''Sierra Sue'' is a 1941 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 William Morgan 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

Fay McKenzie Eunice Fay McKenzie (February 19, 1918 – April 16, 2019) was an American actress and singer. She starred in silent films as a child, and then sound films as an adult, but perhaps she is best known for her leading roles opposite Gene Autry ...

. Written by Earl Felton and Julian Zimet, the film is about a government inspector investigating a poisonous weed that is destroying the rangeland supporting the area's cattle. The inspector must persuade the ranchers to reject a plan to burn the land and support a new process of chemical spraying from an airplane. The film features the popular Autry songs "Be Honest With Me", "Ridin' the Range", and the title track.

Plot

In Sierra City, George Larrabee (

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 president of the Western Stockman's Association, orders the ranchers of the area to burn their land in response to a poisonous "devil weed" that threatens to overgrow the rangeland and kill the cattle. The local bank president Stacy Bromfield (

Frank M. Thomas Frank Marion Thomas (July 13, 1889 – November 25, 1989) was an American character actor of stage, screen and television. He and his wife, actress Mona Bruns, both lived to 100 years old. He died the day before her 90th birthday; she died 11 y ...

), a long-time supporter of the ranchers, believes the burning has failed to control the epidemic. At a meeting with Larrabee and the ranchers, Bromfield announces that he contacted the Department of Agriculture and requested a weed control specialist be assigned to investigate. Although suspicious of government intervention, Larrabee and the ranchers agree to cooperate. While riding to Sierra City, singing cowboy and government specialist Gene Autry (

) meets Larrabee's daughter Sue (

) who does not know he is from the Department of Agriculture. Later, Gene and his sidekick Frog Millhouse (

) rescue a wounded pilot from a crashed plane—a plane carrying a large loan to Bromfield for the ranchers. Gene leaves the pilot with a farmer and heads to the bank with the money. Believing that they have stolen the money, the farmer alerts the sheriff who organizes a posse, tracks Gene and Frog down, and arrests them. Gene's assistant, Jarvis (

Kermit Maynard Kermit Maynard (September 20, 1897 – January 16, 1971) was an American actor and stuntman. Early years Born in Vevay, Indiana, he was the son of Mr. and Mrs. William Maynard and a lookalike younger brother of actor Ken Maynard; they were ...

), arrives to identify them, and soon they are freed. During his investigation, Gene has a confrontation with Larrabee's foreman, Brandywine (

Earle Hodgins Earle Hodgins (October 6, 1893 – April 14, 1964) was an American actor. Career Early in his career, Hodgins was active in stock theater, including working in the Ralph Cloninger troupe of Salt Lake City, Utah, and the Siegel Stock compan ...

), who is attempting to burn Larrabee land at his boss' instruction. When Larrabee and Sue arrive, Gene is able to convince them to keep an open mind and that all ranchers must cooperate if they are to solve the problem. Later at the carnival, Gene romances Sue while Frog is seduced by fortune teller Verebel Featherstone (

Dorothy Christy Dorothy Christy (born Dorothea J. Seltzer, later Dorothy Rucker; May 26, 1906 – May 21, 1977) was an American actress. She was sometimes billed as Dorothy Christie. Early years Christy was born Dorothea J. Seltzer on May 26, 1906, in Readin ...

), who is paid by Gene to keep Frog distracted and away from Sue. Verebel hypnotizes Frog and convinces him to become a "human cannonball" and be shot from a cannon. After his investigation, Gene attends a meeting with the ranchers and tells them that burning will not work—that in fact it will only cause regrowth—and that the only way to get rid of the "devil weed" is through chemical spraying. When the ranchers indicate that the chemicals will kill the cattle, Gene assures the ranchers that the cattle will not be harmed if they are moved away from the spraying area. The ranchers agree to follow Gene's recommendations—everyone but Larrabee who threatens to resign if anyone sprays his range. The next day, Gene instructs the ranchers to move their cattle to a nearby canyon and keep them there until the next rainfall so they will not be harmed by the chemicals. Once again, Larrabee is the only one who opposes the plan and indicates that he will not comply. Meanwhile, in an effort to protect Larrabee's cattle from the spraying, Bromfield has his cattle moved to safety with the other herds. As Larrabee and his men prepare for a showdown, Gene devises a plan to thwart Larrabee's opposition without violence. Gene orders an airplane to spray the rangeland. Later with her father, Sue acknowledges that Gene handled the situation well and avoided a violent confrontation, and Larrabee agrees. Reluctantly he acknowledges that maybe now the problem will be resolved. Brandywine, however, refuses to accept Gene's solution, and as the plane flies over the rangeland, he shoots the plane, disabling it. Although the pilot is able to bail out safely, the plane crashes near the herds and starts a stampede. As the cattle head toward the sprayed land, Gene creates a

firebreak A firebreak or double track (also called a fire line, fuel break, fireroad and firetrail in Australia) is a gap in vegetation or other combustible material that acts as a barrier to slow or stop the progress of a bushfire or wildfire. A firebre ...

just in time to keep the cattle safely inside the canyon. Afterwards, Larrabee apologizes to Gene for his stubborn opposition, Verebel finally wins Frog's affection, and Gene and Sue ride through the valley together singing a romantic song.Magers 2007, pp. 200–201.

Cast

as Gene Autry *

as Frog Millhouse *

as Sue Larrabee *

as Banker Bromfield *

as George Larrabee *

as Brandywine *

as Verebel Featherstone *

as Jarvis * Jack Kirk as Sheriff Smith * Eddie Dean as Jerry Willis, the Pilot * Budd Buster as Greg Travis *

Rex Lease Rex Lloyd Lease (February 11, 1903 – January 3, 1966) was an American actor. He appeared in over 300 films, mainly in Poverty Row westerns. Biography Lease arrived in Hollywood in 1924. He found bit and supporting parts at Film Booking O ...

as Rancher Rex * Champion as Gene's Horse (uncredited)

Production

Casting

''Sierra Sue'' was

's second film as Gene Autry's leading lady, following ''Down Mexico Way'' (1941). She would go on to appear in three additional films with Autry, ''Cowboy Serenade'' (1942), ''Heart of the Rio Grande'' (1942), and ''Home in Wyomin (1942).Magers 2007, p. 403. Only two women appeared in more films opposite Gene Autry as his leading lady:

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 ...

(10) and

Gail Davis Gail Davis (born Betty Jeanne Grayson; October 5, 1925 – March 15, 1997) was an American actress and singer, best known for her starring role as Annie Oakley in the 1950s television series ''Annie Oakley''. Life and career Early years The d ...

(14).Magers 2007, pp. 402–403.

Filming and budget

''Sierra Sue'' was filmed September 16 to October 1, 1941. The film had an operating budget of $88,425 (equal to $ today), and a

negative cost Negative cost is the net expense to produce and shoot a film, excluding such expenditures as distribution and promotion. Low-budget movies, for example ''The Blair Witch Project ''The Blair Witch Project'' is a 1999 American supernatural h ...

of $89,897.

Stuntwork

* Bruce Cameron (Smiley Burnette's stunt double in acrobatic jumps) * Kermit Maynard * Eddie Parker * Tex Terry (Smiley Burnette's stunt double) * Nellie Walker (Fay McKenzie's stunt double) * Joe Yrigoyen (Gene Autry's stunt double)

Filming locations

Crowley Lake Crowley Lake is a reservoir on the upper Owens River in southern Mono County, California, in the United States. Crowley Lake is south of Mammoth Lakes. The lake was created in 1941 by the building of the Long Valley Dam by the Los Angeles Depa ...

, California, USA *

Mammoth Lakes, California Mammoth Lakes is a town in Mono County, California, and is the county's only incorporated community. It is located immediately to the east of Mammoth Mountain, at an elevation of . As of the 2020 United States Census, the population was 7,191, r ...

, USA * Republic Pictures Backlot, Studio City, Los Angeles, California, USA *

Round Valley, California Round Valley is a census-designated place (CDP) in Inyo County, California, United States. Round Valley is located northeast of Mount Tom, at an elevation of 4692 feet (1430 m). The population was 435 at the 2010 census, up from 278 at the ...

, USA

Soundtrack

* "Be Honest With Me" (Fred Rose, Gene Autry) by Gene Autry * "Heebie Jeebie Blues" (Oliver Drake, Harry Grey) by Smiley Burnette * "I'll Be True While You're Gone" (Fred Rose, Gene Autry) by Gene Autry, arranged by Carl Hoefle * "Sierra Sue" (J.B. Carey) by Gene Autry * "Ridin' the Range" (

Fleming Allen Fleming Allan (February 2, 1904 – February 2, 1965)''California, Death Index, 1940-1997'' was an American composer of Western music, who helped make that genre popular in the 1930s. Fleming Allan was born in California On February 2, 1904. His m ...

, Gene Autry, Nelson Shawn) by Gene Autry and others

References

;Citations ;Bibliography * * *

External links

* * * {{allmovie title, 110080, Sierra Sue 1941 films 1941 Western (genre) films American Western (genre) films American black-and-white films Republic Pictures films Films directed by William Morgan (director) Films scored by Raoul Kraushaar 1940s English-language films 1940s American films