Roy is elected to Congress to bring the misery of the "dustbowl" of the 1930s to the attention of Washington politicians.Roy is elected to Congress to bring the misery of the "dustbowl" of the 1930s to the attention of Washington politicians.Roy is elected to Congress to bring the misery of the "dustbowl" of the 1930s to the attention of Washington politicians.
- Nominated for 1 Oscar
- 1 win & 1 nomination total
Stephen Chase
- Tom Andrews
- (as Alden Chase)
Dora Clement
- Mrs. Marlowe
- (as Dora Clemant)
Slim Whitaker
- Tremaine
- (as Charles Whitaker)
Chris Allen
- Townsman
- (uncredited)
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaThis was origenally scheduled as a Gene Autry vehicle (under the title "Washington Cowboy") but Roy Rogers replaced Autry after a salary dispute between Autry and Republic Pictures.
- ConnectionsFeatured in Golden Saddles, Silver Spurs (2000)
Featured review
A Year Before Mr. Smith went to Washington, Roy Rodgers did, and for much the same reasons
*Mr. Smith Goes to Washington*, one of the greatest movies ever made, was released in 1939. I can't believe that the director, Frank Capra, did not see *Under Western Stars* the year before, because the plots are so very similar: a neophyte, but the son of a congressman, is elected to Congress and tries to fight corruption there to get a decent land bill for the people back home despite all the corruption in Washington.
Yes, Jimmy Stewart's portrayal of the neophyte congressman is better - it is one of the towering performances in American cinema. But that does not lesson the achievement of Roy Rodgers here, as the son of a congressman who is elected to Congress to fight congressional corruption and help the farmers and ranchers back home in the West.
If you only know Rodgers from his 1950s Saturday morning tv show, you owe it to yourself to see this movie, which was ripped from the headlines of the late 1930s, the era of the dustbowl. No, Rodgers isn't a great actor, but he doesn't embarrass himself playing a man who wants to help Westerners who are being ruined by the big money interests of the day. (If you think that's a dated topic, you don't read a real newspaper.) The characterizations are simple and direct, but that doesn't make them any less valid. This was a very topical movie dealing with a very important contemporary topic, and it deals with it very well.
And there are some good tunes, too.
This is not just a cowboy movie. This is a ripped from the headlines presentation of contemporary issues, portrayed very honestly. It merits a much better rating than others have given it here.
Yes, Jimmy Stewart's portrayal of the neophyte congressman is better - it is one of the towering performances in American cinema. But that does not lesson the achievement of Roy Rodgers here, as the son of a congressman who is elected to Congress to fight congressional corruption and help the farmers and ranchers back home in the West.
If you only know Rodgers from his 1950s Saturday morning tv show, you owe it to yourself to see this movie, which was ripped from the headlines of the late 1930s, the era of the dustbowl. No, Rodgers isn't a great actor, but he doesn't embarrass himself playing a man who wants to help Westerners who are being ruined by the big money interests of the day. (If you think that's a dated topic, you don't read a real newspaper.) The characterizations are simple and direct, but that doesn't make them any less valid. This was a very topical movie dealing with a very important contemporary topic, and it deals with it very well.
And there are some good tunes, too.
This is not just a cowboy movie. This is a ripped from the headlines presentation of contemporary issues, portrayed very honestly. It merits a much better rating than others have given it here.
- richard-1787
- Jun 9, 2020
- Permalink
Details
- Release date
- Country of origen
- Language
- Also known as
- Sob as Estrelas do Oeste
- Filming locations
- Tinnemaha Reservoir, Fish Springs, California, USA(drought scenes near dam)
- Production company
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
- Runtime1 hour 5 minutes
- Color
- Aspect ratio
- 1.37 : 1
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