What ever happened to Randolph Scott?

As a child, I loved cowboy films. I can't remember how many times I lined up for Saturday matinees with other kids my age, eager to see the latest sagebrush hero.

The hero was easy to spot. Generally he wore a white hat, rode a fabulous horse and was befriended by sidekicks like Smiley Burnette or Gabby Hayes. Somehow this knight of the open range managed to warble a few numbers between breaks in the action. The singing cowboys had the most fans and were probably the most publicized. Roy Rogers and Gene Autry were giants of this genre.

Superstar John Wayne, who shaped the definition of the American hero in film, honed his early career in low budget westerns, often playing Singing Sandy.

Randolph Scott did not sing in his cowboy roles. His westerns were shot in blazing colour and the scenery was eye popping. His chiseled good looks and quiet manner made him ideally suited to play ruggedly heroic types who rode hell bent for leather to round up the bad guys.

Films about the Old West were and are good entertainment. I hope we see their like again one day.

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