Gene Autry left for Columbia. Roy Rogers was preparing to head off to television production. Republic tried to keep their inexpensive series of singing cowboy westerns going. For this one, they tried out Rex Allen, a real cowboy from Arizona with a penchant for singing traditional songs in a deep voice. They surrounded him with some good secondary talent, including Buddy Ebsen, ex-Goldwyn Girl Dorothy Patrick and short, funny Percy Helton as her father. The script, about a gold-stealing ring, is well done too.
The real standout is the cinematography by John MacBurnie; the Lone Pine never looked as good, and even the interior shots are nicely handled. Notice how MacBurnie turns a two-shot into a three-figure composition by use of shadows. This was one of the old pro cameramen who worked for Hal Roach in early sound days (he was DP of Laurel & Hardy's first talkie, UNACUSTOMED AS WE ARE) and then worked in B westerns and TV for the next thirty years. Definitely worth your time.
The real standout is the cinematography by John MacBurnie; the Lone Pine never looked as good, and even the interior shots are nicely handled. Notice how MacBurnie turns a two-shot into a three-figure composition by use of shadows. This was one of the old pro cameramen who worked for Hal Roach in early sound days (he was DP of Laurel & Hardy's first talkie, UNACUSTOMED AS WE ARE) and then worked in B westerns and TV for the next thirty years. Definitely worth your time.