Bells of San Angelo (1947)

Bells of San Angelo (1947)

„Bells of San Angelo“ is a 1947 western film directed by William Witney; based on a story by Paul Gangelin and the screenplay by Sloan Nibley.

As he rides into Rancho San Angelo, a territory located both in Mexico and America, border investigator Roy Rogers is greeted by his friend, „Cookie“ Bullfincher (Andy Devine), the town’s mayor and sheriff, and Cookie’s friend, the Padre (Fritz Leiber). Roy has come to investigate a series of murders perpetrated at the nearby Monarch Silver Mine.

While riding to the mine, Roy sees a man get shot while trying to escape from mine guards working for manager Rex Gridley (John McGuire) and his henchman, Gus Ulrich (David Sharpe). When Roy reaches the body, he discovers a chunk of pure silver ore that was planted by Gridley and Ulrich.

Later, at Rancho San Angelo, Cookie accuses Ulrich of murder, but he explains that Gridley gave orders to shoot any thieves found at the mine. Roy receives a letter announcing that the famous writer of western novels, Lee Madison (Dale Evans), is coming to town.

The next day Lee arrives on the bus, but is not recognized by Roy’s men, expecting a man. Lee overhears them say Roy doesn’t want Madison around, so she tells them her name is „Helen Clifford.“ They give her a lift to the hotel. On the way, Roy ambushes the stage to prove to Madison that the real West is dangerous, but lets Lee go when he sees she is a woman.

At the hotel, Lee asks Roy to read one of her books, suggesting that it might give him some clues to his murder investigation. Cookie follows Ulrich and his men leave to the mine, and discovers they are smuggling pure silver ore from the Mexican side of the mine to the American side, where it can be sold at high prices. When Ulrich and his men find a young Mexican man, Ignacio (Keefe Brasselle), snooping around the mine, they shoot him and hide his body in the mine. Soon after, Roy and Cookie go to check out the mine, and as they leave, Roy’s horse Trigger (as himself) gets a piece of silver ore stuck in his hoof.

At San Angelo, English solicitor Lionel Bates inquires about a man called George Wallingford Lancaster, explaining that Scotland Yard is looking for him, a fact that terrifies Cookie. Bates also declares that the ranch at San Angelo soon will have a new owner. Later, Roy analyzes the ore found in Trigger’s hoof and informs Cookie that it is mostly lead with only a trace of silver, whereas the ore found on the murdered man was pure.

The next morning, Bates conducts a fox hunt, using an opossum instead of a fox. Gridley joins the hunt and he and his men pistol whip Bates. Soon after, Roy realizes that the pure silver is being smuggled into the American side of the mine and brings Lee and Cookie there to investigate. When they discover Ignacio’s body, Roy sends Lee back to town, but Gridley kidnaps her. Seeing a riderless Trigger, the ranchers follow the horse back to the mine, where Gridley’s men have started a shootout. After the ranchers capture most of the mine workers, Roy chases Gridley into the mountains, but stops when the mine owner threatens to kill Lee. Lee and Roy then re-enact the death scene on „page 77“ of Lee’s novel, „Murder on the Border,“ which fools Gridley into thinking that Lee has been shot and allows Roy to knock him out. A few days after Gridley is arrested, Bates reveals that he has discovered that Cookie is really Lancaster and is the heir to the Rancho San Angelo territory. Lee then informs Roy that she plans to call her next book „The Bells of San Angelo“.

A 1947 American Trucolor Western film directed by William Witney, produced by Edward J. White, screenplay by Sloan Nibley, story by Paul Gangelin, cinematography by Jack A. Marta, starring Roy Rogers, Trigger, Dale Evans, Andy Devine, John McGuire, Olaf Hytten, Dave Sharpe, Fritz Leiber, Hank Patterson, Fred ’Snowflake’ Toones, Eddie Acuff. Bob Nolan, and Sons of the Pioneers.

Republic Pictures released this production on April 15, 1947, the exact same day Jackie Robinson became the first African-American to play in U.S. Major League Baseball.

Soundtrack music:
„The Bells of San Angelo“ – Written by John Elliott (as Jack Elliott), performed by Roy Rogers and Sons of the Pioneers
„Lazy Days“ – Written by Tim Spencer, performed by Pat Brady and Sons of the Pioneers
„I Like to Get Up Early in the Morning“ – Written by John Elliott, performed by Roy Rogers, Dale Evans, Olaf Hytten, Andy Devine and Fred ’Snowflake’ Toones
„A Cowboy’s Dream of Heaven“ – Written by John Elliott, performed by Roy Rogers and Sons of the Pioneers
„I Love the West“ – Written by John Elliott, performed by Dale Evans
„Hot Lead“ – Written by Tim Spencer, performed by Pat Brady and Sons of the Pioneers
„Git Along Little Dogies“ – Traditional, Ray Turner sings a line while delivering the mail

John Elliot has written over six hundred songs throughout his seventy year career.

The first Roy Rogers film shot in Trucolor, this modern day Western mixes half a dozen songs with mystery, international smuggling of silver, violence, a pack of dogs and comedy relief with one character …

Cast:

• Roy Rogers – Roy Rogers
• Trigger – Trigger
• Dale Evans – Lee Madison
• Andy Devine – Sheriff Cookie Bullfincher
• John McGuire – Rex Gridley
• Olaf Hytten – Lionel Bates
• David Sharpe – Ulrich, Henchman
• Fritz Leiber – Padre
• Hank Patterson – Deaf Bus Passenger
• Fred „Snowflake“ Toones – The Cook
• Eddie Acuff – Bus Driver
• Bob Nolan – Bob
• Sons of the Pioneers – Sons of the Pioneers
• Pat Brady – Bass Player Pat, Sons of the Pioneers
• Ray Turner – Buck
• Victor Cox – Bus Passenger
• Hugh Farr – Fiddle Player, Sons of the Pioneers
• Karl Farr – Guitar Player Karl, Sons of the Pioneers
• Lloyd Perryman – Guitar Player, Sons of the Pioneers
• Keefe Brasselle – Ignacio
• Luana Walters – Lodge Clerk
• Eddie Parker – Man Capturing Lee
• Dale Van Sickel – Mike, Henchman
• Doc Adams – Mine Henchman
• Buck Bucko – Mine Henchman
• Roy Bucko – Mine Henchman
• Whitey Christy – Mine Henchman
• Art Dillard – Mine Henchman
• Silver Harr – Mine Henchman
• James Linn – Mine Henchman
• Kansas Moehring – Mine Henchman
• Post Park – Mine Henchman
• Fred Graham – Mine Henchman Guarding Lee
• Rex Rossi – Ramon
• Jay Kirby – Rider
• Charles Sullivan – Roberts
• Tim Spencer – Tim, Member Sons of the Pioneers

„Bells of San Angelo“ (dt.: Die Glocken von San Angelo) ist ein Westernfilm aus dem Jahr 1947 unter der Regie von William Witney, der auf einer Geschichte von Paul Gangelin und dem Drehbuch von Sloan Nibley basiert.

Bei seinem Ritt nach Rancho San Angelo, einem Territorium, das sowohl in Mexiko als auch in Amerika liegt, wird der Grenzermittler Roy Rogers von seinem Freund "Cookie" Bullfincher (Andy Devine), dem Bürgermeister und Sheriff der Stadt sowie von Cookies Freund, dem Padre (Fritz Leiber), begrüßt. Roy ist gekommen, um eine Mordserie zu untersuchen, die in der nahe gelegenen Monarch-Silbermine begangen wurde.