I can't say that I'm especially familiar with the films of Roy Rogers, but this strikes me as an especially briskly paced, busy movie. There's a lot of plot here, and many little details rounding out scenes and characters, and it's thrown at us unexpectedly fast. Bad guys! Fishing! Dynamite! Murder! Etcetera! Hand in hand with the abundance of content and speed, it seems to me like there's more emphasis on action thrills here than is true of other westerns, not least from a star known for singing in his pictures. Such sequences and stunts likewise swiftly fly in our face, fostering a sense of vigor that's bolstered by the boisterous score. For all this, 'Susanna Pass' readily impresses a little for how soundly crafted it is, and entertaining, despite the tenor that in many other instances has served to reduce such value.
Stuffed to its one-hour gills with plot, excitement, and dashes of humor, this is unquestionably light on its feet. Maybe too much so for its own good, in fact, as there are times when the connective threads between scenes are story beats are a little lacking; this is a western built for minor thrills, not storytelling judiciousness. That spirit also extends to the ending that's dreadfully ham-handed, and weirdly out of sorts with the tone the feature has otherwise maintained. While 'Susanna Pass' does a fine job already with maintaining a vigorous spirit and keeping viewers engaged, it may have benefited from slightly more mindful writing, direction, and editing, and more specifically from being more drawn out so as to let each moment manifest, breathe, and resolve more naturally.
Such matters don't severely detract from the viewing experience, however, and far more so than not this is a good bit of fun. In addition to the stunts and action scenes, any effects are done well, and the sets and costume design are solid as per contemporary westerns. If marginally troubled as it presents, the plot is written well such as it is, if kind of generic. (Excise the western details and the story and characters could be adapted to basically any TV show ever made.) When all is said and done this is pretty well made, if imperfect, and enjoyable. Anyone who doesn't already appreciate westerns won't find anything here to change their minds, but for a quick, no-frills slice of cinema, 'Susanna Pass' is a good way to occupy one's time.