Lights of Old Santa Fe
Encyclopedia
Lights of Old Santa Fe is a 1944
American western
musical film
directed by Frank McDonald
with a screenplay by Gordon Kahn
and Bob Williams. The film stars Roy Rogers
and Dale Evans in a story about a rodeo owner and her struggle to make her show a success. When her rodeo is sabotaged by a rival showman, Rogers brings the perpetrator to justice.
Roy Rogers is hired for the Brooks Rodeo with one performance date in Albuquerque scheduled. The outfit packs up and heads to its destination but is sabotaged by Madden‘s henchman. At home, Margie learns of the disaster, and, disheartened, agrees to marry Madden.
Roy suspects Madden was involved in the sabotage of Margie’s show. He waylays Madden’s henchman and forces the truth from him. At Margie’s wedding, he presents the man's confession. Madden is sent to prison, and his show sold to a rodeo promoter. Margie then agrees to combine the shows and the rodeo is a hit at the State Fair.
1944 in film
The year 1944 in film involved some significant events, including the wholesome, award-winning Going My Way plus popular murder mysteries such as Double Indemnity, Gaslight and Laura.-Events:*July 20 - Since You Went Away is released....
American western
Western (genre)
The Western is a genre of various visual arts, such as film, television, radio, literature, painting and others. Westerns are devoted to telling stories set primarily in the latter half of the 19th century in the American Old West, hence the name. Some Westerns are set as early as the Battle of...
musical film
Musical film
The musical film is a film genre in which songs sung by the characters are interwoven into the narrative, sometimes accompanied by dancing. The songs usually advance the plot or develop the film's characters, though in some cases they serve merely as breaks in the storyline, often as elaborate...
directed by Frank McDonald
Frank McDonald
-Life:He was born in 1950 and educated at Kelly's Private School, Cabra Road; St Vincent’s CBS Glasnevin and University College Dublin, graduating with a BA in 1971...
with a screenplay by Gordon Kahn
Gordon Kahn
Gordon Kahn was an American author and screenwriter who was blacklisted during the McCarthy era. He is the father of broadcaster and author Tony Kahn.-Life:...
and Bob Williams. The film stars Roy Rogers
Roy Rogers
Roy Rogers, born Leonard Franklin Slye , was an American singer and cowboy actor, one of the most heavily marketed and merchandised stars of his era, as well as being the namesake of the Roy Rogers Restaurants franchised chain...
and Dale Evans in a story about a rodeo owner and her struggle to make her show a success. When her rodeo is sabotaged by a rival showman, Rogers brings the perpetrator to justice.
Plot
Margie Brooks is the owner of the Brooks International Rodeo but cannot get bookings because the show is time-worn and dated. Frank Madden’s rodeo is all the rage and Madden wants to combine the Brooks and Madden shows. To that end, he proposes marriage to Margie.Roy Rogers is hired for the Brooks Rodeo with one performance date in Albuquerque scheduled. The outfit packs up and heads to its destination but is sabotaged by Madden‘s henchman. At home, Margie learns of the disaster, and, disheartened, agrees to marry Madden.
Roy suspects Madden was involved in the sabotage of Margie’s show. He waylays Madden’s henchman and forces the truth from him. At Margie’s wedding, he presents the man's confession. Madden is sent to prison, and his show sold to a rodeo promoter. Margie then agrees to combine the shows and the rodeo is a hit at the State Fair.
Cast
- Roy RogersRoy RogersRoy Rogers, born Leonard Franklin Slye , was an American singer and cowboy actor, one of the most heavily marketed and merchandised stars of his era, as well as being the namesake of the Roy Rogers Restaurants franchised chain...
as Roy Rogers, a western singer and rodeo man - Dale EvansDale EvansDale Evans, was an American writer, movie star, and singer-songwriter. She was the third wife of singing cowboy Roy Rogers.-Early life:...
as Margie Brooks, the owner of Brooks International Rodeo - George “Gabby” Hayes as Gabby Whittaker, manager of Margie’s rodeo
- Tom Keene as Frank Madden, the owner of Madden Worldwide Shows, a rodeo
- Roy BarcroftRoy BarcroftRoy Barcroft was an American character actor famous for playing villains in B-Westerns and other genres. Noted film critic Leonard Maltin acclaimed Barcroft as "Republic Pictures' number one bad guy".-Early life:...
as Ken Ferguson, Madden’s henchman - Arthur LoftArthur LoftArthur Loft was an American film actor. He appeared in 224 films between 1932 and 1947. He was born in Denver, Colorado and died in Los Angeles, California.-Selected filmography:* Paid to Dance...
as Bill Wetherbee, a rodeo promoter - Claire Du Bray as Rosie McGurk, Margie’s companion and housekeeper
- Lloyd CorriganLloyd CorriganLloyd Corrigan was an American film actor, producer, screenwriter and director who began working in films in the 1920s...
as Marty Maizely, a radio station owner - Sam Flint as Sheriff
- Lucien Littlefied as the Judge
- Bob NolanBob NolanBob Nolan was a Canadian-born American singer, songwriter, and actor. He was a founding member of the Sons of the Pioneers, and composer of numerous Country music and Western music songs, including the standards "Cool Water" and "Tumbling Tumbleweeds." He is generally regarded as one of the...
as Bob, a singer and rodeo man - Sons of the PioneersSons of the PioneersThe Sons of the Pioneers are one of America's earliest Western singing groups whose classic recordings set a new standard for performers of Western music. Known for the high quality of their vocal performances, musicianship, and songwriting, they produced finely-crafted and innovative recordings...
as musicians and rodeo men