Release Year: 1940
Release Date: Thu Nov 14 1940
Runtime: 84 minutes
Filmed In Black And White
Genre: Western
Filming Locations: Alabama Hills, Lone Pine
Studio: Republic Pictures
Director
Actors: Roy Bucko (as Henchman), Bob Card (as Melody Ranch Band Musician), Burr Caruth (as Politician), Jess Cavin (as Henchman), George Chandler (as Taxi Driver), George Chesebro (as Henchman(unconfirmed)), Edmund Cobb (as Autry Voter Complaining to Pop), Kaye Connor (as Child at festival), Spade Cooley (as Melody Ranch Fiddle Player), Tex Cooper (as Man Who Bets on Autry), Jim Corey (as Autry Rider), Carl Cotner (as Melody Ranch Band Musician), Jack Deery (as Radio Show Spectator), Art Dillard (as Bystander), Curley Dresden (as Autry Rider), Dick Elliott (as Sheriff Barstow), Bob Folkerson (as Townsman), O.K. Ford (as Townsman), Jimmie Fox (as Townsman), Joe Garcio (as Henchman), Ruth Gifford (as Majorette), Herman Hack (as Frank #2), Frank Hagney (as Saloon Bouncer Who Asks for Quiet), Donald Haines (as Callboy), Chick Hannan (as Wildhack Cohort), Lloyd Ingraham (as Ed – Bartender), Jack Ingram (as Radio Actor with Loco), Ray Jones (as Henchman), Tiny Jones (as Trolley Passenger), Jane Keckley (as Indignant Trolley Passenger), Jack Kirk (as Bus Entertainer), Marie Leon (as Trolley Passenger), Tom London (as Joe #2 – Henchman), Harley Luse (as Melody Ranch Accordion Player), Frankie Marvin (as Melody Ranch Mandolin Player), Frank McCarroll (as Rancher), Merrill McCormick (as Henchman Charlie), John Merton (as Henchman Ten-Spot), Art Mix (as Rancher), Jack Montgomery (as Charlie – Henchman), Horace Murphy (as Loco – Cowboy Radio Actor), Bill Nestell (as Rifle Shooter), Jack O’Shea (as Townsman), Post Park (as Windy – Stagecoach Driver), Pascale Perry (as Henchman), Francis Sayles (as Townsman), Gerald Oliver Smith (as Townsman), Tom Smith (as Henchman), Dub Taylor (as Xylophone Player), Ray Teal (as Henchman(unconfirmed)), Ted Wells (as Cowhand), Wally West (as Townsman), Slim Whitaker (as Autry Voter on Trolley), Bob Woodward (as Henchman), Joe Yrigoyen (as Henchman)
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Plot: With a longer-than-usual running time on original release and booked and sold to the exhibitors as a “Gene Autry Special”, which Republic would do once a year from 1939-1943 in order to get higher rates than on the regular series entries from the theatre owners. Hey, Jimmy Durante and Ann Miler cost more than Smiley Burnette and June Storey. This “special”,(which alternates between tongue-in-cheek and for-real and hard to distinguish which is which since there was very little for-real in most of the fantasy-land settings Autry’s Republic films were laid in), finds Gene returning to his hometown of Torpedo as guest of honor at the Frontier Days Celebraion, Once there, he encounters his childhood enemies, the Wildhack brothers (Barton MacLane, Joe Sawyer and Horace MacMahon in pecking order), now the local gangsters (and playing it with relish.) The Wildhacks own a saloon next door to the school, and when their shooting and brawling endangers the safety of the children, Gene protests and threatens to expose them during his next radio broadcast. The Wildhacks stop the broadcast and beat Gene up. Gene, humiliated because Hollywood life has softened him to the extent that he can’t hold his own against three assailants, decides to remain in Torpedo and get into shape again. He is encouraged by his friend Cornelius J. “Corney” Courtney, and also by Pop Laramie, owner and operator of the local version of the “Toonerville Trolley.” Since Gene refuses to return to Hollywood, his radio show now originates from Torpedo. Julie Sheldon, a débutante with theatrical aspirations, sees Gene
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Sources: Museum Of Western Film History Archives, IMDb, JustWatch