Comwayon A Disappointing Continuation

Dynamixor The performances transcend the film's tropes, grounding it in characters that feel more complete than this subgenre often produces.

Kien Navarro Exactly the movie you think it is, but not the movie you want it to be.

Jenni Devyn Worth seeing just to witness how winsome it is.

JohnHowardReid This entry is about as lively and entertaining as the Roy Roger's westerns ever achieved. Admittedly, the use of Trucolor (which looks a whole lot more attractive on the Republic/Duke DVD than it ever looked on theater screens or TV) - plus classy shooting (in both meanings of that word) on real locations - adds immeasurably to the movie's appeal. The cast is outstanding too. Roy Rogers never gave a more ingratiating performance, and he is well supported by cute (if undersized) Dale Evans who gives an animated and quite sparkling account of her Lee Madison. Andy Devine is also along for the ride, although the scriptwriter never seems quite sure whether to portray Andy as Roy's comic sidekick or as a vigorous and highly reliable action support. (The latter seems to win out, a turn-up that will probably disappoint many of Andy's fans. But it didn't worry me, I hasten to say!) According to the DVD, the movie runs 13O minutes. Someone can't count! That figure would translate to more than two hours and twelve minutes in movie theaters. On the other hand, Republic's press sheet argues 78 minutes which would translate to no more than 76 minutes on a DVD, which seems about right!

bkoganbing Bells Of San Angelo finds Roy Rogers working as a border 'investigator' on the USA/Mexico border. Assisting him is sheriff Andy Devine of the county. There have been some murders of some Mexican nationals on the American side in and around a mine that John McGuire and David Sharpe run. This is far from the Mexican border today where we are preoccupied with illegal immigration. At this time in the Hollywood modern west, people just seem to be coming back and forth across the border at will with no one really asking questions. Roy's very good friends with Catholic Padre on the other side, Fritz Lieber. In fact it is Lieber who comes to Roy asking him and Devine to look into the murders.We've got two more complicating factors in the plot. A western writer is coming to town with the highly androgynous name of Lee Madison and Roy and the Sons of the Pioneers think its some tenderfoot who just wants to stick his nose in for material. They don't need no tenderfeet tagging along on a serious investigation and resolve to do something about it. Of course Lee Madison is the pen name for Helen Clifford who is played by Dale Evans and she keeps her identity a secret to play along with the gags Roy and the boys are cooking up. I said in another review of one of their films that Roy and Dale play like a pair of red state Tracy and Hepburn. The dialog ain't classic, but all in all it's not too bad either. It was part of their appeal on the screen.The other complication is Olaf Hytten arriving from Great Britain looking to locate some missing person who turns out to be Andy Devine. Not knowing exactly what he wants, Devine is scared about revealing himself, but Roy guesses right away something's afoot.All this plot is packaged rather nicely into a 78 minute running time for Bells Of San Angelo. Of course Roy finds out exactly what the story is and the culprits are brought to justice. But as for what the racket was and what happens with Dale and Andy you have to see Bells Of San Angelo.You'll love the fox hunt the gang arranges for Hytten.

wes-connors Roy Rogers is a "border investigator" who arrives at San Angelo for some singing, and some problem solving - the problem is silver smuggling along the U.S.-Mexican border, and murder rears its ugly head. Comic sidekick Andy Devine (as "Cookie") is local sheriff / dog catcher. Dale Evans (as "Helen") is a reporter with a nose for news, and a penchant for trouble. Bob Nolan and the Sons of the Pioneers sing "Hot Lead" and shoot the breeze."Bells of San Angelo" is full of absurdities. Mr. Devine's dogs and raccoon keep the production looking perpetually infantile - one of the dogs even tosses a bad guy over a cliff. There are several scenes with Mr. Rogers and Ms. Evans (especially Ms. Evans) performing quite well, but the production does not give them a proper outlet for their obvious charm and ability; they shine in the "Robin Hood" scene, and during a couple of songs (like "I Love the West" ). The color photography is nice, but the film is lackluster. ** Bells of San Angelo (1947) William Witney ~ Roy Rogers, Dale Evans, Andy Devine

John (opsbooks) Another movie from a cheap 10 movies for $10 DVD set, teamed on a disc with 'The Gunfighters' (good, see review) and 'Guns of the Revolution' (unwatchable, no wonder it's not on IMDb!).I'd not see Roy and friends in color. In fact it's almost 50 years since I'd seen Roy in B/W, on TV. He and Trigger never measured up to 'Hoppy' and Topper, in my boyish opinion of the time. Having now seen both stars and their mounts in recent years, that opinion still holds. William Boyd was a far better actor, as was Topper.However, this movie is entertaining. The story is interesting, as are the characters. Andy Devine pretty much steals in picture. Wow, what a character; and Dale Evans, very nice to look at, and not a bad actor. The characters' guns actually run out of bullets*! *Keith, an 80 yo pal of mine who is a keen fan of Westerns said that as a kid, he thought Colt.45s were called thus because they held 45 bullets!