corporalko In his first full year of turning out B-Westerns, Gene stars in this one that has a different slant than many of his films. He is knocked out early by a prison escapee and thrown off a train; the escapee, Wolf Benson, then heads for a ranch operated by a friend of Autry's from many years before, to masquerade as Gene Autry and try to wheedle a big "loan" from the man.Meanwhile, Gene is found, just coming back to consciousness, by Smiley Burnette and Earle Hodgins, a two-man traveling medicine show. They take Autry to the nearest town, where he was heading anyway, with them being unaware (and evidently Gene is, too) that Benson changed clothes with Autry while he was unconscious, and that the clothing he is now wearing is depicted on a "wanted" poster of Benson. Autry winds up being arrested and thrown in jail as "Wolf Benson".The story goes on from there, with Gene and the "good folks" from his friend's ranch coming out on top at the end -- naturally.This movie has some fine music of the early Western Swing variety, including two songs by the famous band the Light Crust Doughboys. In addition, Gene does a brief riding stunt about halfway through, standing up in his saddle as Champion gallops alone. Did he do it himself? Or was it "obviously a stunt man," as the Autry haters who post most of the reviews of his movies would insist? I don't know; could have been either way.And for the first, but not the last, time in his movies, Gene displays his ability to spin a lariat, a la Will Rogers. Not as well as Rogers could, but he does it. Autry often used his lariat in movies, usually to lasso an escaping bad guy.As I said above, this is a "different" B-Western. But then, most of Gene's were, with a mix between the "Old" and the "New" Wests. Of course, the Autry haters voice frequent dislike of this. But it's just what makes Autry's movies unique -- an element of fantasy. And the American people loved it, with Gene being the leading movie cowboy for six straight years, from 1937 to 1942. They loved the Singing Cowboy. Some of the people who post on here, obviously don't. Well, that's their problem. Gene cried all the way to the bank.

classicsoncall In this early Gene Autry film, Gene's identity is assumed by outlaw Wolf Benson (Boothe Howard) and he spends the rest of the story attempting to clear his name. Helping him out are Smiley Burnette as Frog Millhouse, and Earle Hodgins as Professor Ezekial Daniels, together forming the Millhouse-Daniels Entertainment Company. Smiley's comedy relief efforts go without saying, but having Hodgins around is always a bonus because you never know what his character is going to do. To distract the folks of Sage City while Frog springs Gene from jail, he bites off a chunk of soap and goes into a mad dog act that's just classic.Another bonus for this picture occurs early when the trio first arrive in Sage City, and Gene walks through town with all the citizens thinking he's Wolf Benson. Passing a local general store, the viewer gets a great view of some vintage commercial ads for products like Mobiloil, Morton's Salt, and Lipton's Tea (retaining the 's'). I've seen those before, but was startled to see a couple more for Butterfinger and get this - Champion Spark Plugs! You could have stopped the picture for me right there! There's also a great 'in' joke for folks like me who've been around a while. When Gene insists to the Sage City sheriff that he's really singing star Autry, one of the deputies replies "Yeah, and I'm Bing Crosby". I wonder if Autry had a handshake deal with Crosby to mention each other's names in their pictures; in his 1947 film with Bob Hope, "Road to Rio", Crosby name drops Autry and Bogart while on the run from angry fathers of jilted females the boys have left behind.As far as the story here goes, there's not a lot new for fans who've seen a bunch of B Westerns, with or without Gene Autry. The good guys smoke out the bandits in fine fashion, and manage to throw in at least six songs by my count. Gene does a couple of duets with female lead Frances Grant, and the Light Crust Doughboys send up a spirited rendition of 'Hold That Tiger'. Smiley appears in drag, believe it or not, in a vaudeville type skit with Hodgins while riding a bicycle-like contraption. I could tell what a good idea Hodgins thought it was when I saw him spike his beer with a shot of whiskey from his vest flask.

Spondonman According to the records this was Gene's 12th film - with June Storey nowhere in sight yet but with the formula of chasing baddies with a few songs and a tiny romance that wouldn't bother the kids well in place.It starts with a baddie being chased by the law, jumping onto a moving train, immediately coshing the unsuspecting Autry, thieving his identity and dumping him overboard to his supposed death. All in a minute's work! However, the dazed Gene gets picked up by two travelling entertainers, one of them Frog, and the hunt is on to track the baddie and his gang down who are using his name and not in vain. Favorite songs: Dear Old Western Skies and Water Wheel, while the Light Crust Doughboys got to do a breakneck Tiger Rag and As Our Pals Ride By that put me in mind of La Golondrina from The Wild Bunch. Gene has his usual whirlwind romance, this time with Frances Grant for their 2nd time.At only 53 minutes long a lot gets packed in here, whether you think it was worth it is up to you, but personally I've always enjoyed Autry's films - nothing heavy to ponder about during or afterwards. I have no problem enjoying things meant to be pleasant. It's freely available as public domain on the internet too, the only cost to really consider being your time.

bkoganbing An outlaw named Wolf Benson escaping from a posse boards a train from horseback. On the train is radio singing cowboy Gene Autry on the way to an engagement. Benson slugs Gene and changes clothes with him and throws the unconscious Gene off the moving train.Fortunately our singing hero doesn't break his neck from the fall and he gets rescued by a couple of itinerant actors played by Smiley Burnette and Earl Hodgins. From then on it's a merry chase through the west as Gene tries to prove who he is and foil the dastardly plans of the man who's stolen his identity.One of the funnier scenes in the film is when all three of them, Autry, Burnette, and Hodgins are locked up in jail with Autry insisting who he is and one of the deputies saying if you're Gene Autry, I'm Bing Crosby. But the plot situations are forced to say the least and I can't believe the folks out west are such a gang of rubes they don't know Gene Autry.But Gene does get to warble a couple of nice, but forgettable cowboy ballads and he even gets a duet partner in the form of co-star Frances Grant. Unlike Roy Rogers who married his regular co-star Dale Evans and sang many a duet with her, Gene was usually a solo act in the musical department.Strictly for those who love Gene and the singing cowboy genre.