JohnHowardReid Director: JOSEPH KANE. Original screenplay: James R. Webb. Photography: Harry Neumann. Film editor: William Thompson. RCA Sound System. Associate producer: Joseph Kane. Executive producer: Herbert J. Yates.Songs: "Headin' for the Home Corral" (Rogers and the Sons of the Pioneers); "We Are the Vaqueros" (Rogers and the Sons of the Pioneers); "Down the Trail" (Rogers and the Sons of the Pioneers); "There's an Open Range Ahead" (Sons of the Pioneers); "Yodel Your Troubles Away" (Beers & Clark). Music director: Cy Feuer.Copyright 17 February 1942 by Republic Pictures Corp. No New York opening. U.S. release: 17 February 1942. Australian release through British Empire Films: 31 December 1942. 6 reels. 5,160 feet. 57 minutes.SYNOPSIS: Rogers' scheme to inveigle Eastern money-men to invest in girl friend's gold mine backfires when racketeer kidnaps the financiers and holds them for ransom.COMMENT: The execrable print under review does less than justice to Harry Neumann's extraordinary atmospheric photography with its remarkable silhouettes-on-location effects. A modern-day western (never mind that the cowboys are all toting guns!), South of Santa Fe's unusual plot is also graced by the attractively svelte presence of heroine Linda Hayes. The rest of the players are competent enough, though Mr Hayes' crotchety mannerisms tend to irritate more than they entertain. However, the plot is spiced with plenty of action, leading up to a rousingly exciting climax with crowds of hard-riding extras, running inserts and thrilling stunts. Kane's direction piles on the pace, allows Neumann visual fireworks, and takes full advantage of locations and a comparatively generous budget. The songs are pleasant enough too. All in all, an enjoyable, vigorous slice of escapist anachronism.

bkoganbing South Of Santa Fe has Roy Rogers with the rest of the Sons Of The Pioneers in New Mexico trying to get a group of wealthy investors to look at a mine owned by Linda Hayes. But gangster Paul Fix who is on the lam sees a real big opportunity to make a lot of quick bucks by kidnapping these rich guys.Fix is one of the shrewdest and most dangerous of villains ever in a Roy Rogers western. He's put a neat little frame around Roy and the Sons and it will take every bit of cleverness to foil his dastardly scheme.A fair share of music is in South Of Santa Fe though nothing really stands out. The best was a square dance where Bobby Beers and Judy Clark decide to liven things up with a jitterbug. One of Roy's better films and I think I saw a much edited version because I had to fill some blanks in with the story. Still lots of action, lots of singing, and a very cunning villain for Roy to best.

classicsoncall I've never seen each member of the Sons of the Pioneers sing solo before, but that's how the story opens as Roy and friends on horseback come into view with every rider offering a line or two of song. I have to say, they all sounded pretty good, even Pat Brady who's better known for his comic relief. Pat manages to go at it with Gabby Hayes for a good part of the story, and their back and forth banter is always good for a few laughs.The story itself is a pretty familiar one. This time around, Roy tries to help Carol Stevens (Linda Hayes) revive her gold mine operation by enticing some business investors to offer financial backing. As usual, there's a main villain lurking around to take advantage of the good guys before he's finally brought to justice. I managed to watch the entire film without ever realizing Joe Harmon was portrayed by Paul Fix, even though he was a mainstay of the era's Westerns before hiring on as Sheriif Micah Torrance of 'The Rifleman'. The resemblance is there of course, but it's a fleeting one.The other thing I hadn't thought about was Gabby being the mayor of Whittaker City. I know his character went by Whittaker in a bunch of films with Roy, but I don't recall that name being used here except for the tie-in with the Annual Ride of the Vaqueros. Boy, I thought Gabby was a goner when one of the baddies shot him off his jeep. Funny thing about Gabby's timing, I never saw him with a bullet proof vest before.So during the shootout at the old rustlers hideout, Roy manages to hit one of the villains behind a wall with only a single gun-sight to shoot through. How did he do that? Then Roy gets shot, but manages to brush it off and continue the chase. That was one durable cowboy. Not that I want to find fault, stuff like this happened all the time during the Thirties and Forties and it didn't seem to bother anyone. It's just that watching today as an adult, you have to wonder why film makers didn't think about those things. If they did, it didn't seem to matter.Anyway, Roy Rogers has always been my favorite movie cowboy, so cutting him some slack is easy enough to do. He always saves the day in the end, and gets to win the pretty romantic lead. Along the way, there's a pile of tunes provided by Roy and his Pioneer buddies, a formula that worked time after time.

Steve Haynie What would it take to get prominent businessmen to come to an old mine? The adventure of a trail ride with the Vaqueros, that's what! Gabby Whitaker is the mayor of... Whitakerville! The town is dying off, but if Carol Stevens (Linda Hayes) can get someone to look at her isolated gold mine she knows it will bring prosperity back to the town. This is a tough proposition, but Roy Rogers and The Sons of the Pioneers just go (instruments and all) into the offices of a few businessmen to make them want to join the annual ride of the Vaqueros. A little western harmony can work like magic. It's just like Judy Garland and Mickey Rooney putting on a show to save the day, and it could only work in the movies! So, once the industry leaders show up in their dude outfits they soon learn the mine has a value. Those men also have a value to a crook named Harmon (Paul Fix). He kidnaps them and frames Roy and the Pioneers for the crime. It's no big deal because Roy Rogers always wins.What makes this Roy Rogers adventure stand out is the Sons of the Pioneers. The classic lineup is there: Hugh and Karl Farr, Bob Nolan, Tim Spencer, Pat Brady, and Lloyd Perryman. They play several songs throughout the movie by themselves and also backing Roy. The group had been well established before South of Sante Fe was made, and by this time their personalities were known. Tim and Lloyd had less screen time, but everyone was well represented. More singing is provided by Judy Clark and Bobby Beers. Music works its way into several scenes perfectly.