The Far Frontier (1948)

Just what I expected

The movie's only flaw is also a virtue: It's jammed with characters, stories, warmth and laughs.

The thing I enjoyed most about the film is the fact that it doesn't shy away from being a super-sized-cliche;

A terrific literary drama and character piece that shows how the process of creating art can be seen differently by those doing it and those looking at it from the outside.

Action filled oater that really should have been titled Rolling Barrels. Seems a smuggling crew is using the barrels to sneak crooks across the border. On one trip they injure border guard Tom who loses his memory. His ex-border chief dad is broken hearted, and wants revenge. Roy gets involved when his cattle herd is part of the same border crossing. Good thing he gets help from the District Judge. And guess who that is—yup, it's Andy Devine. All in all, it's gonna be a real battle. Lots of hard riding and flying fists, but not much fast shooting. Speaking of flying fists, what about those two old guys—now there's a switch. Good thing Roy gets important help from the speedy Trigger who comes to his rescue. And catch cutie Gail Davis before she went over full time to cowboy Gene Autry. In ways, there're some rather brutal scenes, more so than usual. Not much scenic background, mainly b&w from greater LA and a near-by mountain dam. All in all, it's an interesting Rogers entry. But from now on, I'm staying away from oil barrels.

It's good to see that some Roy Rogers vehicles escaped the slaughter that cut them down into mincemeat for TV viewers. But this one, alas, despite some game attempts to make the action more realistic, is not one of Rogers' better vehicles. As in several other movies in the series, Rogers is often forced to play second fiddle to Andy Devine's Cookie Bullfincher who is along mainly for comic relief. It's hard to believe that the good citizens of a hot spot near the Mexican border would be stupid enough to select a clown like Bullfincher for such a sensitive post. (At least the sheriff's role is capably handled with a bit of dignity here by Edmund Cobb). It's also impossible to credit that smart, wealthy criminals would allow themselves to be transported in oil drums – especially oil drums as small and as solid as these which don't appear to have any air holes! Well, disregarding all that – which probably won't bother Rogers' admirers unduly – what will annoy many fans is that Rogers' screen time is rather limited. In addition to the incursions by Judge Devine and villainous Roy Barcroft, Robert Strange has a leading part to play, despite his position way, way down the cast list. Rogers also faces competition on the right side of the law from Clayton Moore, who plays Tom Sharper and has a significant slice of the action. When allowed his head, which is not often, director William Witney stages some effective fights and chases. However, it's odd to see Gene Autry's Gail Davis supporting his rival, Roy Rogers, even though her role is small, insignificant and utterly forgettable. Available on a very good Alpha DVD.

I was intrigued with the premise of The Far Frontier, cowboys in the smuggling racket where the items smuggled are criminals back and forth from the USA. I could have seen it done in a much bigger feature film.This particular Roy Rogers movie while observing some parameters for the Saturday afternoon kiddie trade was a pretty violent outing for Roy. In this he's a border patrolman which is his involvement with bringing down this particular racket.One of his fellow border patrolmen is Clayton Moore who stumbles on the racket and gets clipped on the head with a wrench and left on the trail. Moore is the son of Francis Ford, John's brother, and the amnesia he develops allows him to be framed for a murder that was committed for no other reason than to frame him. Francis Ford is a long time enemy of Robert Strange who was the head of the smuggling operation.But that particular murder is just one of many acts committed by Strange's men under the leadership of his number Roy Barcroft one of the great B western villains ever. The crimes Barcroft commits here must have staggered those Saturday matinée kids in 1948.Roy's leading lady in this film is Gail Davis, usually found opposite Gene Autry in his westerns. Also along is Andy Devine who did several films with Roy in the Forties.There is a scene toward the beginning of the film where Barcroft and some of the criminals they're smuggling have a disagreement as Barcroft holds them up for more money. These guys are wise-guys and it would have made a great film premise to have their friends evening the score with these goniff cowboys.

When border patrol agent Clayton Moore goes missing after being crowned by bad guys smuggling criminals back into the US in barrels of oil, potential witness Roy Rogers winds up being subpoenaed by judge Andy Devine to help get to the bottom of Moore's disappearance, only to have him reappear, a framed man.This above average Roy Rogers vehicle contains some good action sequences, a group of really ruthless heavies (the best kind), and an excellent, action-packed climax filled with great stunts.It's also notable for a great co-starring role for Clayton Moore, who put on the iconic black mask for "The Lone Ranger" the following year! I wonder if his performance here had anything to do with it.Foy Willing and The Riders Of The Purple Sage take over for The Sons Of The Pioneers as Roy's backup band. The difference in styles makes for a refreshing change of pace, away from the pop sound that was typical of Rogers at this point and back to a more traditional country and western sound. The songs are great.One thing I disagree with Roy about though, is the wisdom of helping a person suffering from a traumatic brain injury regain his memory by starting a fistfight with him! I don't think that works in real life.