Customer Reviews

Bells of San Angelo [VHS]

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Sturdy Grade B western fun starring Roy Rogers, Dale Evans, Trigger, and the whole gang. Gravelly voiced Andy Devine is the comedy relief sheriff. ("Aw, Roy! You didn't have to do that!"). Bob Nolan and the Sons of the Pioneers sing as they ride along the trail. I mean, what else do you want in a western movie? Roy is a border investigator, and Dale is a visiting western novelist. An inscription on the mission bells of San Angelo carries the clue to a lost silver mine. A gang of smugglers committing murder and mayhem along the Mexican-U.S. border have their own dastardly plans for the mine's valuable silver-ore.

This movie is a cut above the typical Roy Rogers western musical revue. There are occasional musical numbers, but they are not obnoxiously intrusive. Hard-riding, two-fisted action is stressed instead. In fact, the movie was criticized in 1947 for being too violent. There is one scene, for example, that shows an outnumbered Roy getting beat to a non-bloody pulp. Now, when was the last time you recall RR losing a fistfight? This movie is good fun for those raised on a steady diet of TV and movie westerns filled with black-hearted villains and roaring six-guns. The movie has one sterling example of immortal dialogue. As Roy socks one of the bad guys, Dale urges him on with the classic line, " 'Atta boy, Roy!" Probably the most succinctly cogent summary one can give of this movie. Nostalgia buffs can nestle in and enjoy this one.

The visual (including color) and sound quality of this video are very good. This full length color version of Bells of San Angelo, which was the second of 19 Trucolor films released by Republic, is highly recommended for Roy Rogers'collectors. It co-stars Dale Evans and Andy Devine (who took "Gabby" Hayes place in the series). This was the last appearance of Dale Evans until her return in Sussana Pass, a later entry in the Trucolor series. Jane Frazee replaced her for several Rogers' Trucolor films. In a post World War II attempt to bring more realism to the Roger's films, Bells of San Angelo includes a segment in which Roy takes a savage beating. Such scenes were a trademark of director William Witney who took over the series in mid 1946.

"Bells Of San Angelo"..From 1947 directed by William Witney, this is a corny but fun film, starring Roy Rogers, Trigger(Yes, Trigger gets top billing), Dale Evans and Andy Devine. There's trouble amiss in the local silver mine that borders Mexico. Can Roy save the day(or maybe even Dale to the rescue) and still have time to get in a few tunes? You bet! It's a modern western(for the 40's), but Roy and the boys still ride horses and carry 6 shooters, while everyone else takes the bus!

If you love these old oaters, you should check out the Great American Western series put out by Platinum Disc. There are about 25 volumes of the series, with four flicks on each disc. They may be purchased individually or in sets of anywhere from 2 to 10 discs. The "Bells of San Angelo" may be found on: Great American Western V.20, The, (also included in Vol 2 of the 10 pack set). Volume 20 also includes a great documentary about the John Ford Western, starring "Pappy" himself, John Wayne, Jimmy Stewart and Henry Fonda. The DVDs are not pristeen, but look pretty good for the most part, have 5.1 enhancement, and the price is right(beats buying all these old westerns individually).

Saddle up with the with the gang and Happy Trails to you....Laurie

Republic Pictures presents "BELLS OF SAN ANGELO" (15 May 1947) (78 mins/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), Paul Gangelin (Short Story Author), Sloan Nibley (Screenwriter), Jack A. Marta (Cinematographer), Jack Elliott (Songwriter), Mort Glickman (Composer (Music Score), Morton Scott (Composer (Music Score), Tim Spencer (Songwriter), Les Orlebeck (Editor), Gano Chittenden (Production Designer), Helen Hansard (Set Designer), John McCarthy (Set Designer), Bob Mark (Makeup), Howard Lydecker (Special Effects), Theodore Lydecker (Special Effects) - - - - Our story line and plot, Roy, as a Border Patrolman and Dale Evans, as a western novelist, investigate silver smuggling from Mexico --- Director William Witney allows the villains to beat Roy, the realism is intensified with Trucolor showing red blood --- Andy Devine pretty much steals the film, every scene he's in is a showstopper --- good to see ace stuntman David Sharpe in this oater --- Roy and Dale make a charming couple, and they even get to share a duet together among the host of songs presented in the film --- some wonderful tunes, BELLS OF SAN ANGELO -- HOT LEAD -- I LIKE TO GET UP EARLY IN THE MORNING -- A COWBOY'S DREAM OF HEAVEN -- MY BONNIE LIES OVER THE OCEAN -- I LOVE THE WEST -- LAZY DAYS.

the cast includes
Roy Rogers ... Roy Rogers
Trigger ... "Smartest Horse in the Movies"
Dale Evans ... Lee Madison
Andy Devine ... Cookie Bullfincher
John McGuire ... Rex Gridley
Olaf Hytten ... Lionel Bates
David Sharpe ... Gus Ulrich
Fritz Leiber ... Padre
Hank Patterson ... Deaf Bus Passenger
Fred 'Snowflake' Toones ... The Cook (as Fred S. Toones)
Eddie Acuff ... Bus Driver
Bob Nolan ... Bob (The Sons of the Pioneers)
Sons of the Pioneers ... Musicians (as The Sons of the Pioneers)
Pat Brady ... Pat (The Sons of the Pioneers)
Art Dillard ... Mine Henchman
Hugh Farr ... Fiddle Player (The Sons of the Pioneers)
Karl Farr ... Guitar Player Karl (The Sons of the Pioneers)l
Fred Graham ... Mine henchman guarding Lee
Eddie Parker ... Mine henchman
Tim Spencer ... Tim (The Sons of the Pioneers)
Dale Van Sickel ... Henchman Mike


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: 78 min on VHS/DVD ~ Republic Pictures ~ (11/13/2006)

Bells of San Angelo is one of my favorite Roy Rogers videos. Dale and Roy have some great lines and the fight scene is really good. Dale, the writer of fanciful cowboy novels, actually helps save the day. This video is really great and I hope every one enjoys watching it as much as I did.

A group of riders come singing into town. Next we see a man in a buggy fleeing while being fired upon. The pursuers plant evidence to prove the man was a thief. Roy Rogers rides to the mine to investigate. The mine manager explains their policy against thieves. A letter to Roy says a writer will arrive to get information for a book. There is a surprise here! The boys sing a song boasting of their courage. [How many bullets in a six-shooter? Sixteen? The script plays with the western legends.] This "horse opera" mixes in singing and music with dramatic events. There is a secret to the San Angelo mine. It is being used to bring silver from a low-cost area to a high-price area; they are arbitrageurs and smugglers.

The padre asks for help to find a missing sentry. They search all night and find nothing. There is no time to get a search warrant for the Monarch mine. Roy and the Sheriff fall into a trap. Later a stranger shows up to search for a man. There is a new owner to this land, like a feudal lord. Who can it be? There is more humor in holding a fox hunt. [This pads out the film and provides a chase scene.] Two men abduct Bates and hit him. Who would want to hurt him? Roy surmises that smuggling is going on. They find a hidden cave from an old legend. Lee Madison is sent back to summon help, but she is stopped. Trigger the Wonder Horse gets through and summons help! Reinforcements arrive to turn the tide of battle. Gridley takes Lee as a hostage. Two dogs run after them. Life imitates art. The bad guys are captured after a fight; the dogs helped. There is a happy ending.

These films provided entertainment for millions of children in the 1940s. Sixty years later you can see them as low-budget entertainment. They are never shown on TV since the 1950s. It also shows how a powerful corporation can oppress the people. If you were born after the 1950s you can view what used to be popular entertainment. This is an amusing film if you don't expect too much from it.