HOME IN OKLAHOMA

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HOME IN OKLAHOMA (director: William Witney; screenwriter: Gerald Geraghty; cinematographer: William Bradford; editor: Lester Orlebeck; music: Joseph Dubin/Jack Elliott (uncredited)/Tim Spencer (uncredited); cast: Roy Rogers (Himself), George “Gabby” Hayes (Gabby Whittaker), Dale Evans (Connie Edwards), Carol Hughes (Jan Holloway), George Lloyd (Sheriff Barclay), Lanny Rees (Duke Lowery), George Meeker (Steve McClory), Ruby Dandridge (Devoria Lassiter), Arthur Space (Judnick) and Bob Nolan and The Sons of the Pioneers; Runtime: 72; MPAA Rating: NR; producer: Edward J. White; Republic Pictures; 1946)
“One of the better singing cowboy Roy Rogers films.”

Reviewed by Dennis Schwartz

One of the better singing cowboy Roy Rogers films. Regular director of Rogers’ films William Witney (“Bells of San Angelo”/”The Gay Ranchero”/”Trigger, Jr.”) delivers his usual polished B-Western. It’s written by Gerald Geraghty.

Roy Rogers is the crusading frontier newspaper editor of his smalltown Oklahoma paper, the Hereford Heaven Star. Connie Edwards (Dale Evans) is the reporter from the St. Louis Chronicle here to cover the story about the prized herd of Hereford cattle at the Flying T Ranch. They first attend the reading of the will of Sam Talbot, the kindly 75-year-old owner of the ranch who died in an accident. He surprisingly leaves the valuable ranch to Duke Lowery (Lanny Rees), the twelve-year old ward of ranch foreman Gabby Whittaker (Gabby Hayes), instead of his nearest relation, his ranch owning niece Jan Holloway (Carol Hughes). Her ranch foreman, Steve McClory (George Meeker), who had expected Jan to inherit the Flying T, angrily accuses Gabby of manipulating Sam and threatens to contest the will. In Roy’s inheritance of a prayer book, he finds a message from Sam asking him to investigate the circumstances of his death. When Connie publishes the story, Steve schemes to eliminate Duke, by firing shots at him, before the will can be probated. Roy’s investigation leads him to the crooked coroner (Arthur Space), and on the the trail of the culprits who committed murder.

It comes with the expected happy ending. The musical highlight has Roy and Dale belt out the novelty tune of “Miguelito.”

REVIEWED ON 6/4/2007 GRADE: B-

Dennis Schwartz: “Ozus’ World Movie Reviews”

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