Home in Oklahoma (1946) is considered a typical Roy Rogers musical Western -- and one of his best. As a crusading frontier newspaper editor investigating the murder of a cattle rancher, Rogers is surrounded by his usual support group: soon-to-be wife Dale Evans, playing a visiting big-city reporter; wizened sidekick Gabby Hayes, as a ranch foreman; and the ever-faithful Trigger, billed as "The Smartest Horse in the Movies." Songs include the title tune as performed by Rogers, Bob Nolan and The Sons of the Pioneers; "Miguelto," a novelty tune performed by Roy and Dale; and "Hereford Heaven," a tune written by Oklahoma Governor Roy J. Turner and performed by the Flying L Ranch Quartette.

Home in Oklahoma is one of more than two dozen Rogers Westerns directed by William Witney, who had worked his way up through the studio system from messenger boy to a director of serials for Republic Studios. After his tenure with the Rogers Westerns, Witney moved on to direct other action films including The Bonnie Parker Story (1958), Master of the World (1961) and Darktown Strutters (1975). In newspaper interviews and at film festivals, writer-director Quentin Tarantino has championed Witney as an unsung and influential master of filmmaking, particularly in his handling of the Rogers Westerns. Tarantino also has great admiration for Trigger, calling him "the greatest animal actor who ever was."

Producer: Edward J. White
Director: William Witney
Screenplay: Gerald Geraghty
Cinematography: William Bradford
Art Direction: Frank Hotaling
Original Music: Joseph Dubin, Jack Elliott (uncredited), Tim Spencer (uncredited)
Editing: Lester Orlebeck
Costume Design: Adele Palmer
Cast: Roy Rogers (Himself), George "Gabby" Hayes (Gabby Whittaker), Dale Evans (Connie Edwards), Carol Hughes (Jan Holloway), George Meeker (Steve) and Bob Nolan and The Sons of the Pioneers
BW-72m.

By Roger Fristoe