Colorado (1940)

Trouble in Colorado is tying up Union troops needed back east during the Civil War and Lieut. Burke is sent to investigate. Macklin and his gang are causing the problems and Capt. Mason ... See full summary »

Director:

Joseph Kane

Writers:

Louis Stevens (screenplay), Harrison Jacobs (screenplay)

Stars:

Roy Rogers, George 'Gabby' Hayes, Pauline Moore

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Roy Rogers	...	Lt. Jerry Burke
George 'Gabby' Hayes	...	Gabby
Pauline Moore	...	Lylah Sanford
Milburn Stone	...	Don Burke alias Capt. Donald Mason
Maude Eburne	...	Etta Mae
Arthur Loft	...	Jim Macklin - Indian Commissioner
Hal Taliaferro	...	Weaver
Vester Pegg	...	Henchman Sam Smith
Fred Burns	...	Sheriff Jeff Harkins
Lloyd Ingraham	...	Henry Sanford

Storyline

Trouble in Colorado is tying up Union troops needed back east during the Civil War and Lieut. Burke is sent to investigate. Macklin and his gang are causing the problems and Capt. Mason joins them. When Burke catches up with them he also finds Mason, his brother.

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Plot Keywords:

stagecoach | colorado | denver colorado | gambling | desert | 

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Taglines:

Thrilling Adventure In Dangerous Days... As Roy Rogers blazes down ambushed trails to bring justice to an outlaw town!

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Genres:

Action | Drama | Romance | Western

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

15 September 1940 (USA)

Also Known As:

A Lei da Fuga

Filming Locations:

Agoura Ranch, Agoura, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Republic Pictures (I)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

57 min 54 min (edited)

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Jay Novello is listed as a cast member by modern sources, but he was not seen in the movie.

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Goofs

The movie takes place during the Civil War. The inscription on the door says "U.S. Secret Service". The Secret Service wasn't founded until July 5, 1865.

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Quotes

Gabby: You know, the further west you go, the more dangerous it gets.

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Connections

Edited into Meanwhile, Back at the Ranch (1976)

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Soundtracks

"Night on the Prairie"
(uncredited)
Written by Nathan Gluck and Ann Parentean
Played on guitar and sung by Roy Rogers

User Reviews

"Fine way to talk to a man who fought and died for his country."

"Colorado" takes place during the Civil War years, with Roy Rogers portraying a Union government agent investigating unrest in the Colorado Territory, where Union forces are being detained to contain outlaws, Indians and Confederate sympathizers. With direct authorization from President Lincoln, Lieutenant Jerry Burke (Rogers) comes to learn that his own brother is behind the trouble, under an assumed identity as a Union Officer, Captain Dan Mason. However Mason's allegiance is with the South, and he's in league with Indian Commissioner Jim Macklin (Arthur Loft), as they sell guns to the Indian tribes. Their main goal though is to prevent Union Forces from joining General Grant's army, thereby aiding the Confederate cause.

You may have difficulty as I did in recognizing a young Milburn Stone as Captain Mason; Stone went on to portray Doc Adams in the Gunsmoke series. George "Gabby" Hayes is on hand as a cantankerous old timer who cheerfully latches up with Burke for the adventure. The love interest is supplied by Pauline Moore as Lylah Sanford, originally engaged to Mason, but eventually choosing Burke in a rather quick turn. Rogers and Moore also teamed up in "Carson City Kid", released in the same year, 1940.

Other than the Civil War backdrop, the story is rather formulaic, as Lieutenant Burke brings the villains to justice. There is a rather unique close to the story though; with Mason in custody, he wistfully explains to his brother how if this were Mexico, his captors would at least allow him to make a run for it, since he's going to hang for his treason anyway. As Burke contemplates this, Mason makes a break with predictable results. It's probably one of the most unusual endings for a Roy Rogers film, although the final scene is one where the Rogers' character gets the girl to give the film a happier ending.