Customer Reviews

Apache Rose

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

First off, this particular DVD is not uncut even though they list it as 76 minutes on both the box and DVD - it actually has a running time of 56 minutes. The picture quality is just okay, very fuzzy. The audio and video are out-of-sync by a good 2-3 seconds, which makes it unwatchable.

There are some really nice DVD transfers of Roy & Dale's movies out there, this is not one of them.

This new Synergy release turned out to be a tru disappointment. Clearly advertised as Roy's First Trucolor this ain't it. It's a lousy B&W print of Apache Rose with Roy at the top of his game in 1947. We know some Republic Trucolors survived the 40's and 50's and some did not. When I saw this new release with the Trucolor cover I got excited that possibly they found a good print to release in color for the first time. But no. The specs were no help as they didn't indicate b&w or color. The only positive thing I can say is the run time is the fully uncut 75 minutes.

This is a total POS. Edited version, poor transfer, sound out of sync, just a total loss....I kept the case and tossed the movie

This movie was shot in color (using the TruColor process), but this Roan Group DVD is in black and white!

I ordered the DVD from Amazon. When it arrived I noticed that the DVD case, on the lower back, said 55 minutes, so I returned it unopened. It states in this web site 75 minutes. Annoyed.

I grew up watching the "silver screen heroes" and collect many of them. Apache Rose is a good example of Roy's later, post-war movies (although I must admit I miss Gabby Hayes) and should be in any Roy Rogers collection. For content, screen play and acting I would rate it at least 4 star.

This Best of the West DVD version is an improvement over the Bridgestone Group's previous VHS release (982134) in 2004, which I also have, Both the video and audio have benefited from digital mastering and much of the damage in the original film has been removed. The words and music in the songs are clearer. Having said that the movie still suffers from contrast problems inherent to transferring a color image to black & white - objects of different colors but similar intensities tend to blur or wash together and detail is lost (particularly evident in trees, rocks and faces against light backgrounds). The mastering has attempted to clarify people by adding "grain" to lighter faces and objects which is acceptable on smaller screens but looks something like an over-enlarged print on a large screen. Assuming the earlier VHS release most accurately reflects the condition of the film original available, Bridgestone's digital restoration deserves a 3-4 star rating.

If you do not have Apache Rose, this is an acceptable black & white version. However, if you are searching for a restored copy of the original Trucolor version you remember as a child, save your money - this is NOT what you are waiting for.

Republic Pictures presents "APACHE ROSE" (15 February 1947) (75 mins/B&W/Color) (Fully Restored/Dolby Digitally Remastered) --- Roy Rogers (born Leonard Slye) moved to California in 1930, at the age of 18 --- played in such musical groups as The Hollywood Hillbillies, Rocky Mountaineers, Texas Outlaws and his own group, the International Cowboys --- In 1934 he formed a group with Bob Nolan and Tim Spencer called "Sons of the Pioneers" --- While in that group he was known as Leonard Slye, then Dick Weston and finally Roy Rogers --- Their songs included "Cool Water" and "Tumbling Tumbleweeds" --- They first appeared in the western "Rhythm on the Range" (1936), starring Bing Crosby --- In 1937 Roy went solo and made his first starring film in 1938, "Under Western Stars" (1938) --- He made almost 100 films --- then came television, "The Roy Rogers Show" (1951) ran on CBS from October 1951 through September 1964.

Under William Witney (Director), Edward J. White (Producer), Gerald Geraghty (Screenwriter), Jack A. Marta (Cinematographer), Jack Elliott (Composer (Music Score), Glen Spencer (Composer (Music Score), Tim Spencer (Composer (Music Score), Les Orlebeck (Editor) - - - - Our story line and plot, Roy's first color picture --- As an oil wildcatter, roy tries to get drilling rights on an old spanish land grant, but he runs into trouble when gamblers try to force the landowner to give them the property for IOU's that they hold --- Dale Evans plays a tugboat captain --- always good to see Pat Brady and really get a kick out of him in a Rogers' film before he became a mainstay in the TV series --- Here he's involved in a Mexican hat dance with a senorita, and leads the charge with a battering ram to break Roy and Alkali out of a wine cellar --- Dale Evans is a treat, and gets to share about as much screen time as future husband Roy --- some wonderful tunes, THERE'S NOTHING LIKE COFFEE IN THE MORNING -- AT THE WISHING WELL -- RIDE VAQUERO -- APACHE ROSE.

the cast includes
Roy Rogers ... Roy Rogers
Trigger ... "Smartest Horse in the Movies"
Dale Evans ... Billie Colby
Olin Howland ... Alkali (as Olin Howlin)
George Meeker ... Reed Calhoun
John Laurenz ... Henchman Pete
Russ Vincent ... Carlos Vega
Minerva Urecal ... Felicia
LeRoy Mason ... Henchman Hilliard
Donna Martell ... Rosa Vega (as Donna de Mario)
Terry Frost ... Sheriff Mason
Conchita Lemus ... Dancer
Tex Terry ... Henchman
Bob Nolan ... Bob (Sons of the Pioneers)
Sons of the Pioneers ... Musicians
Pat Brady ... Pat (Sons of the Pioneers)
Hugh Farr ... Singer (Sons of the Pioneers)
Karl Farr ... Singer (Sons of the Pioneers)
Martin Garralaga ... Man who arrives with Rosa
Lloyd Perryman ... Lloyd (Sons of the Pioneers)
Tim Spencer ... Tim (Sons of the Pioneers)

BIOS:
1. Roy Rogers (aka: Leonard Franklin Slye)
Date of Birth: 5 November 1911 - Cincinnati, Ohio
Date of Death: 6 July 1998 - Apple Valley, California

2. Dale Evans (aka: Frances Octavia Smith)
Date of Birth: 31 October 1912, Uvalde, Texas
Date of Death: 7 February 2001, Apple Valley, California

3. William Witney (Director)
Date of Birth: 15 May 1915 - Lawton, Oklahoma
Date of Death: 17 March 2002 - Jackson, California

Check out a new book from Empire Publishing - "THE ROY ROGERS BOOK: A REFERENCE TRIVIA SCRAPBOOK" (Paperback) --- reference trivia scrapbook of Roy Rogers written by Western film historian David Rothel whose accounts of thrilling adventures of B-Western heroes during the Saturday matinees of yesteryear takes us back to our childhood, family and friends --- this is a wish come true, reliving those wonderful years from the past through the pen of David Rothel --- Roy was a top box office draw for Republic Pictures when you went to see him on the big screen, you got exactly what the marquee said --- plenty of thrills, action and hard riding with a song or two thrown in for good measure --- Elected to the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1980 as a member of the "Sons of the Pioneers" and elected again in 1988 as Roy Rogers "King of the Cowboys" --- Roy got his horse "Trigger" in 1938 and rode him in every one of his films and TV shows after that --- "Trigger" died in 1965 age of thirty-three --- Roy's dog's name was "Bullet" and appeared in almost as many of his films as "Trigger" did --- Roy's theme song, "Happy Trails", was written by Queen of the West and his wife Dale Evans --- inducted (with his wife Dale Evans) into the "Hall of Great Western Performers of the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum" in 1976 --- inducted as a member of the "Sons of the Pioneers into the "Hall of Great Western Performers of the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum" in 1995 just three years before his death --- Don't miss this one --- now appearing on Amazon and Empire Publishing --- Don't hesitate - rush out and pick up your copy today --- Great reading in the days and weeks to come --- I guarantee it!

Hats off and thanks to Les Adams (collector/guideslines for character identification), Chuck Anderson (Webmaster: The Old Corral/B-Westerns.Com), Boyd Magers (Western Clippings), Bobby J. Copeland (author of "Trail Talk"), Rhonda Lemons (Empire Publishing Inc), Bob Nareau (author of "The Real Bob Steele") and Trevor Scott (Down Under DVD Com) as they have rekindled my interest once again for Film Noir, B-Westerns and Serials --- looking forward to more high quality releases from the vintage serial era of the '20s, '30s & '40s and B-Westerns ... order your copy now from Amazon where there are plenty of copies available on DVD --- stay tuned once again for top notch action mixed with musical adventure --- if you enjoyed this title, why not check out Amazon where they are experts in releasing B-Westerns --- all my heroes have been cowboys!

Total Time: 75 min on VHS/DVD ~ Republic Pictures ~ (5/30/2006)

I always loved going to the movies as a kid back in the 40's and 50's this movie brings back memories of those times. I didn't care if it was a Gene Autry or a Roy Rogers movie.