Down Dakota Way (1949)

A crooked businessman is trying to sell cattle infected with deadly hoof-and-mouth disease. He has the local veterinarian murdered to cover up his plans.

Director:

William Witney

Writers:

John K. Butler (screenplay), Sloan Nibley (screenplay)

Stars:

Roy Rogers, Trigger, Dale Evans

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Roy Rogers	...	Roy Rogers
Trigger	...	Trigger
Dale Evans	...	Ruth Shaw
Pat Brady	...	Sparrow Biffle
Montie Montana	...	Sheriff Holbrook
Elisabeth Risdon	...	Dolly Paxton
Byron Barr	...	Steve Paxton
James Cardwell	...	Saunders (McKenzie's Foreman)
Roy Barcroft	...	Mack McKenzie
Emmett Vogan	...	Dr. George Fredricks, DVM
Foy Willing	...	Foy
Riders of the Purple Sage	...	Musicians (as The Riders of the Purple Sage)

Storyline

Rancher H. T. McKenzie is informed by veterinarian George Fredericks that his cattle are carriers of the hoof-and-mouth disease and must be destroyed. McKenzie hires Steve Paxton to kill the vet and steal his report. Roy Rogers and the Riders of the Purple Sage (Foy Willing, Darol Rice, George Bamby and Al Sloey) on their way to the Cheyenne Rodeo, detour through Sun Rock so that Roy can visit his old schoolteacher Dolly Paxton, Steve's stepmother. Roy becomes involved in the chase of Steve by Sheriff Holbrook. Ruth Shaw tells Roy that the school board has fired Dolly because of Steve, and that she has turned into a crushed and bitter woman still willing to defend her stepson. Roy discovers a McKenzie calf with symptoms of hoof-and-mouth which puts him on the trail of McKenzie.

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Plot Keywords:

mentally challenged sidekick | singing cowboy | 

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Genres:

Western

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Did You Know?

Goofs

Keep an eye on that scene right after Roy has the water hole fight with McKenzie henchman Saunders. After the fight, Sparrow picks up Saunders' hat and takes it with him, but Saunders shows up at McKenzie's later wearing it.

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Quotes

[while on the trail of a wanted fugitive, Roy and Pat stop to tend to a sick calf]
Saunders: You don't take a hint very well, do you, Rogers? You're on McKenzie property. Hope you have permission.
Roy Rogers: Sorry, we didn't have time. We're on a manhunt.
Saunders: Looks to me like you're on a calf hunt. I'd say you were doin' a little rustling!

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Soundtracks

Candy Kisses
Written by George Morgan

User Reviews

A pat formula is the key here.

Republic Pictures released a series of formulaic contemporary westerns with Roy Rogers and his crew during the 1940s, of which this is a late example, a cookie cutter production with pleasing songs by Rogers and Foy Willing's Riders of the Purple Sage, comic interludes involving animals, and a hint of a romance between Roy and Dale Evans' character, none of which is remotely connected with the storyline. As is customary with productions directed by William Witney, this film is choppily edited and makes short shrift of a potentially interesting plot, i.e., cattle ravaged by hoof and mouth disease and a hired gun (Byron Barr) who attempts to cover up this plague by any necessary means, including multiple murders; there is excellent work by stage actress Elisabeth Risdon, who steals her scenes as the killer's stepmother, loyal to him until the finish, and a nice turn is included by great horseman Montie Montana as the local sheriff.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

9 September 1949 (USA)

Also Known As:

El rebaño de la muerte

Filming Locations:

Lake Sherwood, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Republic Pictures (I)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

67 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound System)

Color:

Color (Trucolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1