Review of Rainbow Over Texas

Dale(Jackie Dalrymple) is infatuated with Roy singing Western songs. She's been to his concerts and plays his records. But, her father hates cowboys and Western music, and breaks her records. He discourages her from thinking about marrying a singing cowboy. So, he tells her they are going on another cruise, to get her mind off such. But, she gets an alternative idea, dressing up as a boy, and hopping in a mostly empty box car on a train going from Chicago to Texas, where she hopes to visit her father's hometown of Dalrymple and his ranch. Her father used to be a cowboy there. But he wants to forget that, promoting his identity as the president of a large meat packing company in Chicago. Meanwhile, Roy is on an extended nationwide tour, with the Sons of the Pioneers. They've just finished giving concerts in Chicago, which Dale attended...........As luck would have it, her boxcar contains Trigger and his things. Roy comes to check on Trigger, and discovers her hiding in a straw pile. At first, he treats her as if she were a boy, but it doesn't take him long to figure out that he's a she...........When they get to Dalrymple, (once called Rainbow),Dale jumps on Trigger and gallops away. Roy chases her in a small wagon. Sheriff Gabby Whittaker follows Roy at some distance away. Trigger's saddle starts to slip off, slowing Dale. Thus, Roy catches up, and pulls her off, down a ravine. She tells Roy that she just wanted to get away from Sheriff Gabby, as he might have some information about a runaway girl. Roy misdirects Gabby, thus allowing the 2 to ride back to Dalrymple in Roy's wagon. ........Several songs have been or will be soon sung. The catchy title song is sung several times, including during the opening credits, again when Roy performs on stage in Dalrymple, and yet again, at the end, when all join in the singing. In addition,Roy and the Sons of the Pioneers had sung the title song from another film: "The Lights of Santa Fe", as well as "Head for Texas, USA"........In a saloon, Dale confides in Gabby who she is, not wanting Roy to know..........A man robs the saloon's safe and gallops off. Roy gallops after him, tracing him to the ranch house of Jim Pollard, whom he finds recovering from a blow to the head. Roy wounded the thief in the arm, and Pollard has no such wound. Roy fakes Pollard's death, for the benefit of Gabby. But, later Pollard would be murdered for real. Who did it? Saloon owner Haynes(Sheldon Leonard) has a motive, since Pollard designed the mechanism controlling the spin of the roulette wheel, hence involving him in fixed gambling. Roy discovers that henchman Pete has a bullet wound in his arm, hence making him a strong suspect for the saloon robbery. He admits that he was present when Pollard was shot, but denies pulling the trigger. He's about to tell who did. Just then, Haynes levels his pistol at Pete, from upstairs. Roy sees him, and shoots Haynes first, he dropping over the banister, to the floor below. However, apparently, he didn't die, as the newspaper has a headline that he is on trial for murder.