GRAND CANYON TRAIL (director: William Witney; screenwriter: Gerald Geraghty; cinematographer: Reggie Lanning; editor: Tony Martinelli; music: Nathan Scott; cast: Roy Rogers (Himself), Jane Frazee (Carol Martin), Andy Devine (“Cookie” Bullfincher), Robert Livingston (Bill Regan), Charles Coleman (J. Malcolm Vanderpool), Roy Barcroft (Davey Williams), Ken Terrell (Mike Delsing), Tommy Coats (Bannister), Emmett Lynn (Ed Carruthers, stage driver), James Finlayson (Sheriff); Runtime: 68; MPAA Rating: NR; producer: Edward White; Mill Creek Entertainment; 1948)
“Routine oater.”

Reviewed by Dennis Schwartz

William Witney(“The Adventures of Captain Marvel”/”Master of the World”/”I Escaped from Devil’s Island”) directs this routine oater in his usual fast-pace. Gerald Geraghty’s screenplay is nothing special to write home about. The Riders of the Purple Sage and Foy Willing help Roy Rogers with the singing obligations. It was filmed on location at the Grand Canyon.

Wall Street investor J. Malcolm Vanderpool (Charles Coleman) receives a telegram from his crooked mining engineer partner Bill Regan (Robert Livingston) informing him there is no silver in their ghost-town mine located out West, though Regan knows from not sharing a government assayer’s report that’s not true. The mine was reopened because Vanderpool’s loyal secretary, Carol Martin (Jane Frazee), a native of the mine’s Sintown location, talked the boss into the investment. Vanderpool, saddled with bills, goes bankrupt and gives Carol two months’ severance pay. But the feisty secretary is sure the mine has silver and treks to Sintown posing as Vanderpool’s daughter. There she hooks up with the swindled stock mine investors Rogers and the blacksmith Cookie (Andy Devine) and they round-up the baddies after a few fistfights and a shoot-out they capture Regan, his henchmen Davey Williams (Roy Barcroft) and Mike Delsing (Ken Terrell).

REVIEWED ON 8/21/2013 GRADE: C+

Dennis Schwartz: “Ozus’ World Movie Reviews”

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