''Mountain Rhythm'' is a 1939 American

Western Western may refer to: Places *Western, Nebraska, a village in the US *Western, New York, a town in the US *Western Creek, Tasmania, a locality in Australia *Western Junction, Tasmania, a locality in Australia *Western world, countries that id ...

film directed by

B. Reeves Eason William Reeves Eason (October 2, 1886 – June 9, 1956), known as B. Reeves Eason, was an American film director, actor and screenwriter. His directorial output was limited mainly to low-budget westerns and action pictures, but it was as a secon ...

and starring

Gene Autry Orvon Grover "Gene" Autry (September 29, 1907 – October 2, 1998), nicknamed the Singing Cowboy, was an American singer, songwriter, actor, musician, rodeo performer, and baseball owner who gained fame largely by singing in a crooning s ...

Smiley Burnette Lester Alvin Burnett (March 18, 1911 – February 16, 1967), better known as Smiley Burnette, was an American country music performer and a comedic actor in Western films and on radio and TV, playing sidekick to Gene Autry, Roy Rogers, and ...

, and

June Storey Mary June Storey (April 20, 1918 – December 18, 1991) was a Canadian-born American film actress who appeared in 45 films during the 1930s and 1940s. She was leading lady to cowboy singer Gene Autry in 10 films. Early years Storey was bor ...

. Based on a story by Connie Lee, the film is about a cowboy who organizes his fellow ranchers to oppose an Eastern promoter's land grab scheme.Magers, pp. 136–137.

Plot

Aunt Mathilde "Ma" Hutchins (Maude Eburne) and the other ranchers of the valley are in danger of losing her ranches. Mr. Cavanaugh (Walter Fenner), an Eastern promoter, wants to develop a dude ranch on their land. In order to get their land, Cavanaugh arranges for the government to put up nearby public lands for auction—lands the ranchers use to graze their cattle. The auction would drive the ranchers out of business and allow Cavanaugh to acquire the land at a cheap price. Gene Autry (

) and Ma's nephew Frog Millhouse (

) come to the rescue. Gene organizes the ranchers to pool their funds and sell their herds in order to raise enough money to bid on the land at auction. As Gene and Frog return with the proceeds of the cattle sale, they are ambushed by Cavanaugh's men, who steal the money. With the help of the hoboes in the valley, who are led by Judge Homer Worthington (Ferris Taylor) and Rocky (Jack Pennick), Gene stages another roundup using the hoboes as ranch hands. They round up enough cattle to buy the land at auction and save their valley.

Cast

as Gene Autry *

as Frog Millhouse * Maude Eburne as Aunt Mathilde "Ma" Hutchins * Ferris Taylor as Judge Homer Worthington * Walter Fenner as Mr. Cavanaugh * Jack Pennick as Rocky * Hooper Atchley as Mr. Daniels * Bernard Suss as MacCauley * Ed Cassidy as Sheriff Dalrimple * Jack Ingram as Henchman Ed Carney * Tom London as Deputy Tom * Roger Williams as Rancher Kimball * Frankie Marvin as Cowhand Burt *

Slim Whitaker Charles Orbie "Slim" Whitaker (July 29, 1893 – June 27, 1960) was an American film actor. He appeared in more than 340 films between 1914 and 1949. He was born in Kansas City, Missouri, and died in Los Angeles, California, from a heart at ...

as Deputy Slim (uncredited) * Champion as Gene's Horse (uncredited)

Production

Stuntwork

* Ken Cooper (Gene's double) * Jack Kirk (Smiley's double) * Nellie Walker * Joe YrigoyenMagers, p. 137.

Filming locations

Iverson Ranch A movie ranch is a ranch that is at least partially dedicated for use as a set in the creation and production of motion pictures and television shows. These were developed in the United States in southern California, because of the climate. The fir ...

, 1 Iverson Lane, Chatsworth, Los Angeles, California, USA * Walker Ranch * Andy Jauregui Ranch, Placerita Canyon Road, Newhall, California, USA * Barney Oldfield's Resort

Soundtrack

* "Highways Are Happy Ways (When They Lead the Way to Home)" (Larry Shay, Harry Harris, Tommie Malie) by Gene Autry, Smiley Burnette, Ferris Taylor, and Jack Pennick * "It Makes No Difference Now" (Jimmie Davis, Floyd Tillman) by Gene Autry and Smiley Burnette in jail * "It Was Only a Hobo's Dream" (Gene Autry, Johnny Marvin, Fred Rose) by Gene Autry (vocal) and Smiley Burnette (vocal and concertina) * "Old MacDonald Had a Farm" (Traditional) by Gene Autry, Smiley Burnette, June Storey, and hotel guests on the hayride * "The Old Grey Mare" (Traditional) by Gene Autry and hotel guests on the hayride * "Long, Long Ago" (Thomas Haynes Bayley) by Gene Autry and hotel guests on the hayride * "Oh, Dem Golden Slippers!" (James Allen Bland) by Gene Autry, Smiley Burnette, and hotel guests on the hayride * "Put on Your Old Grey Bonnet" (Percy Wenrich, Stanley Murphy) by Gene Autry, Smiley Burnette, June Storey, and hotel guests on the hayride * "Put on Your Old Grey Bonnet" (Reprise) by Gene Autry, Smiley Burnette, June Storey, Maude Eburne, Ferris Taylor, and Jack Pennick at the end * "Gold Mine in Your Heart" (Gene Autry, Johnny Marvin, Fred Rose) by Gene Autry (vocal and guitar) * "Knights of the Open Road" (Gene Autry, Johnny Marvin, Fred Rose) by the Hoboes, with Smiley Burnette on the concertina

References

;Citations ;Bibliography * * *

External links

* * * * {{B. Reeves Eason 1939 films American Western (genre) films 1939 Western (genre) films American black-and-white films Republic Pictures films Films directed by B. Reeves Eason 1930s English-language films 1930s American films English-language Western (genre) films