Roy Rogers

[Sue Sue Applegate]

They were not very convoluted plots espousing family values and letting the
"good guy" always win. Saturday mornings were safe, happy places to be
when a young viewer could always count on Roy and Dale and Gabby and Pat
to do everything they could to stop the thieves, rustlers, and dusty evildoers.
Has anyone checked out what they show to youngsters nowadays on Saturday mornings?

Wooden, contrived, not spontaneous, playing to the camera. Yes.
Where was I as a youngster on Saturday morning? Watching every minute of it.

[moira finnie]

Yup, much as I loved ol' Roy, I gotta concede it - he was no Olivier.
Heck, go it further, he was no Regis Toomey, for that matter!
Undeniably stagey & wooden, given to stilted replies and cardboard characters, he was no kind of a polished Thespian, especially when portraying himself in the lead role as protagonist -
Unlike Clayton Moore (as the Lone Ranger), or Duncan Rinaldo (as the Cisco Kid), or Richard Simmons (as Sgt. Preston), or George Reeves (as Superman), or Hugh Reilly (from "Lassie), or Gene Evans (from "My Friend Flicka") . .
Wait a minute . . they were all pretty 2-dimensional, too . .
So why do so many of us recall their daring exploits & cheery courage with such monumental fondness and deep affection . . .? ~ Klondike

2-Dimensional?!
Come 'on, what could possibly be 2 dimensional about Gene Evans, even on My Friend Flicka?
How could you say that about an actor who
1.)Was a man of oh, shall we say avoirdupois proportions of about 200+ lbs. most days.
2.) Had one of the graveliest voices this side of Andy Devine , (which Evans could soften beautifully into a warm "Dad" voice)
3.) Carried himself with some real, much needed gravitas as an actor through some often truly unlikely vehicles (like Donovan's Brain, for instance), and
4.) Was a man who could easily suggest a titanic temper honed on various battlefields, mental and actual. Not to mention the fact that he had to work in some kiddie show to keep the wolf from the door & beer in the fridge during what should have been his prime years as an actor! No wonder he always seemed to be struggling inwardly to be the gentle father he wished to be, instead of the p.o'd grizzly bear he seemed to be keeping at bay inside himself.

Klon,
Another childhood hero from the same period whom I rush to defend before your amusingly critical eye falls upon him is now being shown regularly on my PBS station:

Richard Greene in The Adventures of Robin Hood! Greene, or "Dimples" as he's known around Chez Finnie, somehow manages to make his Robin a little more world-weary and yet still game for action against the ratfinks in Nottingham. Funny, isn't it, that I never noticed when watching this in endless repeats as a wee one that poor Richard has enormous bags under his eyes, a slight, but still endearing paunch, and that much of the seemingly vast Sherwood Forest apparently consisted of a few cement stumps, synthetic bushes and a hand-painted castle in the distance that seems to shiver in vibration whenever Little John (Archie Duncan) thunders near.

Mr. Richard Greene as Robin, in what's probably a heavily air-brushed, but fine photo.

And what's all this poppycock about Regis Toomey's forgotten genius for plumbing the depths of bit parts?

And, btw, who else thinks that the always lovable Roy Rogers' high water mark in his acting career probably came when he was unconscious in the very well done movie, Dark Command (1940)?
Let's not all raise our hands at once.

[mrsl]

Once more I'm jumping in with my 2 cents worth. No, I don't believe these movies were made strictly for kids. If they were, there would be no girls in them. The earlier Hopalong Cassidy were definitely made for kids and one or two others, but for the most part, they were regular adult movies. The difference is that movies were so new in the 20's and 30's that audiences were also relatively very un-sophisticated and therefore accepted them as entertainment they could afford. Remember the country was busy rebuilding due to fires, earthquakes, droughts, and financial set backs, and only richer people could attend live attractions. Later when cowboys were re-discovered for re-runs on TV, they were then directed at kids, because by now people had matured up to movies like Baby Face and Dancing Lady, etc. because by now women had become actresses, not just eye candy for the hero.

Johnm - Clint Black looks to me like one of Roys sons. If they ever did a movie of Roy's life, Clint should definitely be the one to do it - with a few acting lessons.

Anne

[Sue Sue Applegate]

No, mrsl, I don't believe these films were made only for children, either. I believe they were made for everybody.

[pktrekgirl]

Thanks to all who responded to my post.

I'm glad I wasn't just missing something there, with Roy Rogers.

I can see how those films would appeal to kids back in the 40's and 50's - that makes perfect sense! In fact, many of them are fairly short films too, by the looks of them - perfect for kids.

Yeah...I don't think 'ole Roy will ever be a favorite of mine...but the great thing about classic film is that there is something for everyone!

[nightwalker]

I think a great deal of these actors' and their films' appeal lies in the simple values espoused by them. As has been noted, we don't see much of this sort of thing on Saturday mornings any more.

I'd probably have to give the nod to Roy over Gene in the acting department. He really was pretty good in DARK COMMAND, I thought, and for a sly, knowing spoof of his stuff, check him out in SON OF PALEFACE with Bob Hope.

[Sue Sue Applegate]

Speaking of sly, Roy's real moniker is Leonard Slye..... and for a cowpoke who could just barely act (according to his detractors) and could sing a little, he could have done a lot worse. Think of all the people he kept employed......

[pvitari]

Here is newspaper photo of a dear friend of mine, Kathy, giving Roy Rogers a bolo tie made out of agate, the Tennessee State Stone. This was in 1970. She is still thrilled about it to this day. :)