Let's be realistic.

A movie that not only functions as a solid scarefest but a razor-sharp satire.

Through painfully honest and emotional moments, the movie becomes irresistibly relatable

It's a movie as timely as it is provocative and amazingly, for much of its running time, it is weirdly funny.

When Herbert J. Yates decided to introduce his latest sagebrush star Monte Hale he did with a backstage story so to speak. Monte Hale gets to play himself, a likable young cowboy who would like to break into motion pictures. In going to Republic he sure went to the right studio since this was the bread and butter of that outfit.Hale teams up with young Bobby Blake and his horse Partner who Blake has taught many tricks. He first tries to introduce Partner to western star John Dehner who is a radio actor with a western series there. But for the big screen Dehner just hasn't the skills and his double Fred Graham fills in for Dehner in a lot of ways.Hale catches the studio attention, but Dehner is jealous and he wants to damage Hale's career before it starts. And the horse Partner is the instrument he uses. Monte also gets a little romance in with Bobby Blake's sister Lorna Gray and Republic Pictures gets a new cowboy hero. Several of the current stars like Allan Lane, Don Barry and Roy Rogers and Dale Evans all make guest appearances. And of course John Dehner never became a cowboy hero at Republic, but in real life had quite a distinguished career in all kinds of character roles.You have to wonder about the real studio politics among all these guys at Republic. When Gene Autry moved to Columbia Pictures, Roy Rogers was King of the Republic lot as well as King of the Cowboys. But there was quite a bit of rivalry over who was crown prince and those listed above were not the only movie cowboys working for Herbert J. Yates.Out California Way is a pleasant enough picture and Monte Hale is a good cowboy hero.

Re: the reviewer's question of why Roy Rogers' picture is on the front cover of the DVD box. Because the distributor wants to sell the DVD. He is perhaps the best known movie cowboy to today's audiences, secondly only to John Wayne. He once appeared in a Gene Autry western, when he was still billed as "Dick Weston." He gets in a fight with Autry and of course is beaten. Autry wants to bring him in to sing with the Sons of the Pioneers. Don't ask why, just one of those Republic lines. On the video box I saw, usually at one of those dollar stores, Gene and Roy are both featured on the cover, but the photos are from the Forties, not l936 when the film was made. Since Roy was better known to today's western fans, many of whom never saw his old movies, just his TV series, his picture was on the box for Out California Way. Monte Hale was initially supposed to replace Roy if he was going to be drafted during WW II. Roy had not decided to go into television as yet. That wouldn't come until 1951. Monte began his career doing bit parts in Republic's serials and westerns until finally getting his break in Home on the Range (1946). Yeah, the Trucolor was a little gaudy but Republic was trying to add appeal to their box office trade which was already beginning to show post war expenses. As to the plot line of making a movie within a movie, Republic had already done that with Bells of Rosarita, with Republic cowboy stars coming to Roy's aid in tracking down the outlaws. Sure, we kids knew they were only playacting, but what the heck. Sit back and enjoy the picture. One should try to look at these films in the time frame of when they were made and not compare them to today's big budget films that play down to the audience, rather than to entertain.

This is a real good Republic B-western. A cowboy hero(John Dehner)on the radio wants to establish himself stronger in the movies. Standing in the way is a much younger cowboy(Monte Hale)drawing much new interest. A young boy(13 yr old Robert Blake)is also trying to get his horse into show business. The trick horse becomes a pivotal pawn in the established feud. Lorna Gray is the obligatory love interest. Cameos by Rocky Lane, Red Barry as well as Roy Rogers and Dale Evans who supply a toe tappin' tune to the half-dozen or so offerings from Foy Willing and his Riders of the Purple Sage. Just over an hour...sorta like sitting in the Kiddie Matinee on Saturday morning.

This isn't so much of a western movie, as it is a movie about MAKING western movies - set in the mid 40s. There are at least a half-dozen songs here, but many of them are quite juvenile. I guess that's supposed to play to the youthfulness of the audience at whom this must be aimed. Most of the music is provided by Foy Willing and The Riders of The Purple Sage, but Roy Rogers and Dale Evans - as part of their cameo appearance - also contribute a tune. Rocky Lane and Red Barry briefly cross the screen as well. Robert (Bobby, as he was billed back then) Blake has a main part: While trying to get his HORSE in films, he meets actor-wannabe Monte Hale. The newcomer ultimately upstages an established radio-to-celluloid cowboy, thereby establishing what little tension there is in this flick. In addition, the kid has an older sister, who provides a bit of romance involving her and Monte. The plot and dialogue throughout seems very contrived, which may be too noticeable to adults; and kids may lose interest in a few places.