''Ride Ranger Ride'' is a 1936 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

Joseph Kane Jasper Joseph Inman Kane (March 19, 1894, San Diego – August 25, 1975, Santa Monica, California) was an American film director, film producer, film editor and screenwriter. He is best known for his extensive directorship and focus on Western f ...

and starring 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 ...

, and

Kay Hughes Kay Hughes (born Catherine Mary Hughes; January 16, 1914 – April 4, 1998) was an American actress in the 1930s and 1940s who appeared mainly in Western films and serials. Biography Hughes was born in Los Angeles, California. When she was a ...

. Based on a story by

Bernard McConville Bernard McConville (October 16, 1887 – December 27, 1961) was an American screenwriter. He wrote for more than 90 films between 1915 and 1946. He was born in Denver, Colorado and died in Los Angeles County, California. Partial filmogra ...

and Karen DeWolf, and a screenplay by Dorrell and Stuart E. McGowan, the film is about a Texas Ranger working undercover to protect an Army wagon train full of ammunition and supplies. The Army doesn't believe him at first, until the Comanche arrive.

Plot

Following the

American Civil War The American Civil War (April 12, 1861 – May 26, 1865; also known by other names) was a civil war in the United States. It was fought between the Union ("the North") and the Confederacy ("the South"), the latter formed by states ...

the Texas Rangers are disbanded with Texas Ranger Lieutenant Gene Autry ( Gene Autry) accepts a commission into the US Army Cavalry who will now police Texas. His men follow him forming a

troop A troop is a military sub-subunit, originally a small formation of cavalry, subordinate to a squadron. In many armies a troop is the equivalent element to the infantry section or platoon. Exceptions are the US Cavalry and the King's Tr ...

. The American Federal Government now wants to make friends with the hostile Comanche, blaming the hot headed Rangers and all other Texans for inciting the Indians. The men adapt with Autry and cavalry Lieutenant Bob Cameron ( George J. Lewis) competing for the attentions of Dixie Summerall (

), the beautiful daughter of Colonel Summerall (

Robert Homans Robert Edward Homans (November 8, 1877 – July 28, 1947) was an American actor who entered films in 1923 after a lengthy stage career. Life and career Robert Homans was born November 8, 1877, in Malden, Massachusetts. Although he studied ...

) the post commander at Fort Adobe, Texas. Their romantic aspirations are cut short when an Indian party wish to have a talk with the cavalry but wearing war paint is spotted by Autry and his scout Rufe. Though Autry and Rufe prevent an Indian attack by opening fire on the small party of Indians when they attempt to signal a larger party to attack, the larger party escapes without being seen. Autry is demoted to trooper and Rufe loses one month's Army Scout pay. A peace treaty is signed with the help of Duval ( Monte Blue), the fort's interpreter. Gene and his buddies, Frog Millhouse (

) and Rufe Jones (

Max Terhune Max Terhune (February 12, 1891 – June 5, 1973) was an American film actor born in Franklin, Indiana. He appeared in nearly 70 films, mostly B-westerns, between 1936 and 1956. Among these, Terhune starred in '' The Three Mesquiteers'' and ...

), suspect that Duval is working with the Indians, and they go to his canteen to investigate. Confronted by the Texas Ranger, Duval tries to kill Gene and a barroom brawl ensues. Afterwards, Gene and his friends are court-martialed for their involvement in the fight. When Gene tries to warn Colonel Summerall and about the interpreter's involvement with the Indians, he is arrested for the murder of a Comanche brave. Known to the Indians as Chief Tavibo, Duval is now free to continue his plot to re-route a supply train so that the Comanches can attack and capture the cavalry's ammunition. After Gene escapes jail, he travels to meet the Governor of Texas and former Ranger Major Crosby. The Governor reinstates the Texas Rangers to protect the population. Autry joins the bloody battle between the cavalry and the Comanches. Soon Frog arrives with the Texas Rangers to win the battle, during which Duval is killed and his true identity is revealed. After peace is restored, Colonel Summerall apologizes to Gene, and Gene wins Dixie as his bride.

Cast

* Gene Autry as Texas Ranger Gene Autry *

as Frog Millhouse *

as Dixie Summerall * Monte Blue as Duval, aka Chief Tavibo * George J. Lewis as Lieutenant Bob Cameron *

as Rufe Jones *

as Colonel Summerall *

Lloyd Whitlock Lloyd Whitlock (January 2, 1891 – January 8, 1966) was a prolific American actor who began working during Hollywood's silent era. Born in 1891, he appeared in nearly 200 films between 1916 and 1949. Distinguished by his height and stature, he ...

as Major Crosby * Chief Thundercloud as Little Wolf * The Tennessee Ramblers as Ranger Musicians * Jack Cheatham as Jailer (uncredited) *

Iron Eyes Cody Iron Eyes Cody (born Espera Oscar de Corti, April 3, 1904 – January 4, 1999) was an American actor of Italian descent who portrayed Native Americans in Hollywood films, famously as ''Chief Iron Eyes'' in Bob Hope's '' The Paleface'' (1948) ...

as Comanche War Party Leader (uncredited) *

Nelson McDowell Nelson McDowell (August 14, 1870 – November 3, 1947) was an American actor. He appeared in more than 170 films between 1917 and 1945. McDowell was born in Greenville, Missouri. His parents were N. B. McDowell and Anne Hampton. He attend ...

as Proctor (uncredited) * Greg Whitespear as Crazy Crow (uncredited) * Champion as Champ, Gene's Horse (uncredited) *

Joan Barclay Joan Barclay (born Mary Elizabeth Greear; August 31, 1914 – November 22, 2002) was an American film actress of the 1930s and 1940s, starring mostly in B-movies and cliffhangers, with her career starting during the silent film era. Biography ...

as Wagon Trail Girl (uncredited)

Production

Stuntwork

* Joe Yrigoyen

Soundtrack

* "Ride Ranger Ride" ( Tim Spencer) by Gene Autry and The Tennessee Ramblers * "On the Sunset Trail" (

Sam H. Stept Samuel Howard Stept (aka Sammy Stept; 18 September 1897 – 1 December 1964) was an American songwriter who wrote for Broadway, Hollywood and the big bands. He became known simply as Sam Stept or Sam H. Stept – he rarely used his full middle n ...

, Sidney D. Mitchell) by Gene Autry and The Tennessee Ramblers * "La Cucaracha" played in the canteen * "Song of the Pioneers" (Tim Spencer) by riders with the wagon train

Memorable quotes

* Rufe Jones: ''Lieutenant, when you see Indians be careful—and when you don't see Indians, be more careful''. * Texas Ranger Gene Autry: ''I think you're walking into a trap.'' :Lt. Bob Cameron: ''That's my responsibility, Autry.'' :Rufe Jones: ''Sure, but we're with you!'' * Texas Ranger Gene Autry: ''Goodbye, Colonel, and remember this—make your peace signals with one hand, and keep your rifles ready in the other.'' * Texas Ranger Gene Autry: ''Just saddle our horses and trot 'em by in front of the guard house. '' :Frog Millhouse: ''Horses?'' :Rufe Jones: ''Yeah, horses. You know, the things you fall off of''.

References

;Notes ;Citations ;Bibliography * * *

External links

* * * * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Ride Ranger Ride 1936 films 1936 Western (genre) films American black-and-white films Films directed by Joseph Kane Republic Pictures films Western (genre) cavalry films Films produced by Nat Levine American Western (genre) films 1930s English-language films 1930s American films