South of Santa Fe (1942)

In the beleaguered town of Whittaker City, just south of Santa Fe, New Mexico, the only hope of revitalization lies in the hands of two key figures: the charismatic Roy Rogers and Mayor "Gabby" Whittaker. They hatch a plan to breathe life back into their struggling community by securing financial support to reopen an abandoned gold mine, owned by the resilient Carol Stevens. In a bid to attract investment, they invite three esteemed eastern financiers, Peter Moreland, Harold Prentiss, and John McMahon, to partake in the town's annual Ride of the Vaqueros, a renowned vigilante event steeped in local tradition. However, the festivities take an unexpected turn with the arrival of an uninvited guest – Joe Kenman, a notorious gangster from the East. Operating under the alias of Joseph Harmon, a wealthy manufacturer, he weaves his way into the event. Upon discovering that Carol's mine holds not just gold but also valuable tungsten, Kenman sees a golden opportunity for a grand scheme: he intends to kidnap the three financiers and hold them ransom. With the aid of the unsuspecting Sons of the Pioneers, Roy's loyal ranch hands, Kenman stages a mock raid and films the action, under the pretext of wanting to share the thrilling scenes back East. When the dust settles, Kenman's henchmen swoop in, capturing the financiers and the Vaqueros. He leaves Roy and his men bound in the desert, then rides back to Whittaker City to spin a web of deceit. Using the film of the staged raid, he convinces the town that Roy is the mastermind behind the kidnappings, demanding a $250,000 ransom. As the town spirals into chaos, Roy and his men manage to free themselves and return to Whittaker City, only to be apprehended by an incensed sheriff's posse. Meanwhile, "Gabby" is sent to deliver the ransom to Kenman's main henchman, Louis, who has deadly plans of his own once the money is in his hands. The fate of Whittaker City hangs in the balance, as the drama unfolds in this gripping tale of deception, courage, and the quest for justice.

South of Santa Fe is a western movie featuring Roy Rogers and directed by Joseph Kane.

South of Santa Fe is currently streaming for free (ad-supported) on The Film Detective and Tubi TV and it's also available on Amazon Prime Video, MGM Plus Amazon Channel, MGM Plus Roku Premium Channel, Paramount Plus Apple TV Channel , Pure Flix and fuboTV.