Lights of Old Santa Fe (1944)

Really Surprised!

Perfect cast and a good story

Don't listen to the negative reviews

There's a more than satisfactory amount of boom-boom in the movie's trim running time.

What a pleasant surprise it is to see a Roy Rogers movie in its original length, and such a beautiful copy it is too – at least in the "20 Wild Western Movies" collection. Actually, that's a rather odd collection in which to find this entry as it is a musical western from the 1940s and has very little in common with the other nine movies on this particular disc. I'm not complaining, but the people who thrill to "Red Blood, Yellow Gold" and "There's a Noose Waiting For You, Trinity" are going to wonder what "Lights of Old Santa Fe" possibly holds in common with its companions, especially as it is a contemporary 1944 western and has nothing much to do with Santa Fe, young or old, even if that city is "the seat of old world charm in the Wild West." Yes, this movie has charm too, and that adjective certainly does not apply to the other nine movies on this particular disc. And yes, I enjoyed the movie despite the fact that I'm not a fan of George Hayes in his "Gabby" mode and that the emphasis is on song, comedy and romance in that descending order. In fact, "Trigger" provides more action here than Roy or the not- really-so-villainous "bad" guy. But Dale Evans is at her best, and Roy is tolerable. The direction by Frank McDonald rates a reasonably competent score, even though the movie was obviously shot in haste, but it's beautifully photographed all the same by Reggie Lanning. Best performance comes from Lloyd Corrigan as an inept radio broadcaster.

Roy helps keep Dale and Gabby's wild west show in business even as Tom Keene's competing show slyly tries to wreck them.Not a formula oater. There's no gunplay, little hard riding, and only brief fisticuffs. But there is a chariot race, of all things. In fact, I'd call this a personality western if there were such a thing. Anyway, that's the real attraction, a really engaging Roy, a sparkling Dale who gets to emote more than usual, and of course the great Gabby who even warbles a few refrains and in his own voice too. Together, they're delightful, making this an easygoing surprise and a different kind of matinée.

"Lights of Old Santa Fe" presents Roy Rogers and Dale Evans in a modern Western setting with a host of musical numbers and rodeo intrigue in the forefront. Dale's character Marjorie Brooks owns the Brooks International Rodeo, although with only one major booking, the business is on the brink of financial ruin. As unscrupulous rival Frank Madden attempts to take over the rodeo and marry Marjorie to seal the deal, it's up to Roy and Gabby Whittaker (Gabby Hayes) to uncover the scheme and give the Brooks name credibility once again.Roy and Dale make a wonderful couple on screen and their charm and charisma are evident in the songs they do together, including the title song. Then there's a double dose of an uncharacteristic tune for a Western named "The Cowpoke Polka". But don't ask Gabby to take in a ballet as he's invited to do in the early part of the film - "I'd just as soon slide down a razor blade"!Trigger gets top billing in the film as "The Smartest Horse in the Movies", but he doesn't have much to do here, although he does warn Roy and the Pioneers of trouble in camp when he breaks away from a Madden henchman named Ferguson (Roy Barcroft). The rawhide lariat that Trigger snaps proves to be the undoing of the whole rodeo scheme when Roy traces it's ownership back to Ferguson and his employer.Roy and Dale first appeared in a film together in "The Cowboy and the Senorita" in 1944, followed soon after by this one. In all, they performed together in easily two dozen films, along with their hit TV series in the early 1950's. For anyone interested in a film representative of their engaging warmth and charm, "Lights of Old Santa Fe" is a good start.

"Lights of Old Santa Fe" is pretty good light entertainment from Roy Rogers, Dale Evans, Gabby Hayes, and Trigger. There is perhaps a little less plot than usual, but on the other hand, there is more humor and singing than usual, and it makes you feel right at home with Roy and his friends.The story revolves around two competing rodeo shows, one run by Hayes, and the other owned by a slippery character played by Tom Keene, with Dale's character getting caught in the middle of the rivalry. The setup provides enough material for a light story and for the variety entertainment. Lloyd Corrigan, playing a radio personality, also joins in by lending his array of voices to a couple of entertaining scenes.For the most part, this follows the usual formula, and most Roy Rogers fans won't be disappointed by this one.