Under Western Stars
About Under Western Stars
John Fairbanks's water company holds the river behind a dam and will not let the ranchers have it. Roy Rogers and his men overpower the guards, open the valve, and are fined one dollar by a mayor who tells Roy to run for Congress as his father did. Roy beats incumbent William P. Scully. Fairbanks's daughter Eleanor has been helping him in secret. In Washington, Fairbanks blocks a meeting with Congressman Edward H. Marlowe, the vote Roy needs. Eleanor's anonymous letter gets Marlowe to a party where Roy and the Maple City Four sing 'Dust' over pictures of the dry country. After Marlowe is told the pictures came from another state, his wife asks for a drive. The cars are taken, the party is left on horseback in the dust, and the farmer who shelters them admits Roy staged the stranding. Marlowe backs the bill anyway. Roy stops ranchers from blowing the dam and rides off with Eleanor.
Cast & crew
More about Under Western Stars
Joseph Kane directed. Sol C. Siegel produced. Dorrell McGowan and Stuart E. McGowan wrote the story and, with Betty Burbridge, the screenplay. Jack A. Marta photographed it. Lester Orlebeck edited. Alberto Colombo is the uncredited composer. Republic put Roy Rogers in his first starring part while Gene Autry was out on a contract walkout.
Themes
Background
The plot uses the 1930s fight over irrigation and a private dam, set against the dry years ranchers in the West were living through when the film opened.
In film history
It is the film that moved Roy Rogers from supporting parts at Republic into a series of his own, shot while Gene Autry was off the lot. The National Film Registry selection in 2009 treats that debut as part of the studio-western record.
Making
Rogers had been a supporting singer in Republic westerns. Autry's suspension opened the lead, and this April 1938 release was the first film billed as a Roy Rogers starring picture.
Look
Jack A. Marta shot the picture, with the dry-country scenes filmed in the Alabama Hills outside Lone Pine.
Music
Johnny Marvin wrote 'Dust,' the song Roy Rogers and the Maple City Four sing for the congressmen. Alberto Colombo is credited, without a screen credit, for the score.
Preservation
The Library of Congress selected it for the National Film Registry in 2009. A public-domain copy is on the Internet Archive.
Notes
- Smiley Burnette plays Frog. Carol Hughes plays Eleanor Fairbanks. Guy Usher plays John Fairbanks. Tom Chatterton plays Congressman Edward H. Marlowe.
- Republic bought the song 'Dust' from Gene Autry and Johnny Marvin. Rogers and the Maple City Four perform it.
- 'Dust' was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Original Song. It did not win. The winner that year was 'Over the Rainbow.'
- The Library of Congress added the film to the National Film Registry in 2009.
- George Montgomery is in the Wikidata cast list. Brandon Beach plays Senator Wilson and Kenneth Harlan plays Richards.
Scenes
- Roy's men seize the dam and open the valve, then take a one-dollar fine from a friendly mayor.
- Roy sings 'Dust' while the congressmen watch footage of dried-out farms.
- Marlowe's party is left on horseback without water, and the farmer tells them Roy arranged it.
- Roy talks a group of ranchers out of dynamiting the dam.
Also available
- Internet Archive (UnderWesternStars)