Customer Reviews

Roy Rogers - Cowboy Classics

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Having purchased Vintage's version of "39 Steps" [Montage of Mysteries, along with "Rich and Strange" and "Young and Innocent"], and having been satisfied with 2 of the three transfers on that DVD, I decided to take a chance on their Roy Rogers release. While watchable, it is clear not a lot of care was given in transferring these movies. Some of the text on the opening credits is so out of focus it can't be read.

My recommendation....stick with the Roan Group releases (Volumes 1-3).

[Also, avoid the truncated "Happy Trails Theatre" releases by Good Times.]

The poor quality of the film transfers were rather distracting. It made it look like the briteness setting on my TV was too high. Also, 3 out of 4 of these movies are edited versions. Home in Oklahoma was the only movie to be full length. Carson City Kid looks to be missing about 4 minutes. Yellow Rose of Texas has 13 minutes missing, The Cowboy and the Seniorita is missing 23 minutes. Most of what was edited were songs. Unfortunately, no run time information was available on Amazon. The price was pretty good for 4 movies, and if you've never seen Roy in action, it's a cheap way to do so.

THE CARSON CITY KID: Roy Rogers is "The Carson City Kid," and he accidentally earns a reputation of a stagecoach robber.
THE YELLOW ROSE OF TEXAS: As an insurance investigator, Roy works undercover to catch a criminal in the act of robbing Dale's showboat.
COWBOY AND THE SENORITA: When Chip inherits a supposedly worthless gold mine, Roy searches for clues as to the real worth of the mine.
HOME IN OKLAHOMA: Duke inherits his father's ranch after his accidental death, but an attempt on his life makes the accident seem like murder.

O.K. so it's Black and white pretty horrible quality and the audio doesn't do justice to what it must have really sounded like. I still would love to see these movies restored. The musical finale of "The cowboy and the Senorita," is lavish and actually gives me goose-bumps and pride to see how wonderfully done this musical was. Wow! It's light-heartedly, funny too! The song "Enchelada man" who goes around "spreading indigestion" is hilarious. Roy and Dale are together on all these movies. Such wonderful singers! Also the movie "Home in Oklahoma" has the musical number "Showboat" which also is very lavishly done for that time period. It would have been thrilling done in today's color and surround sound. Sons of the Pioneers sing "Tall timbers calling (or falling?)" is another great harmony number done boldly! At one point Roy rides out on Trigger and sings and you can see Trigger's wet eyes while Roy sings his happy optimistic cowboy song. It just makes you feel good! He has charisma presence even on this old B & W. We need heroes and they are certainly here.