Copyright 11 December 1946 by Republic Pictures Corp. No recorded New York opening. U.S. release: 15 December 1946. Australian release through British Empire Films: 26 February 1948 (sic). 6,503 feet. 72 minutes. SYNOPSIS: Although the actual credit title and all advertising material uses the name Heldorado, the picture is actually centered around "Helldorado Day" at Las Vegas, Nevada. A perfect opportunity for black marketeers to unload some of their hard-earned cash is thwarted by Ranger Rogers (with more than a slight assist from Deputy Sheriff Evans).NOTES: Frank McDonald directed the Hoover Dam sequences, part of the Treasure Hunt episode and some studio scenes involving Rogers, Evans and Hayes before being replaced by William Witney. This film bears no relationship whatever to the 1934 film, "Helldorado", directed by James Cruze, starring Richard Arlen, Madge Evans and Ralph Bellamy. PRINCIPAL MIRACLE: Two directors, but thanks to the skill of Republic's behind-the- camera team, no seams show in the finished product.COMMENT: Director William Witney really put his stamp on this one by using a camera crane in the Helldorado sequences to present a brilliant series of sweepingly effective photographic shots that are really most unusual for Republic. Witney's laudable attempts to spice up a somewhat routine, even lackluster plot also pay off in the all-action climax. Though the dull inserts with Gabby Hayes were directed by Frank McDonald, Witney handled the hell-for-leather riding, the fast car chase and especially the slug-fest climax in the baggage room. In fact, I'd venture to say that all of Hayes' scenes were directed by McDonald. Certainly Hayes and Witney did not hit it off. Witney took over all the Rogers' output at this point, while Hayes left the series, never to return. "Heldorado" was the last of the black-and- whites for Rogers in the 1940s. Thereafter all his pictures until 1951 were filmed in Trucolor. One pleasing aspect of the otherwise ho-hum script is that it does provide for some splendid run-ins between Roy Rogers and Dale Evans, whose spirited rivalry gives an entertainment boost even to the three obligatory but so-so songs. Bob Nolan, on the other hand, despite his single-frame credit, is handed what can only be described as a raw deal. He's hardly in the movie at all.

Heldorado (1946) ** 1/2 (out of 4) Roy Rogers plays a Nevada State Ranger in Las Vegas for some relaxation but he's quickly recruited to help locate some counterfeiters passing around fake money at the Helldorado convention. While the story is certainly lacking, I still found this to be much better than its reputation. The film certainly isn't a classic by any stretch of the imagination but I think there's enough charm in it to make it worth viewing for fans of "B" Westerns. The majority of the fun comes from Dale Evans who plays somewhat of an airhead who gets an honorary job with the police but she takes it a step further by becoming a Sherlock Holmes and trying to solve the case by herself. This leads to some of the best moments as she and Rogers are constantly going after one another as they keep getting in each other's way. The chemistry between the two is certainly very high and it really helps keep the film moving. Rogers, as normal, has no problems playing the good time but by this time he could have done that in his sleep. George 'Gabby' Hayes appears for the final time with Rogers but it's strange that the two really don't have much to do together. Hayes' role isn't the best of his career but he does get a few funny bits. The action doesn't happen all that often but we do get a couple nice shoot outs to also help keep the film moving. The story itself isn't anything we haven't already seen countless times but I think the charm of the actors at least keep it entertaining and the short running time doesn't hurt either.

Heldorado finds Roy Rogers as a Nevada State Ranger who gets pulled into a most modern of rackets, money laundering though it wasn't called that back in those days. Impoverished playboy Brad Dexter in only his second film is working out this racket in the casinos there. When he's discovered they find his body at Boulder Dam. For the Saturday matinée crowd Roy was finally getting in enough action to satisfy them. Some of his films in the Mid Forties could more properly be classed as musicals. Still he gets a few numbers in here.Dale Evans plays a society girl visiting out in Las Vegas and she's made an honorary deputy sheriff. Which title she takes most seriously when her friend Dexter is murdered. She annoys Roy all to Heldorado with her interference, but actually does have some good instincts.When I wrote a review of Home In Oklahoma which is my favorite Roy and Dale film, I said the two of them exhibited a chemistry that was very similar to Tracy and Hepburn. I could also cite Henry Fonda and Barbara Stanwyck for the films they did together. Of course Roy and Dale didn't have the benefit of the writers that these folks had working for the major studios. Heldorado most definitely shows the same kind of chemistry that Home In Oklahoma did.Herbert J. Yates opened his tight fisted pocketbook and splurged for location shooting in Las Vegas and at Boulder Dam. Remember this was Las Vegas before Ben Siegel and Meyer Lansky opened the Flamingo and made it what it is today. So for a look at Las Vegas before the Mob got there, this is a good film to view it.Roy and Dale are in top form in Heldorado.

Nevada State Ranger Roy Rogers gets involved with some racketeers who are entrenched with the local Las Vegas casinos and on the other side of this matter he makes time to participate in the towns annual parade Heldorado, which celebrates it becoming a frontier town.Don't you just hate when the DVD cover tells you that it's the longer cut, but when you watch it you find out it's the edited version… well that's what happen here. Anyhow, I better move on. Usually I wouldn't touch a film like this, but I was looking for a change and so I borrowed a couple of old western flicks off my grandfather. I thought it wouldn't hurt for some nostalgia b-grade Hollywood westerns. Sure thing, after getting into 'Heldorado', it wasn't really my thing and I wouldn't care to lay my eyes on it again… but still it was a fair way to spend a odd 56 minutes of rooting and tooting fun, well kind of in a clean cut way. Now onto the main star Roy Rogers, sure I've heard of him and know him as a singing cowboy, but really that's it. Actually I think this is the first film I've seen of his… I think? Whoops, I almost forgot his white horse Trigger. Is he truly the smartest horse in the movies? I know lot adults would've grown up with Roy Rogers, but I guess I might have appreciated the film more if I did too. Heck, as a child I grew up with John Wayne's westerns because of my grandfather.The western genre is one of my favourite genres, but like I said I guess I'm the wrong target audience because this b/w typical Hollywood western yarn was kinda lacklustre in the action department and too, it was rather talkie for me. So because of all of that the pacing felt a bit monotone and the song interruptions delayed the viewing for me. But still I got something out of it, if I was able to sit through it. What made it easier to take were the performances by the main leads and surprisingly the humour was worked in rather well, without stretching it. Roy Rogers, George 'Gabby' Hayes and Dale Evans chemistry worked wonders and when they were on screen they seemed to chew up the scenery. The characters had a nice sense of entertainment and likability about them. The humour between flowed well, with Roger's witty remarks, Gabby's sour face and gags and Evans cheeky style. It was just clever in its light touches. At least Evan's character was a strong willed female instead of the damsel in distress. The plot was reasonably simple, with the usual bad guy's stuff and the hero coming through at the end with a parade as the backdrop. When Roger's was not breaking into a song or performing tricks with Trigger and enjoying the parade he finds some time for looking into this mystery of these racketeers and counterfeit money. There's no real tension to it nor are the tussles between the cowboys overly memorable, but this particular film just has a feel good stance about it. While the three leads might have stood out, the rest of the acting was pretty stuffy and their dialogue was real wooden. On a grand scale the combination between the three will make sure you'll enjoy yourself.The factor is it's nothing more than a showpiece for Rogers to do his stuff. Decent, but more for the fans.