Man from Cheyenne (1942)

User Rating:

6.8/10   

Director:

Joseph Kane

Writer:

Winston Miller (original screenplay)

Release Date:

16 January 1942 (USA)

Genre:

Western

Tagline:

LOADED...for your entertainment! You'll find a NEW Roy Rogers...more likeable in a role that fits his personality like a glove...greater action...songs...and all the exciting background of the Golden West (original window card poster)

Plot:

Roy is a government man sent to solve a novel crime problem: a woman flirts with unsuspecting ranchers...

Plot Keywords:

Rustling | Cattle | Horse | Actor Shares First Name With Character

Cast

Roy Rogers	...	Roy Rogers
George 'Gabby' Hayes	...	Gabby Whittaker
Sally Payne	...	Sally Whittaker
Lynne Carver	...	Marian Hardy
William Haade	...	Ed
James Seay	...	Sheriff Jim
Gale Storm	...	Judy Evans
Jack Ingram	...	Henchman Chuck
Sons of the Pioneers	...	Musicians, Cowhands

Runtime:

60 min (original version) | 54 min (edited version)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound System)

Certification:

USA:Approved (PCA #7996) | USA:Passed (National Board of Review)

Filming Locations:

Red Rock Canyon State Park - Highway 14, Cantil, California, USA

Company:

Republic Pictures (I)

Soundtrack:

Long About Sundown

Interesting B-western

I have to admit that I have not seen a lot of Roy Rogers westerns because they were made for kids and they have small budgets. I was pleasantly surprised to watch this film and find that adults can have fun with it too.

In Wyoming, a modern-day (1941) gang is rustling a lot of cattle. We are immediately shown that a woman is in charge of the gang of rustlers. Roy's character grew up in the area and the U.S. government hires him to investigate the thefts. The shady lady running the gang has all the local ranchers fooled, as they think she is too sweet to be stealing cattle. The story is very good for about two-thirds of the film, as Roy is even considered a suspect in the cattle thefts. Unfortunately, the ending is marred by a ridiculous shootout between Rogers and many bad guys who have his house surrounded.

It is interesting that Roy also needs help from side-kick "Gabby" Hayes and comic-relief Sally Payne to get to the bottom of things. Of course Roy and The Sons of the Pioneers manage to sing a couple of songs too. Roy rides his horse Trigger throughout the film, but the horse is not mentioned by name or listed in the credits. Look for future TV-star Gale Storm as Roy's girlfriend.

If you watch this film in the spirit of a B-western, you won't be disappointed.