It's Roy before pairing up with Dale, while Trigger is there but without his starring name. Still, we've got the one-and-only Gabby doing his toothless ornery bit, so the legendary crew is almost all present and accounted for. The movie's a good strong story about brothers on opposite sides during the Civil War, which gives Roy a rare chance to show his acting chops. Catch his nicely modulated reaction in the climactic escape scene. At the same time, you may need to overlook the fact that the mountains of Colorado look a lot like the scrublands of greater LA. But who cares—good old Republic Studio was never big on budgets. It's easy to forget that before Milburn Stone merged with Doc Adams of Gunsmoke fame, he had a lengthy B-movie career. Here, he and Roy make believable (and somewhat poignant) brothers. Okay, the movie's little more than a matinée Western that used to entertain us Front Row kids. But it's got a good story, good acting, some scenic action, and a pretty girl. So, what more can a Front Row geezer ask for.

I had a hard time figuring out whether or not to give this one a 6 or 7. All I know is that even if you are not a fan of Roy Rogers, this is an enjoyable and pretty well-done movie--and better than average for this prolific star.The film is set during the Civil War. There is some sort of Confederate resistance going on in Colorado and the Lieutenant (Rogers) is sent to investigate. Soon he sees that many of the local officials are Confederate spies--including a judge and many other public officials. What's more surprising, however, is that one of the leaders of this group is Rogers' own brother!! Can Roy and Gabby sort all this out or is the North destined to lose the war? While the undercover agent during the Civil War isn't exactly a new idea, it was handled very well here. Enjoyable acting and dialog make this one worth seeing.By the way, like so many of Rogers' films, this one was originally longer but was cut down for TV in the 1950s. Considering that this often meant less singing, it's something that I can live with--even though I am usually a purist and want the producer's original vision. But, without so much singing, the movie is tighter and without the loss of momentum songs usually create.

Back when I was a lad there was a shortlived television series called The Americans which starred Darryl Hickman and Dick Davalos as the Canfield brothers who went their separate ways when the Civil War broke out. The episodes alternated back and forth with Darryl serving in the Union Army and Dick doing his bit for the Confederacy. Too bad it didn't last longer.In fact in real life a whole lot of families were torn that way. Kentucky statesman John Crittenden had two sons both of whom became generals in the opposing armies. So the premise of Roy Rogers and Milburn Stone on opposite sides is quite real.Rogers is on detached duty from the Union Army as a Pinkerton man out in Colorado trying to locate who's behind stirring up a whole variety of trouble that's tying down needed troops in the west. Of course it's his brother Milburn Stone and the pursuit plus Roy's agony about hunting one of his kin is the heart of Colorado.Rogers only gets one song, sung while he's recuperating from a gunshot wound to leading lady Pauline Moore. He's called on to do a bit more acting than would normally be the case and he handles it well.Colorado deserved a bigger budget and an A cast for the film. It was as another reviewer pointed out, badly butchered in the editing. Yet it's still worthwhile viewing.

"Colorado" takes place during the Civil War years, with Roy Rogers portraying a Union government agent investigating unrest in the Colorado Territory, where Union forces are being detained to contain outlaws, Indians and Confederate sympathizers. With direct authorization from President Lincoln, Lieutenant Jerry Burke (Rogers) comes to learn that his own brother is behind the trouble, under an assumed identity as a Union Officer, Captain Dan Mason. However Mason's allegiance is with the South, and he's in league with Indian Commissioner Jim Macklin (Arthur Loft), as they sell guns to the Indian tribes. Their main goal though is to prevent Union Forces from joining General Grant's army, thereby aiding the Confederate cause.You may have difficulty as I did in recognizing a young Milburn Stone as Captain Mason; Stone went on to portray Doc Adams in the Gunsmoke series. George "Gabby" Hayes is on hand as a cantankerous old timer who cheerfully latches up with Burke for the adventure. The love interest is supplied by Pauline Moore as Lylah Sanford, originally engaged to Mason, but eventually choosing Burke in a rather quick turn. Rogers and Moore also teamed up in "Carson City Kid", released in the same year, 1940.Other than the Civil War backdrop, the story is rather formulaic, as Lieutenant Burke brings the villains to justice. There is a rather unique close to the story though; with Mason in custody, he wistfully explains to his brother how if this were Mexico, his captors would at least allow him to make a run for it, since he's going to hang for his treason anyway. As Burke contemplates this, Mason makes a break with predictable results. It's probably one of the most unusual endings for a Roy Rogers film, although the final scene is one where the Rogers' character gets the girl to give the film a happier ending.