Down Dakota Way (1949)

In the heartland of the American frontier, rancher H.T. McKenzie faces an alarming reality: his cattle are riddled with the devastating hoof-and-mouth disease, as diagnosed by the earnest veterinarian, George Fredericks. In an act of desperate deceit, McKenzie employs Steve Paxton, a man of questionable morals, to eliminate the vet and purloin his damning report, setting off a chain of events that would shake the small town of Sun Rock. Simultaneously, the legendary Roy Rogers and the Riders of the Purple Sage, en route to the Cheyenne Rodeo, take a detour to Sun Rock, drawn by nostalgia. Roy seeks a reunion with his old schoolteacher, Dolly Paxton, Steve's beleaguered stepmother. Unbeknownst to him, a storm of scandal and conspiracy is brewing, and he is soon caught in the relentless pursuit of Steve by the diligent Sheriff Holbrook. Ruth Shaw, a local townswoman, reveals to Roy the heart-wrenching twist of fate - Dolly, once a revered educator, has been fired due to her stepson’s criminal antics, leaving her a bitter and broken woman. Yet, despite the town's condemnation, she remains steadfast, defending her wayward stepson. The plot thickens when Roy stumbles upon a symptomatic McKenzie calf, leading him on a trail of deceit right to McKenzie's doorstep. With the clock ticking, Roy must unravel the twisted plot and halt the diseased cattle, saving not only Dolly’s reputation but also preventing a potential epidemic that could decimate the herds of Sun Rock. Down Dakota Way is a riveting tale of loyalty, deceit, and the relentless pursuit of truth set against the backdrop of the rugged American West.

Down Dakota Way is a western movie featuring Dale Evans.

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