Springtime in the Sierras (1947)

Who payed the critics

Each character in this movie — down to the smallest one — is an individual rather than a type, prone to spontaneous changes of mood and sometimes amusing outbursts of pettiness or ill humor.

There is, somehow, an interesting story here, as well as some good acting. There are also some good scenes

Strong acting helps the film overcome an uncertain premise and create characters that hold our attention absolutely.

It's always dangerous to be a lovable old timer in a 'B' western, and sure enough, the Sons of the Pioneers are soon singing at the funeral of Harry Cheshire as Cap Foster, proprietor of the local wildlife sanctuary, who has been shot in cold blood at point blank range by the film's stylishly wicked villainess Jean Loring, played by Stephanie Bachelor.Ms Loring has brought cattle rustling into the Twentieth Century as well as the Sierras when she arrives from the East and installs an enormous deep freeze on her property to store venison obtained from the heinous offence of hunting deer out of season. Not content with already demonstrating herself (in the words of a judge) one of "the lowest, most contemptible breed of all criminals" - and despite having the hulking Roy Barcroft on hand to provide muscle (if not brains) when required - the nefarious Ms Loring doesn't flinch from doing her own dirty work, and personally kills two people without batting an eyelid. She obviously didn't go to the movies often enough, though, or she'd have known better than to mess with Roy Rogers in the first place, and eventually gets her lights punched out by Jane Frazee; who the presence of a female villain satisfyingly provides with someone that for once she too can rough up while Rogers is disposing of Barcroft.Considering that the plot - despite the jolly title - hinges upon a particularly ruthless murder, the tone of 'Springtime in the Sierras' remains persistently light-hearted for much of its duration, with a ratio of comedy relief and songs to plot in a film that runs only 75 minutes that surpasses even that of a Bollywood movie.

First-rate matinée fare with Roy in fine early form. Republic popped for more than usual with a load of extras and TruColor. Then too, the storyline's almost contemporary with Roy and guys trying to save wildlife from greedy poachers. Of course, this means flying fists, fast guns, and hard riding. Plus a gang headed by a pretty girl (Bachelor), instead of the usual mustachioed slickster. Wow! And most challenging of all, Roy's got to survive being trapped in a frozen meat locker, of all things. Good thing hefty Andy Devine's along providing more than comedy relief. I guess Dale was busy elsewhere, so nifty little Jane Frazee gets to supply the romance, while the Sons of the Pioneers get to croon a few tunes along with our hero. I guess my only minus is the locations. Too bad Republic didn't pop for more scenic surroundings than scrubby greater LA. But that's okay since there's more than enough to keep this Front Row geezer happy, and hopefully you too.

Springtime In The Sierras finds Roy Rogers trying to help Harry Cheshire who is animal lover and conservationist against out of season poachers. Cheshire runs an animal shelter and hospital from his place in the mountains where he also has a crusade against those who poach. Cheshire is convinced that there is an organized gang of poachers operating in his woods. His investigation proves right and he's killed for his troubles. That brings Roy into the picture big time.Roy has two women in this film good girl Jane Frazee whose brother Harold Landon is mixed up with the poachers and Joan Lorring who heads the poachers along with her number one aide, perennial western villain Roy Barcroft. In the climax Roy and Roy mix it up along side a dandy chick fight with Jane and Joan. I also have to say that Lorring is one evil villain in this film.Andy Devine who did several Rogers films in the Forties is in this one in his usual befuddled state. Andy was a good ally to have, but he was kind of slow and there isn't a Roy Rogers film in it where he doesn't to have Roy patiently explain the situation. Of course it's a plot device to make sure the Saturday afternoon kids understood exactly what was happening, still it made Andy look stupid. But it was worth seeing him at the climax give one of Lorring/Barcroft's henchmen the big splash as you would see someone like King Kong Bundy do. That villain would have been out for a 25 count on the WWE.As someone who is not particularly fond of hunting other than as a means for food and regulated at that, I have a soft spot in my heart for this particular film. I wish I had seen a full length version, but what I saw was cut down for television back in the day.

* This review is based on the shortened 54 minute version * A group of poachers are violating all of the hunting regulations so they can provide the venison and other meats for market. Roy Rogers and Captain Foster, who provide a sanatorium for the wildlife go searching for the criminals, who happen to be neighboring rancher Jean Loring. When Foster discovers Jean's gang at work, she shoots him, which unnerves Bert Baker, a young member of the gang, whose sister runs the ranch Roy works for. Jean and her main henchman Matt Wilkes, find out that it is not safe with Roy on their trail, since he already suspects the two of poaching. Roy sets himself as a member of the Loring ranch, but when he finds the proof he needs, Jean and Wilkes make sure that he never reaches the marshal. Enjoyable routing Rogers picture with a nice amount of songs, action, and mushy sentiment often seen in his films. The fight between Roy and Barcroft in the freezer is very well handled by Witney mainly because of free camera movement even in the cramped quarters. Rating based on B westerns- 6.