Themes: Sheriffs and Outlaws, Righting the Wronged
Main Cast: Roy Rogers, George "Gabby" Hayes, Carol Adams, Henry Brandon, Herbert Rawlinson
Release Year: 1941
Country: US
Run Time: 54 minutes
Plot
A mystery man works behind the scenes in this tuneful Roy Rogers western in which the local theatre owner attempts to ruin the honest businessmen of Deadwood. Even the sheriff, Jordan (Monte Blue), answers to nasty Jake Marvel (Ralf Harolde), whose reign of terror forces the decent people to become outlaws themselves. Enter Bill Brady, aka Brett Starr (Rogers), a sharpshooter with Professor Mortimer "Gabby" Blackstone's (George "Gabby" Hayes) traveling medicine show. Although a fugitive from justice, Bill comes to the aid of the beleaguered citizens, discovering along the way that a trusted friend isn't quite who he claims to be. Roy sings his own and Fred Rose's "Sundown on the Rangeland", Rose and Ray Whitley's "The call of the Dusty Trail" and Jule Styne and Sol Meyer's "Joe O'Grady". ~ Hans J. Wollstein, All Movie Guide
Review
A good cast and Joseph Kane's solid direction elevate Bad Man of Deadwood from the merely routine, as indeed was the case with many of Roy Rogers's early westerns. The hayseed crooner later allowed music and production numbers to take center stage -- much to the chagrin, one would expect, of action fans everywhere -- but in 1941, guns were still blazing and fist were flying everywhere. George "Gabby" Hayes remains his old reliable self as well and is ably supported by peppy Sally Payne, B-Western history's sole female sidekick. ~ Hans J. Wollstein, All Movie Guide
