Perhaps as a nod to "Our Gang", white kid Bobby Driscoll has two friends his age, one black and the other Asian, Cordell Hickman and Hayward Soo Hoo, a subtle reminder that prejudices are taught, not an inborn trait. It's nice to see the three acting like brothers based on common interests although they fight over a major disagreement that really hurts Driscoll. Soo Hoo acts like Our Gang's Froggy, barely breathing as he speaks each line. The fight is over the fact that Driscoll refuses to believe that his much older brother Richard Arlen was court-martialed, unaware that he was framed.
Longtime friends Arlen and Robert Livingston have a major fallout over the fact that Arlen was accused of cowardice, and a rivalry over saloon singer Jane Frazee. She provides the music with three songs ("Up in a Balloon" and "Ra Ra Ra Boom Dee Aye" also performed in "Lady For a Day" two years before) and George "Gabby" Hayes provides subtle comic relief. Director George Archainbud helped make this seem a bit more upscale than other B westerns. Definitely a stronger plot too.
Longtime friends Arlen and Robert Livingston have a major fallout over the fact that Arlen was accused of cowardice, and a rivalry over saloon singer Jane Frazee. She provides the music with three songs ("Up in a Balloon" and "Ra Ra Ra Boom Dee Aye" also performed in "Lady For a Day" two years before) and George "Gabby" Hayes provides subtle comic relief. Director George Archainbud helped make this seem a bit more upscale than other B westerns. Definitely a stronger plot too.