''Rhythm of the Saddle'' is a 1938 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
George Sherman
George Sherman (July 14, 1908 – March 15, 1991) was an American film director and producer of low-budget Western films. One obituary said his "credits rival in number those of anyone in the entertainment industry."
Biography
George Sherma ...
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, a ...
, and
Pert Kelton
Pert or PERT may refer to:
Ships
* - see List of United States Navy ships: P
* , a World War II corvette, originally HMS ''Nepeta''
* ''Pert'' (sidewheeler), a 19th-century steamboat that operated in British Columbia, Canada
Statistics
* PER ...
. Written by
Paul Franklin, the film is about the foreman at a ranch owned by a wealthy rodeo owner who will lose her rodeo contract unless sales improve.
Plot
The owner of the Silver Shadow ranch, Maureen McClune (
Peggy Moran
Peggy Moran (born Mary Jeanette Moran, October 23, 1918 – October 24, 2002) was an American film actress who appeared in films between 1938 and 1943.
Early years
Born in Clinton, Iowa, Moran was the daughter of Earl Moran, an artist wh ...
), runs the Frontier Week rodeo every year, relying on the financial success of the event to support the ranch. The current rodeo is the most profitable in the event's history, but Maureen is told by the rodeo organizers that she must do even better if she hopes to get her contract renewed. Maureen's main competition is Jack Pomeroy (LeRoy Mason), who owns a rival ranch and a local nightclub and gambling house.
Following a series of "accidents" apparently caused by negligence during the rodeo, Maureen's foreman, Gene Autry (
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 ...
), sets out to prove that Pomeroy is responsible. Maureen's Aunt Hattie (
Pert Kelton
Pert or PERT may refer to:
Ships
* - see List of United States Navy ships: P
* , a World War II corvette, originally HMS ''Nepeta''
* ''Pert'' (sidewheeler), a 19th-century steamboat that operated in British Columbia, Canada
Statistics
* PER ...
) wins some money at a roulette table at Pomeroy's club, thanks to Gene's disabling of the rigged mechanisms. Returning home, they are ambushed by Pomeroy's men. Later, Gene breaks into Pomeroy's office to get additional proof of his guilt.
On the last day of the Frontier Week rodeo, Gene rides against one of Pomeroy's men in the final event, a stagecoach race. Aunt Hattie bets everything she has on Gene, hoping to save the ranch. When Gene discovers his friend, Frog Milhouse (
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, a ...
), making a recording of a proposal to Hattie, he realizes that Frog's recorder could entrap Pomeroy. He instructs Frog to place the device below Pomeroy's seats at the rodeo just before the start of the race.
Pomeroy persuades the sheriff that Gene has committed a murder, but Gene is able to escape. With Frog's help, Gene is able to make it to the race on time. While Gene rides furiously, nearly losing his life, Frog records Pomeroy and his men discussing the "accidents" they created during the rodeo. Gene ends up winning the race, Hattie wins her bet, and Pomeroy and his henchmen are arrested. With their financial worries behind them, Gene and Maureen are free to marry, as are Frog and Hattie.
Cast
*
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 ...
as Gene Autry
*
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, a ...
as Frog Milhouse
*
Pert Kelton
Pert or PERT may refer to:
Ships
* - see List of United States Navy ships: P
* , a World War II corvette, originally HMS ''Nepeta''
* ''Pert'' (sidewheeler), a 19th-century steamboat that operated in British Columbia, Canada
Statistics
* PER ...
as Aunt Hattie
*
Peggy Moran
Peggy Moran (born Mary Jeanette Moran, October 23, 1918 – October 24, 2002) was an American film actress who appeared in films between 1938 and 1943.
Early years
Born in Clinton, Iowa, Moran was the daughter of Earl Moran, an artist wh ...
as Maurine McClune
*
LeRoy Mason
LeRoy Franklin Mason (July 2, 1903 – October 13, 1947) was an American film actor who worked primarily in Westerns in both the silent and sound film eras. Mason was born in Larimore, North Dakota on July 2, 1903.
Career 1920s
Mason's fir ...
as Jack Pomeroy
*
Arthur Loft
Arthur Loft (May 25, 1897 – January 1, 1947) was an American film and stage actor. He appeared in more than 220 films between 1932 and 1947.
Biography
He was born in Denver, Colorado and died in Los Angeles, California. He is interred ...
as Cylde Chase
*
Ethan Laidlaw
Ethan Allen Laidlaw (November 25, 1899 – May 25, 1963) was an American film actor. He appeared in more than 350 films and made more than 500 appearances on television, mainly uncredited in Westerns, between 1923 and 1962.
Laidlaw was bor ...
as Tex Robinson
* Walter De Palma as Leach, the tall henchman
* Arch Hall Sr. as Rusty, the henchman in the stage
* Eddie Hart as Alex, the henchman
* Eddie Acuff as Dixie Erwin
* Champion as Gene's Horse (uncredited)
[Magers, p. 121.]
Production
Stuntwork
* Ken Cooper (Gene's double)
* Jack Kirk (Smiley's double)
* Bill Yrigoyen
* Joe Yrigoyen
Filming locations
*
Corriganville Movie Ranch
__NOTOC__
Corriganville Movie Ranch was a working film studio and movie ranch for outdoor location shooting, as well as a Western-themed tourist attraction. The ranch, owned by actor and stuntman Ray "Crash" Corrigan, was located in the foothills ...
, Simi Valley, California, USA
*
Iverson Ranch, 1 Iverson Lane, Chatsworth, Los Angeles, California, USA
Soundtrack
* "Merry Go Roundup" (Gene Autry, Johnny Marvin, Fred Rose) by Gene Autry (vocal and guitar)
* "She'll Be Comin' Round the Mountain" (Traditional) by Smiley Burnette (a cappella vocal)
* "Oh! Ladies" (Gene Autry, Johnny Marvin, Fred Rose) by Gene Autry (vocal) and Smiley Burnette (vocal and guitar)
* "When Mother Nature Sings Her Lullaby" (Larry Yoell, Glenn Brown) by Gene Autry (vocal and guitar) and the all-girl nightclub orchestra
* "The Old Trail" (Gene Autry, Johnny Marvin, Fred Rose) by Gene Autry and Smiley Burnette with the cowhand musicians
* "Let Me Call You Sweetheart" (Leo Friedman, Beth Slater Whitson) by Gene Autry and Smiley Burnette with an orchestral background
References
;Citations
;Bibliography
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External links
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{{George Sherman
1938 films
1930s Western (genre) musical films
1930s English-language films
American black-and-white films
Republic Pictures films
Films directed by George Sherman
American Western (genre) musical films
1930s American films