agoura, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Republic Pictures (I)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

57 min 54 min (edited)

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA High Fidelity)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Goofs

This is evidently taking place in the early 1850s, yet all handguns are revolvers, which weren't yet invented, and the cattle we see are Herefords. That breed wasn't introduced into North America until well after the Civil War.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Don José Vargas: Here they come, these Americanos and their covered wagons. Pedro, the days of the Dons are numbered.

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Connections

Referenced in Golden Saddles, Silver Spurs (2000)

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Soundtracks

"The Moon, She Will Be Shining Tonight"
Written by Walter G. Samuels (as Walter Samuels)
Sung by Roy Rogers

User Reviews

Don't Trust Halfbreeds

In Old Caliente operates under the paradigm that persons of mixed racial origins are not to be generally trusted. Many a remark is passed about villain Jack LaRue and that he is what he is as a result of his parentage.

LaRue is the villain in this Roy Rogers western and while he courts Katharine DeMille daughter of Spanish landowner Frank Puglia in the early days of California statehood, LaRue is also acting as an inside man for a gang of outlaws headed by perennial western villain Harry Woods.

Roy works for the Don and he's busy courting Lynne Roberts who came west in a wagon train guided by Gabby Hayes whom she calls Uncle Gabby. LaRue murders Puglia and pins the blame on Roy and Gabby. But we know that in the end the truth will be revealed.

One thing I did like about this western was the manner in which Roy was paid for the Don's cattle on completion of the cattle drive in this film. The reason for the payment in the unusual form it takes was to foil the outlaws. It works too, I can't say more, you have to see it to believe it.

Other than the racist premise which seems to underline In Old Caliente the film is an enjoyable Roy Rogers western.