Even if western fans never tire of recycled western plots, it is always good to see a fresh idea. Roy and his pals are working for an oil company in Spoilers of the Plains with not a single head of cattle in sight for the whole movie. Instead of a fight over oil being the focus, this time the story is about rockets and an experimental guidance system. Of course, Roy finds himself battling thieves who want to steal the experimental parts for unnamed interests. That may not be an entirely new concept for movies, or even westerns, but it made a good change of direction in the Roy Rogers series.
Some things were very different in Spoilers of the Plains from other Roy Rogers movies. Penny Edwards character, Frankie Manning, garners sympathy more than she acts as a romantic interest. It seems that Roy was beaten up more times than in other movies. A story device that is usually irritating is having supporting characters win the hero's battles for him. In this case Bullet comes to Roy's rescue as does Trigger. One time would be good. More than once brings doubt to the hero's ability to defend himself. In the end Roy ends up winning his fight, but even then it is due to a mistake made by the villain, Camwell.
Gordon Jones may not be Roy's best known sidekick, but he was great in every scene. Again, Foy Willing and the Riders of the Purple Sage take a backseat in the story, but they provide some excellent music.
William Witney made Spoilers of the Plains an excellent action filled western from beginning to end. Starting with a dangerous fire fighting scene and never letting the momentum of the action die down, there is no shortage of excitement. During the wagon chase at the end several cowboys are jumping from one wagon to the other. Look closely and you will see that one of them missed his jump and fell very close to a wheel. Real men! Real action! This was not a movie made by sissies!
Some things were very different in Spoilers of the Plains from other Roy Rogers movies. Penny Edwards character, Frankie Manning, garners sympathy more than she acts as a romantic interest. It seems that Roy was beaten up more times than in other movies. A story device that is usually irritating is having supporting characters win the hero's battles for him. In this case Bullet comes to Roy's rescue as does Trigger. One time would be good. More than once brings doubt to the hero's ability to defend himself. In the end Roy ends up winning his fight, but even then it is due to a mistake made by the villain, Camwell.
Gordon Jones may not be Roy's best known sidekick, but he was great in every scene. Again, Foy Willing and the Riders of the Purple Sage take a backseat in the story, but they provide some excellent music.
William Witney made Spoilers of the Plains an excellent action filled western from beginning to end. Starting with a dangerous fire fighting scene and never letting the momentum of the action die down, there is no shortage of excitement. During the wagon chase at the end several cowboys are jumping from one wagon to the other. Look closely and you will see that one of them missed his jump and fell very close to a wheel. Real men! Real action! This was not a movie made by sissies!