Bells of Coronado (1950)

The Cold War and the quest for uranium ore comes into the plot of this Roy Rogers western, The Bells Of Coronado. Roy plays an insurance investigator who is assigned by John Hamilton to investigate the theft of unrefined uranium ore and incidentally the death of the owner of a mine from where it was stolen. Dale Evans co-stars and it would surprise many to learn that Dale was only the leading lady in about a quarter of Roy's films. The films that she did co-star with Roy are elevated an extra notch because of the obvious chemistry between the two.Roy is undercover in this one working at the power company that operates nearby the uranium mine. The mine is owned by Grant Withers who is also Dale's uncle in this film. The usual kittenish banter between Roy and Dale is present which always makes their films interesting.Clifton Young who died much too young plays his usual murderous villain. Film fans will remember him best from the Humphrey Bogart - Lauren Bacall feature Dark Passage. Young is always good in any film he does.Why Republic was so shy in not coming out and mentioning the Russians is beyond me. They are referred to only as 'the other side'. And the chief villain is not one you would suspect, especially coming from a B western.The Bells Of Coronado will have enough singing, riding, and gunplay to satisfy any aged front row kid from the time this was in theaters and younger fans as well.

"Bells of Coronado" is a rarity--a full-color Roy Rogers film. This is probably the case because it's one of Roy's later movies--and his popularity was at its peak and color film a little less costly than it had been in the 1940s. However, aside from the use of color and an absence of the usual sidekicks like Gabby Hayes, Andy Devine or Smiley Burnett (in this case, it's a lesser-known and less goofy Pat Brady), the film is very much like a typical Roy Rogers 'western'. In other words, aside from Roy and the rest riding about on horses out west, the film really is NOT a western but a modern ersatz cowboy film. Think about it--how many westerns have plots about stolen uranium and feature bad guys trying to escape by airplane?! So is everything exactly like his other films? Well, close, but not exactly. Dale appears as usual but she sports brown hair and isn't annoying or stupid (a role they usually had her play). Also, unlike most Rogers films in the public domain, this version has not been trimmed down for a one-hour TV slot and its running time is about 67 minutes.Overall, the film is very ordinary for a Rogers film, though with a little less music and a feeling that you've really seen this sort of thing several times before--which is true if you've seen many Roy Rogers films. It's entertaining but certainly won't tax your brain or leave a lasting impression. Thoroughly adequate with little to distinguish it one way or the other.

A criminally unheard-of William Witney has always been underappreciated by western genre fans. Just as influential as John Ford, if not more so, Witney made some of the best early westerns out there creating the modernized, choreographed Western fight scenes we still see today. Witney kept the landscapes in the back where they belong and focused on the pure joy. This film, The Bells of Coronado, was one of Witney's last collaborations with Roy Rogers and Trigger but it is still worth checking out. A little adventure, a little action, a little music. It's all here. For Western genre fans who have never seen a William Witney film, do yourself a favor and check one out. If you liked this one, also check these early greats: On the Old Spanish Trail and Adventures of Red Ryder. While I'm a big fan of John Ford, Anthony Mann and Sergei Leone and appreciate what each of them has brought to the western genre over the years, Witney is still my favorite Western filmmaker. Because there's just a pure unadulterated joy to his pictures you can't find somewhere else. Pictures with no cynicism, a welcome watch in today's cynical world.

Solid Rogers film, speedy and fun. The advent of television eliminated these formulaic, but competent, oaters. A shame they can't be seen on the big screen today. Vivid Trucolor helps greatly.