According to IMDB trivia, the heavily abbreviated (in essence, hacked to pieces to fit a TV time slot) version is not the only version available and the full original version was played on TCM a few years ago*. Well, unfortunately for me, the only copy I found was the abbreviated 54 minute version...meaning about 20 minutes of the story was missing!! Keep this in mind, as the original longer version might be an entirely different viewing experience than the one I had.
The plot to "Springtime in the Sierras" is a timeless one. A group of hunters are wiping out the wild game because they couldn't care less about hunting out of season, taking too many critters or breaking 1001 other laws. After one of the local game wardens is killed by these jerks, Roy goes to the Loring Ranch to investigate the crimes. But the woman in charge there is a brutal murderer....and adding Roy's death to her crimes wouldn't bother her in the least!
The plots of about 95% of all B-westerns are very, very familiar. In fact, most use one of only about a half dozen basic story ideas. But "Springtime in the Sierras" manages to be very original...except for the title which has nothing to do with the plot...a familiar thing with B-westerns!
Despite being hacked to pieces, I liked this change of pace story. I particularly was amazed at the scene where Roy shoots at the baddies who are following him....you have to see it to appreciate the brilliant stuntwork. I also loved the scene where Andy Devine squashes one of the baddies!! Perhaps I'll look some more for the original length version....as I am sure my viewing experience couldn't help but be different.
*Heavily editing was done on many B-westerns in the 1950s in order to fit the films into television time slots. In many cases, the original prints are gone. The only TV cowboy I know of who kept original prints was William Boyd (Hopalong Cassidy) and a few years ago his original and fully restored prints were uploaded to YouTube. I would love to see Roy Rogers and Gene Autry's prints restored like this...as would the fans.
