Plot
The plot is a contemporary one, set in the United States in 1945. Toni Ames (Dale Evans), a "big-city" magazine reporter, is preparing to travel on assignment to the small western town of Twin Wells. Her editor instructs her to gather information and take photographs for an article about "Wildcat" Kelly, a legendary bandit who 35 years earlier was shot and killed for a $50,000 reward and buried in Twin Wells. Toni's boss informs her, however, that the real Wildcat may not have died in 1910. He says an old man named McCoy recently confessed on his deathbed that he and his unnamed partner had collected the large reward for shooting Wildcat, but the man who was killed and buried was not the real outlaw, only someone who looked like him.
Once in Twin Wells, Toni meets dude rancher Roy Rogers and his best friend Gabby Whittaker (George "Gabby" Hayes). She tells them she is a writing a book about western outlaws, not that she is a reporter. Later, when she discovers that Gabby is really the "dead" Wildcat Kelly, Roy implores her not to divulge his secret; it will only cause trouble for Gabby, who has been a model citizen since he faked his death. Despite Roy's pleas, Toni prints her magazine story, along with photographs of Gabby. The news that public funds had been misspent on a phony reward, even so long ago, angers the state's current governor (Paul Harvey), and he orders an investigation of Gabby. The news also prompts an unidentified gunman to shoot the former bandit and then flee. Fortunately, Gabby is only wounded.
Toni now helps Roy to identify Gabby's attacker, Cliff Anson (Marc Lawrence), and to track him to the "Westward Ho Resort" owned by Henry Bennett (Moroni Olsen). Roy, Toni, and their friends take jobs as entertainers there to learn what connection Anson has to Bennett. Anson soon panics when he sees Gabby visiting the resort, and he tells Bennett, who kills Anson and then implicates Gabby for the murder. Running from the police, Gabby, Roy, and Toni soon manage to meet with the local sheriff (Tom London) to explain what truly happened. Gabby recounts how as Wildcat back in 1910, he staged his death so he could begin a constructive, law-abiding life with a new name. A large "sack of sand" was put in his casket to simulate the weight of a corpse; however, Bennett and his accomplice McCoy later substituted a real body for the sand so they could claim the reward for killing Wildcat. As Gabby and Roy continue to talk with the sheriff, Bennett and his gang suddenly arrive; but Roy, Gabby and their allies overpower the bad guys and have them arrested. Months later, the exonerated Gabby discusses his criminal past with the governor. He tells the chief executive that he kept none of the money he stole as an outlaw; instead, he gave most of it to charities, donated some to the governor's own political campaign, and used the rest to buy the available Western Ho Resort to serve as an exclusive vacation site for state employees.
Release and reception
By the time of the release of Don't Fence Me In in 1945, Roy Rogers was already recognized throughout the United States as "The King of the Cowboys". Since his first starring role in Under Western Stars seven years earlier, he had evolved into a major star within the subtype of Westerns known as "singing-cowboy pictures". Republic Pictures, which produced and distributed Don't Fence Me In, would continue to release several of Rogers' films every year until the final months of 1951. [4] Produced on a relatively low budget, with a running time of 71 minutes, Don't Fence Me In—like Rogers' other films in this period—was categorized as a "B"-grade production and presented at theaters as a second feature in double billings or showcased on Saturday mornings and afternoons for Roy's legions of younger fans. Despite that status or secondary grade in perceived "quality" compared to top-billed feature films, Don't Fence Me In attracted greater coverage and more reviews from trade publications and newspapers than other B films due to Roy Roger's extraordinary popularity.
One of the more widely read trade papers in 1945, The Film Daily in New York, described Don't Fence Me In as a well-cast "Knockout Western Musical With All the Qualities For Top Feature Billing": [5]
Republic has a sure-fire box office winner with this one, and should feel mighty proud of having corralled director John English and associate producer Donald H. Brown to handle the job ... The tune title has been perfectly adapted to a swell original screenplay by Dorrell and Stuart E. McGowen, and a new, catchy lyrical tune, "A Kiss Goodnight," has been injected for special delivery by Dale Evans. Despite the fact that Rogers, King of the Cowboys, offers his best performance to date, equal honors must be shared by Gabby Hayes, as Wildcat Kelly, and good-looking Dale Evans for her zippy candid camera reporting. [5]
In another review of Don't Fence Me In in October 1945, the trade weekly Motion Picture Herald complimented the film as entertaining, predicting it would "appeal to a more vast audience than the usual Western." [6] Variety agreed that Rogers' film had broad appeal, which the paper's reviewer credited chiefly to the "lavishness" of the "ultra western" and to John English's expert direction. [7]
Roy Rogers, nicknamed the King of the Cowboys, was an American singer, actor, television host, and rodeo performer.
Dale Evans Rogers was an American actress, singer, and songwriter. She was the third wife of singing cowboy film star Roy Rogers.
George Francis "Gabby" Hayes was an American actor. He began as something of a leading man and a character player, but he was best known for his numerous appearances in B-Western film series as the bewhiskered, cantankerous, but ever-loyal and brave comic sidekick of the cowboy stars Roy Rogers and John Wayne.
"Don't Fence Me In" is a popular American song written in 1934, with music by Cole Porter and lyrics by Robert Fletcher and Cole Porter. Members of the Western Writers of America chose it as one of the Top 100 Western songs of all time.
Jasper Joseph Inman Kane was an American film director, film producer, film editor and screenwriter. He is best known for his extensive directorship and focus on Western films.
Jesse James at Bay is a 1941 American western film directed by Joseph Kane and starring Roy Rogers, George "Gabby" Hayes and Sally Payne. Roy Rogers plays dual roles in this film. It was produced and distributed by Republic Pictures.
Lights of Old Santa Fe is a 1944 American Western Musical film directed by Frank McDonald with a screenplay by Gordon Kahn and Bob Williams. The film stars Roy Rogers and Dale Evans.
Bells of Rosarita is a 1945 American musical Western film starring Roy Rogers and directed by Frank McDonald.
The Man from Oklahoma is a 1945 American western film directed by Frank McDonald and starring Roy Rogers, Dale Evans and George 'Gabby' Hayes. It was produced and distributed by Republic Pictures.
Sunset in El Dorado is a 1945 American Western film directed by Frank McDonald and starring Roy Rogers.
Song of Arizona is a 1946 American Western film directed by Frank McDonald and starring Roy Rogers, Dale Evans and George "Gabby" Hayes. It was produced and distributed by Republic Pictures.
My Pal Trigger is a 1946 American Western musical film directed by Frank McDonald. The screenplay by Jack Townley and John K. Butler was based upon a story by Paul Gangelin. The film stars Roy Rogers, Dale Evans, George “Gabby” Hayes, Jack Holt, and Trigger in a story about the origin of Rogers' mount, and their deep and faithful bond. The film features several musical numbers for Rogers, Evans, and Bob Nolan and the Sons of the Pioneers.
Under Nevada Skies is a 1946 American Western film directed by Frank McDonald and starring Roy Rogers, Dale Evans and George "Gabby" Hayes. It was produced and distributed by Republic Pictures.
Roll on Texas Moon is a 1946 American Western film directed by William Witney and starring Roy Rogers, Dale Evans and George 'Gabby' Hayes. It was produced and distributed by Republic Pictures.
Home in Oklahoma is a 1946 American Western film starring Roy Rogers.
Heldorado is a 1946 American Western film starring Roy Rogers set during the annual Helldorado Days celebrations in Las Vegas. It was the last teaming of Roy and comedy relief sidekick Gabby Hayes. Hayes shares a scene with Pat Brady who later became Rogers' comedy relief sidekick.
"Tumbling Tumbleweeds" is a Western music song composed by Bob Nolan, a founding member of the Sons of the Pioneers. Nolan wrote the song in the early 1930s while he was working as a caddy and living in Los Angeles. It was first recorded by the Sons of the Pioneers in 1934, and it became one of the most famous songs associated with the group. Originally titled "Tumbling Leaves", the song was reworked into the title "Tumbling Tumbleweeds" and into more widespread fame with the 1935 film of the same name starring Gene Autry. Members of the Western Writers of America chose it as one of the Top 100 Western songs of all time.
Utah is a 1945 American Western film directed by John English and starring Roy Rogers.
Along the Navajo Trail is a 1945 American Western film directed by Frank McDonald and starring Roy Rogers, Gabby Hayes and Dale Evans. The film's story was based on a William Colt MacDonald novel. The film marked the debut of the Cuban actress Estelita Rodriguez, who Republic Pictures then began to build up into a star. Its title song is Along the Navajo Trail, an instrumental version of which appears with the opening credits, with a brief vocal version during the last twenty seconds of the film. The first few bars of the song are used as background music in several chase scenes.
The Roy Rogers Show was a 30-minute Western radio program in the United States. It began in 1944, ended in 1955, and was carried on more than 500 stations. Because of demands on Rogers' time for personal appearances and making films, the show was one of the first radio series to be transcribed.
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