Song of Texas (1943) User Reviews

A Guy You Can Count On

[bkoganbing · 5/10 · 5 October 2010]

Sad to say that I saw the edited for television of Song Of Texas and a lot of the story involving plot motivation was missing. I might have given this film a star or two higher if I had seen the director's cut.

Roy Rogers who is the star performer of the Calvert Brothers rodeo is planning to leave because he does not like the way brothers Barton MacLane and William Haade operate. Especially after he sees the way they treat down on his luck former rodeo star Harry Shannon. Roy and Sons of the Pioneers retire to the ranch they're starting.

But Roy goes overboard in his charity when he finds out that Shannon has a daughter coming to see him who thinks he's an owner of the ranch. Daughter Sheila Ryan who arrives with friend Arline Judge is a savvy businesswoman from the east and she wants the 'partnership' that Roy has with Shannon put on a business basis. Her interference nearly costs Roy and the boys everything they've worked for.

Vocal highlight of the film is Roy at the beginning visiting a Children's Hospital and singing Mexicali Rose to a young visiting girl patient from Mexico. Although Bing Crosby had the hit record of that song, Roy warbles it real pretty.

Not a bad Roy Rogers film, but try to see the unedited version.

this is all a sham

[sandcrab277 · 5/10 · 16 May 2020]

If the daughter was so bright she should have figured it out in 5 minutes but instead she makes herself a giant pain in everyone's rump to prove her point .... moral of the story, never let women mess in men's business especially if they are family

No good deep goes unpunished.

[planktonrules · 7/10 · 22 December 2020]

Back in the 1950s, cowboy shows were the rage. And, because there seemed to be an insatiable desire for them, instead of just making television shows, many of the famous B-western cowboys had their films cut down to fit television time slots. Hopalong Cassidy was pretty astute, as he kept the original versions safe, but this was not the case with Roy Rogers and Gene Autry. While most of their film were edited down to television length, the original versions were sometimes lost. In the case of "Song of Texas", I've only been able to find the edited version, and about 15 minutes of the original film are missing.Plus, the print is truly awful...blurry and very dark. I mention this because I just want you to know that this review is NOT for the original film...which might have been better.

The story starts off in a children's ward in the hospital where Roy and Trigger, yes TRIGGER, are there entertaining the kids. Soon the scene switches to a rodeo and Roy is there to compete. He sees Sam Bennett and you learn Bennett used to be a heck of a rodeo star...but those glory years are all behind him. He's now broke, old and pretty much forgotten...but Roy introduces himself and treats the has-been with great deference. Later you learn that Bennett is living a double life. He's pretty much a loser but he's convinced his daughter back home that he owns a ranch out west! When she talks about coming to see him and his ranch, nice-guy Roy offers to help...and his nice gesture comes to bite him on the butt. How? See the film.

A big plus for this film is having Barton MacLane as the bad guy. He was wonderful playing big, nasty jerks in movies and did it many dozens of times....and he never disappoints. I just wish there was more of him in this film.

Overall, a most unusual Roy Rogers film. Most plots of these old B-westerns are very similar...this one sure isn't. See the film and see for yourself why I say this.

This is like early reality TV!

[e_tippett · 18 January 2007]

I loved the opening scene where he is playing himself in the children's hospital ward. Every detail, even down to the "assistant" who is trying to hurry him along, they are running late on their schedule. it seems almost like today's reality TV, only actually REAL. He seems to genuinely like kids, and it shows through, no acting. (obviously, since he either had or adopted so many of them in real life.) He seems to have been a very nice guy, bringing his horse and all into the children's ward room and getting Trigger to do tricks. Then it flashes back to "the past" where he was a rodeo rider etc and plays out the story, where once again, he plays a decent guy trying to help out a friend; from there it pretty much descends into formulaic B Western, although I did notice the nod to the changing role of women, the friend's daughter is a single, modern, rather pushy girl who works in New York as a bookkeeper for a company that does a "Half million dollars a month turnover!"

"Just like the Stork Club - with tamales!"

[classicsoncall · 6/10 · 27 August 2012]

This story has a great opening scene in which Roy marches Trigger down the corridor of a children's hospital, then proceeds to entertain the kids with a song and a routine with the Smartest Horse in the Movies. I'm not so sure something like this would have been allowed under real circumstances, but it went a long way to show just what a genuine guy Roy Rogers could be. His interaction with the kids was so natural and appealing that it's no wonder he was a hero to a generation of youngsters.

Story wise, there are a few elements that don't quite pass muster either, especially from the vantage point of present day. Sue Bennett's (Sheila Ryan) partnership agreement between Roy and her father (Harry Shannon) would have been suspect right from the get-go with anyone familiar with Roy and his real partners, The Sons of the Pioneers. Then, when she goes ahead and sells her father's share, there should have been red flags thrown all over the place. But this was a simpler time and made for a simpler audience, so the plausibility factor didn't seem to be much of a concern.

In addition to a handful of songs, there are a couple of chuckwagon races to bookend the picture that are actually quite exciting, especially the one to close out the story. The prize agreement between Roy and villain Jim Calvert (Barton MacLane) is full ownership of the Pioneers' Ranch to the winner, and it's no coincidence that Roy's team consists of all white horses. There's a head scratcher of sorts though before it's all over; Roy engages in a bit of skullduggery to torpedo one of the rival wagons, but since it was Calvert's entry I guess it was OK.

More than any other Rogers flick I've seen that includes the Sons of the Pioneers, this one gives Pat Brady quite a prominent role as a sidekick. Brady offers a fair share of comic relief, and in an unusual move, gets to pair off with Sue Bennett's back East girlfriend Hildegarde (Arline Judge). He really bowled me over with a line he used to win her over at the finale - "For a top hand, my kisses are slow murder!"

More Like Song Of New Mexico

[FightingWesterner · 5/10 · 17 May 2010]

Roy Rogers and pals Bob Nolan and The Sons Of The Pioneers break with some unscrupulous showmen, in order to start their own ranch. Roy then decides to help his old, destitute mentor Harry Shannon by letting him masquerade as the ranch's half-owner in order to impress his daughter. She then takes it upon herself to sell her "father's half" to Roy's enemy.

The title Song Of Texas is a misnomer, as the address on a telegraphed message clearly reads that they're in New Mexico!

As far as the movie itself goes, it's pretty lightweight, but okay if you're in an undemanding mood. However, Shannon's character is pretty dumb and unlikable. I don't quite understand why Roy goes this far out of his way to help. Shannon's daughter is lovely, but unappealing too.

The opening scene has Roy bringing Trigger into a hospital room to visit sick children. As sweet as it was, I don't think they allow that in real life!

Roy's love/hate relationship with bossy, sophisticated, eastern beauty

[weezeralfalfa · 8/10 · 3 April 2019]

First, I will say that I watched the abbreviated 50min. version at YouTube, thus missing nearly 20min. of the original. However, I hardly noticed that anything was missing. To get this version, type in 'Song of Texas 1943 Roy' . If you leave out 'Roy', you will not get this version. Instead, you will get a much inferior 53min. copy. ......Very unusual for a Roy Rogers western, this was shot almost exclusively around Lone Pine, including the famous Alabama Hills, with the majestic High Sierra in the background. This was the favored location of many of the Hopalong Cassidy film series. .......Roy, as the star attraction, decides to quit Jim Calvert's(Barton MacLane) rodeo show and buy a ranch, where he hopes to start his own traveling rodeo show. Roy didn't like Calvert's giving veteran performer Sam Bennett(Harry Shannon) an inferior chuckwagon for his race against Roy, resulting in the wreck of the chuckwagon, and injury to Sam. Roy feels sorry for the destitute Sam, and invites him to join his ranch. In fact, since Sam's daughter, Sue((Sheila Ryan) is due to arrive for a visit in a few days, Roy decides to tell her that Sam owns the ranch, and that he is the forman, since Sam has led her to believe that he is a wealthy rancher. When Sue arrives with her friend Hildegarde Gray, Sue immediately takes a liking to Roy, while Hilde latches on to Pat Brady. This is the way things stay until film's end. Roy does try to romance Sue. One evening, on the porch, he warbles "Moonlight and Roses". Later, they go for a nocturnal ride around the ranch, until Roy's horses are seen stampeding. Roy goes to stop them. Meanwhile, Sue gets mixed up with the rustlers. Somehow(Deleted section?) she breaks free, but her horse runs away, necessitating Roy to calm down the steed. He has fun teasing Sue about how she will get back............Now, Sue is told that actually, her father is only half owner of this ranch, Roy owning the other part. But, there is nothing in writing to this effect. Being an accountant and businesswoman, she insists that a legal document be drawn up, which she does herself. She also had herself appointed with power of attorney over Sam. Now, discreetly, she offers to sell Sam's supposed half to Calvert, of all people.. Naturally, when Sam and Roy find out, they go ballistic, and demand that Calvert return the bill of sale, which he appears to do, but then suggests a chuckwagon race between his wagon and Roy's, with winner take all of the ranch. Confusing to me! If this were a John Wayne western, I suspect John would have walloped Sue's behind for doing this, but that's not Roy's style. This race is the most exciting part of the film, with both participants resorting to some foul play. In Roy's case, it was revenge..........Near the end, Sue is standing next to Roy. If they intend to marry, I assume Sue will stay at the ranch, rather than returning to NYC. That would be quite a come down for her, and I'm not sure she could handle it........Besides "Moonlight and Roses", at the beginning, Roy sings Mexicali Rose to a group of hospitalized children, and in particular, to a Mexican girl. Then, at a fiesta, a group of Mexicans sing the familiar Cielito Lindo, followed by Roy's rendition in English. At film's end, there is a group sing while on horses, of "There's a Rainbow over the Range"...........In all, one of the better films in this series.

One of Rogers' best efforts!

[JohnHowardReid · 8/10 · 6 May 2018]

Director: JOSEPH KANE. Original screenplay: Winton Miller. Photography: Reggie Lanning. Film editor: Tony Martinelli. Art director: Russell Kimball. Set decorator: Charles Thompson. Songs: "Mexicali Rose" (Rogers), words and music by H. Stone and J.B. Tenney; "Moonlight and Roses" (Rogers), words and music by Ben Black and Neil Moret; "Ay-yi Ay-yi-yi" (Alex Nehera Dancers, sung by Bob Nolan, reprized by Roy Rogers, both with the Sons of the Pioneers), traditional; "There's a Rainbow Over the Range" (Rogers, Nolan, and the Sons of the Pioneers). Music director: Morton Scott. Sound recording: Fred Stahl. RCA Sound System. Associate producer: Harry Grey. Executive producer: Herbert J. Yates.

Copyright 2 June 1943 by Republic Pictures Corp. No New York release. U.S. release: 14 June 1943. Australian release: 3 February 1944. 8 reels. 6,567 feet. 73 minutes.

SYNOPSIS: Roy Rogers pretends a has-been rodeo rider is a partner in his ranch to impress has-been's daughter.

COMMENT: Although not officially credited, it's obvious that the 2nd unit action in this film - a race between chuck-wagons, a moonlight chase after rustlers culminating in a spirited rescue of the heroine from a runaway horse, and finally a second race between chuck-wagons which easily trebles the thrills of the first - was directed by Yakima Canutt. This first-class material, thrillingly angled and excitingly stunted, makes the rest of the film look good.

Even Mr Slye is quite tolerable, sings with dash and acts with heart. Of course the story is a bit out of the rut, and it's agreeably played by a top-line cast including Barton MacLane as the chief villain, Sheila Ryan as an unusually purposeful heroine, Arline Judge and Pat Brady as comic relief.

The songs are pleasant standards, the Sons are in fine voice. Comparatively handsome production credits include bright photography and pacey film editing. True, the interior sets are typical Poverty Row, but the budget-stretching exteriors are atmospherically awesome. Even Kane's direction is crisp and has a modicum of style.

Despite the familiar-sounding title, one of Rogers' best westerns.

When You Steal, Steal From The Best

[boblipton · 8/10 · 24 July 2023]

When chuckwagon race driver Harry Shannon is injured in Barton MacLane's crooked rodeo, Roy Rogers and the Sons of The Pioneers quit the show and retreat to Roy's ranch. Because Shannon had a letter from his daughter, Sheila Ryan, saying she was coming to visit him on his non-existent ranch, Roy makes out that Bennett owns the ranch.... and Miss Ryan starts ordering things to her business-like mind.

With a start like Capra's LADY FOR A DAY, the Rogers movies are back to having good stories to tell. Even though Pat Brady has to be the principal clown here, he does a workmanlike job of it, and the song selection is among the best: "Mexicali Rose", "Moonlight and Roses", and a handsome production number of "Cielito Lindo". You can spot Yakima Canutt in the rodeo, and the chuckwagon race that caps the show is a corker for stuntwork.

One of Roy's best!

[wise1too · 8/10 · 3 September 2020]

If you don't like the roy Rogers style of western film, you'll never like any of his films. But, if you can get into it, this is one of Roy's best. At this point in his career, he looked his best and Republic productions wer at thir peak! Great direction, camerawork and stunts shoit at beautiful Lone Pine CA. Not to mention some nifty songs to boot! The plot is pretty typical of a Rogers film from this period too. But it;s all done as well as it can be done. And a terrific opening sequence at a kid's hospital that mimicked Roy's real life visits to kids wards and the "front-row kids" ate it up too. Enjioy!