Highly Overrated But Still Good

Better Late Then Never

Admirable film.

One of the most extraordinary films you will see this year. Take that as you want.

I think if it hadn't been for the characters of Gabby (Gabby Hayes) and Purdy (Si Jenks), this film wouldn't have been very watchable. After all, the plot didn't always make sense. Another thing that didn't make sense was how the old Roy Rogers films were hacked to pieces to shorten them for TV slots. In this particular case, it was worse than usual in this regard, as Roy Rogers and the lady (Julie Bishop) begin hating each other for no reason--because their first meeting was cut out of the film! Seeing her suddenly treating him like dirt made her seem insane to say the least.The story is set in the Republic of Texas in the 1830s. The President, Sam Houston, is away in Washington. In his place, an crooked despot is ignoring the law and exploiting the masses. And, this jerk hopes to kill Houston when he's returning and make himself the leader of Texas. So, it's up to Roy to defeat him and restore justice.Does all this sound very familiar? Well, it should. It's the plot to Robin Hood and Ivanhoe re-worked (just a tiny bit) along with an irrelevant and difficult to believer plot involving Biship. It's all quite silly but the film has one thing going for it--the repartee between Gabby and Purdy. I am not trying to be a jerk for saying it, but they seemed just like a couple the way they bickered. And, in the end, when Gabby saw that Roy got the girl, he responds "...better off dead!"--convincing me once and for all that Purdy and Gabby, indeed, had a STRONG gay subtext. I find it hard to believe this was unintentional. But this alone isn't enough reason to seek out this film--it's just not all that good.By the way, accuracy was never a strong point in Roy Rogers films. In this case, the cowboys all use guns circa 1870 (give or take)--firing bullet after bullet after bullet. For the most part, guns were all single-shot back then. A few RARE revolvers did exist but had to be hand-loaded--a very slow process--especially since a percussion cap needed to be affixed to each chamber as well. So, such gun fights simply weren't possible at that time--not that that ever stopped a B-western! guns were NOT period

The Ranger And The Lady has Roy Rogers and Gabby Hayes as Texas Rangers and they're having a hard time adjusting to the ways of the acting president named Joseph LaRue. While President Sam Houston is away in Washington, DC trying to arrange annexation, this guy LaRue played by Henry Brandon has got real big ambitions for himself and Texas and a nasty henchman in perennial western villain Harry Woods to back them up. In real and not Hollywood history Sam Houston was the first and third presidents of the Texas Republic and a guy named Mirabeau Lamar on whom LaRue seems to be somewhat based was the second president. He was an actual president a bona-fide elected president not an acting one. He had a lot of ambitions like the LaRue character here, but not the ability to see them through. Good thing he didn't because he wanted an independent Texas Empire all for himself.Anyway among other things Brandon as LaRue imposes his own tariff on goods passing from Texas to Mexico of which Santa Fe was still a part. Julie Bishop who plays a cowgirl owner of a freight line plays up to Brandon, but has an agenda all her own and it's not incompatible with Roy's and Gabby's.Nice shootout climax as an attempted assassination of Sam Houston is foiled. History tells us that didn't happen in any event. Roy's singing is down to minimum as the emphasis is on action here.

In the days of the Texas Republic, Rangers Roy Rogers and Gabby Hayes are sent by a renegade General to collect a toll from travelers just outside Texas' border. In order to prevent bloodshed, the reluctant duo try to collect the money from a female wagon master, using more tactful methods than their replacements would have, causing even more problems.A fairly lethargic production, the story just doesn't give off much sparks this time around as I would have liked. The action scenes aren't very hot either.Roy and Gabby are still likable though and leading lady Julie Bishop is very attractive. However, there isn't much chemistry between her and Rogers. George Hayes and old-timer Si Jenks fair much better in that department!Still, it's not Roy's worst, but he's definitely done a lot better.

Roy Rogers (as Roy Colt) is the Texas Ranger sent to collect, and Jacqueline Wells (as Jane Tabor) is the Lady who won't pay tolls as they disagree on Texan/Mexican territory status. Mr. Rogers is assisted by his trusty sidekick George "Gabby" Hayes (as Gabby) and Ms. Wells (later more commonly known as Julie Bishop) is assisted by her trusty sidekick Si "Purdy" Jenks (as Purdy).Though Rogers is said to be smitten with the Lady Bishop, few sparks fly between them. The more entertaining twosome are the sidekicks - Gabby and Purdy, who get to share a bed! - but, relax, Gabby is just in Purdy's bed to hide-out. The old codgers might have could have elevated the film, if their material was better. Gabby does get to call Bishop a "She-male"; later, she shoots two men, then bows demurely when Rogers gets one. "The Ranger and the Lady" doesn't meet expectations. *** The Ranger and the Lady (1940) Joseph Kane ~ Roy Rogers, George 'Gabby' Hayes, Julie Bishop