Silver Spurs (1943)

Director:

Joseph Kane

Writers:

John K. Butler (original screenplay) and
J. Benton Cheney (original screenplay)

Release Date:

12 August 1943 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Music | Western

Tagline:

The King of the Cowboys goes into action!

Plot:

Roy's boss has inherited a very large ranch but the will keeps him from selling it although his widow could...

Plot Keywords:

Ranch | Murder | Henchman | Gang Leader | Land Swindle

Cast

  (Complete credited cast)

Roy Rogers	...	Roy Rogers
Trigger	...	Trigger, Roy's Horse
Smiley Burnette	...	Frog Millhouse
John Carradine	...	Lucky Miller
Phyllis Brooks	...	Mary Johnson
Jerome Cowan	...	Jerry Johnson
Joyce Compton	...	Millie Love
Dick Wessel	...	Buck Walters
Hal Taliaferro	...	Steve Corlan
Forrest Taylor	...	Judge Pebble
Charles C. Wilson	...	Mr. Hawkins (as Charles Wilson)
Byron Foulger	...	Justice of the Peace
Bob Nolan	...	Bob, Leader of the Sons of the Pioneers
Sons of the Pioneers	...	Musicians, Ranch Hands

Runtime:

68 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 #9390) | USA:Passed (National Board of Review)

Filming Locations:

Iverson Ranch, Chatsworth, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Republic Pictures

Soundtrack:

Back in Your Own Backyard

"Why couldn't you have yelled 'Whoa'?"

Excellent Roy Rogers vehicle with a great, wily performance by John Carradine as an added bonus.

Good pacing and good direction (and yes, a few very good stunts) place this way above similar movies. Even the usually annoying side-kick role (with this one, it's Smiley Burnette as "Frog") isn't that bad at all.

Also, far less corny than some would first expect if you've seen others with similar plots from this time period.

There are a few very good action sequences, and some very funny lines if you're in the right mood.

The story mostly involves a "mail-order bride"; Mary the reporter going in to get a story about the "playboy" rancher and what is obviously a "phoney deal". Rogers is only trying to help his boss. However, the rancher is shot (admittedly, it was one unbelievably good shot through a car window from a fair distance) and Roy is conveniently framed when he shows up at the accident scene to check things out. Of course, you know that everything is bound to turn out for the best. There is also time for a couple good old songs.

10/10.