Before she joined the Happy Trails as Roy Rogers' on and off-screen partner, the woefully underrated Dale Evans provided spice and spunk to a number of films--before being promoted to leading lady in this pleasant musical--with four gorgeous songs and a dazzling Dale to sing them to perfection. Like most of the Republic Studios film library, "Hitchhike to Happiness" has hitchhiked into obscurity. A pity, because though the plot is nothing special, Dale is a doll--blonde, sassy, beautiful and. . .Just imagine if MGM instead of Republic had put her under contract. In lustrous Technicolor, Dale would have become an instant star. Meanwhile, we'll have to settle for her musical-Westerns with Roy (all of them delightful--this handsome couple had charisma to spare) and her only tailored-for-Dale musical, "Hitchhike to Happiness." Forget the plot (something about a struggling actress and her supportive friends). Simply savor Dale in her prime, and she's sensational--a vivacious blonde beauty with a soothing, velvet voice and a snappy personality similar to Fox's lead contract player Alice Faye. This disarmingly sweet, good-humored, melodic showcase for dazzling Dale still remains an unexpected treat. Move over, Trigger!
Review of Hitchhike to Happiness
