The Gay Ranchero (1948)

Crooks try to take over an airport by sabotaging the planes. Sheriff Roy catches them. Songs: title song, "Granada," "You Belong to my Heart," and "Wait'll I get my Sunshine in the ... See full summary »

Director:

William Witney

Writer:

Sloan Nibley (original screenplay)

Stars:

Roy Rogers, Trigger, Tito Guízar

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Roy Rogers	...	Sheriff Roy Rogers
Trigger	...	Trigger
Tito Guízar	...	Nicci Lopez
Jane Frazee	...	Betty Richards
Andy Devine	...	Cookie Bullfincher
Estelita Rodriguez	...	Consuelo Belmonte
George Meeker	...	Vance Brados
LeRoy Mason	...	Mike
Dennis Moore	...	Tex
Keith Richards	...	Henchman Slim
Betty Gagnon	...	Mary - Spa Desk Clerk
Bob Rose	...	Breezy (as Robert Rose)
Ken Terrell	...	Henchman Roberts
Bob Nolan	...	Bob - Leader of the Sons of the Pioneers
Sons of the Pioneers	...	Sons of the Pioneers

Storyline

Crooks try to take over an airport by sabotaging the planes. Sheriff Roy catches them. Songs: title song, "Granada," "You Belong to my Heart," and "Wait'll I get my Sunshine in the Moonlight."

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Plot Keywords:

gold shipment | sheriff | song | fuel | pilot | 

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Taglines:

A GLORIOUS FIESTA OF ROMANCE and ACTION! (original poster)

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Genres:

Action | Adventure | Music | Western

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

10 January 1948 (USA)

Also Known As:

Aconteceu no Sertão

Filming Locations:

Santa Clarita, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Republic Pictures (I)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

72 min 72 min (original) 54 min (edited)

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound System)

Color:

Color (Trucolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Goofs

Early in the story, when Roy is shot in the shoulder by one of the bad guys and then rescued by Nicci Lopez, he removes his shirt to tend to the wound and there's no blood, not even a bullet wound.

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Quotes

Bob: Now, if you'll just sign right here, Miss...
Consuelo Belmonte: Flanagan.
Bob: Flanagan! That's Irish.
Consuelo Belmonte: Well? I'm Irish. You should be able to tell by my accent... I think.
Bob: [humoring her] Oh, yes... sure. Well, now let's see, that was two rooms that you ordered, Miss...
Consuelo Belmonte: Mulligan.

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Soundtracks

"Cowboy Country"
Written by Tim Spencer
Performed by the Sons of the Pioneers

User Reviews

The Flying Sheriff

The Gay Ranchero finds Roy Rogers as sheriff trying to find out who is hijacking the cargoes of a small freight airline in his part of the west. The fact that it is owned by pretty Jane Frazee I'm sure does not lessen his interest any.

With some inside help they've got someone who is shorting the aviation fuel loads and making the meters read falsely. When the planes come down the gang is there to meet them and steal the cargoes and shoot the pilots.

There's not much suspense in The Gay Ranchero, we learn early on who's behind the skulduggery. But the film more than makes up in plenty of action.

Along for the ride with south of the border box office receipts in mind is Mexican musical film star Tito Guizar who did a few films in the USA as well. Guizar gets a love interest here in the person of Estelita Rodriguez and he sings the favorite Hispanic classic You Belong To My Heart in the film. Tito had quite a resume, his venues included no less than grand opera for his tenor pipes.

The climax involving attacking the gang on the ground and from the air is pretty well staged. All in all one of Roy Rogers better films for Republic Pictures.