I had a hard time figuring out whether or not to give this one a 6 or 7. All I know is that even if you are not a fan of Roy Rogers, this is an enjoyable and pretty well-done movie--and better than average for this prolific star.The film is set during the Civil War. There is some sort of Confederate resistance going on in Colorado and the Lieutenant (Rogers) is sent to investigate. Soon he sees that many of the local officials are Confederate spies--including a judge and many other public officials. What's more surprising, however, is that one of the leaders of this group is Rogers' own brother!! Can Roy and Gabby sort all this out or is the North destined to lose the war? While the undercover agent during the Civil War isn't exactly a new idea, it was handled very well here. Enjoyable acting and dialog make this one worth seeing.By the way, like so many of Rogers' films, this one was originally longer but was cut down for TV in the 1950s. Considering that this often meant less singing, it's something that I can live with--even though I am usually a purist and want the producer's original vision. But, without so much singing, the movie is tighter and without the loss of momentum songs usually create.

G-man Roy Rodgers is sent to Colorado at the height of the Civil War, in order to ferret out a gang of Confederate sympathizers who are robbing Army payrolls, among other nefarious deeds, only to discover that his own wayward brother is a rebel spy in a blue coat, out to destroy the Union's plans for a Texas campaign. After being exposed, he joins up with the local Indians to cause trouble.Roy hasn't quite hit his stride yet in this early vehicle, but it's a decent enough hour of entertainment for fans of Saturday matinée potboilers, with George "Gabby" Hayes along for the ride, making the most out of his comic-relief character.Music and romance are a half-hearted afterthought here, with Roy singing only one brief song near the end and Roy's semi-villainous brother getting the most attention from the opposite sex this time around.

A group of Confederates are posing as Northern loyalists in Colorado where they are sabotaging the help the Union needs in the war. General Grant sends Lt. Jerry Burke to investigate the trouble, but when he arrives he discovers his brother Don, using the alias of Cap. Donald Mason, is one of the ringleaders of this wave of sabotage. The head of the secessionists is Jim Macklin, who is the Indian Agent of the area, who has also been providing the Indians with rifles in hopes of further spoiling the arrival of army troops. Jerry tries to set a trap for Macklin, but is shot by one of the renegade Indians and is nursed back to health by Don, who has grown tired of following Macklin's orders and shoots him in an argument. Fully healthy, Jerry learns of his brothers' actions and goes after him putting his duty above his heart in a battle that only one can leave alive. The film has plenty of action, drama, and suspense, plus a great climax to the film, but the film really weakens by trying to draw out the relationship b/w the brothers and the fact that Macklin is really that great a villain, where the script really could have had him use the brother situation to a better advantage. Moore is given a better role than her other films w/ Rogers really torn between her fiancé (Don) and a blooming love for Jerry. Rating, based on B westerns, 6.

Back when I was a lad there was a shortlived television series called The Americans which starred Darryl Hickman and Dick Davalos as the Canfield brothers who went their separate ways when the Civil War broke out. The episodes alternated back and forth with Darryl serving in the Union Army and Dick doing his bit for the Confederacy. Too bad it didn't last longer.In fact in real life a whole lot of families were torn that way. Kentucky statesman John Crittenden had two sons both of whom became generals in the opposing armies. So the premise of Roy Rogers and Milburn Stone on opposite sides is quite real.Rogers is on detached duty from the Union Army as a Pinkerton man out in Colorado trying to locate who's behind stirring up a whole variety of trouble that's tying down needed troops in the west. Of course it's his brother Milburn Stone and the pursuit plus Roy's agony about hunting one of his kin is the heart of Colorado.Rogers only gets one song, sung while he's recuperating from a gunshot wound to leading lady Pauline Moore. He's called on to do a bit more acting than would normally be the case and he handles it well.Colorado deserved a bigger budget and an A cast for the film. It was as another reviewer pointed out, badly butchered in the editing. Yet it's still worthwhile viewing.