To get the Delaney ranch Cole's henchman Anders has started a phony range war between the cattlemen and sheepmen. After killing Delaney, he tries to kill his daughter Jill and then Roy who was sent to investigate the war. But the failed attempts gives Roy the information he needs. Roy Rogers (<a href=">Roy Rogers)comes to Merino Springs to prevent a range war between cattlemen and sheepmen, that started as a result of the killing of a sheep-man, Matthew Delaney (<a href=">John Ince) on "Whirligig Cattle Syndicate" property. He was killed by Steve Anders (<a href=">Francis McDonald, a henchman of Cole Gregory (<a href=">Dennis Hoey), who is out to acquire the Delaney ranch. Roy's pleas for the murdered man's daughter, Jill Delaney (<a href=">Dale Evans) to help prevent further bloodshed are dashed when her prized ram is also killed. It does not help matters that her lawyer is the scheming Gregory. Roll On Texas Moon is a decent entry in the Roy Rogers film catalog. The film finds him trying to stop a feud between the cattlemen and the sheepmen from tearing apart the neighborhood just like the differences used to do in the Old West days.<br/><br/>Roy's dad back in the day was big on getting rid of sheepmen by fair or foul means, but Roy has a live and let live attitude. So does Dale Evans who's aunt is Elizabeth Risdon, owner of a Sheep Ranch with the Old West name of Cactus Kate. She's more than a match for that grizzled old cattleman Gabby Hayes.<br/><br/>What I liked most about Roll On Texas Moon was the reteaming of the antagonists Hayes and Risdon from the John Wayne classic Tall In The Saddle. That one is one of my favorite Wayne films and there is a running rivalry between Hayes and Risdon. Hayes is his usual grizzled, bearded self, but Risdon in that film plays an eastern woman accompanying her niece. Gabby deals with her in the usual Gabby fashion there. Here in Roll On Texas Moon, Risdon is more than a match for Gabby, though in the end it's hinted there might be a little senior citizen romance in the offing.<br/><br/>Western fans especially B western aficionados will be somewhat taken aback by the presence of Dennis Hoey. The distinguished British actor best known for being Inspector Lestrade of Scotland Yard, probably grabbed at his chance to be in a western and add it to his list of credits. <br/><br/>The title song is a nice one, Roy recorded it back in the day and it suits him perfectly. So does this unpretentious B western from the factory owned by Herbert J. Yates known as Republic Pictures. Roll on Texas Moon employs many of the standard plot devices of the popular B Western to wring out plenty of action and humor in the course of its brief running time. Paragon of truth, honor and virtue Roy Rogers finds himself smack dab in the middle of a turf war between the regional cattle ranchers and sheep herders (the social implications of which are occasionally fascinating to ponder) which has been manufactured by a secret evil-doer trying to gain control of a major ranch. Roy's invaluable sidekick, the legendary Gabby Hayes, proves indispensable to the film: not only is he accused of murder, he also provides the comic relief, as an adorable lost lamb develops a fixation and dependence on Gabby that the grizzled cattleman desperately tries to hide from his pals. Dale Evans, playing Jill Delaney, is a well-meaning and good-hearted sheep rancher who, like Roy, does not want the bitter dispute to tear apart the community. Before all the secrets can come to light and reveal the true villain, the audience is treated to a rousing set piece in which Jill's out of control, sabotaged auto goes careening off a steep embankment. If you think Roy is able to save her from certain doom, well… you better see Roll on Texas Moon and find out.
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