''The Big Sombrero'' is a 1949 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 Frank McDonald 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 ...

and

Champion A champion (from the late Latin ''campio'') is the victor in a challenge, contest or competition. There can be a territorial pyramid of championships, e.g. local, regional / provincial, state, national, continental and world championships, an ...

. Written by

Olive Cooper Olivette "Olive" Cooper (1892–1987 was a prolific American screenwriter known for movies like ''Cocoanut Grove (film), Cocoanut Grove'', ''Bandit King of Texas'', and ''Three Little Sisters''. She wrote many of the screenplays for Roy Rogers a ...

, the film is about a singing cowboy hired as foreman of the Big Sombrero ranch by a man working against the interests of the ranch's absentee owner and workers.

Plot

Singing cowboy Gene Autry (

) is out of work and looking for a job. After pawning his guitar, he meets former rodeo sharpshooter Angie Burke (Vera Marshe), who works for wealthy ranch owner Estrellita Estrada (

Elena Verdugo Elena Angela Verdugo (April 20, 1925 – May 30, 2017) was an American actress who began in films at the age of five in '' Cavalier of the West'' (1931). Her career in radio, television and film spanned six decades. Early life Elena Angela V ...

). Angie suggests that Gene ride across the border to El Sombrero Grande, Estrellita's ranch. Gene learns that the ranch is managed by James Garland ( Stephen Dunne), an acquaintance from their days with Monahan's Wild West Show. Gene heads south into Mexico. As Gene approaches the ranch, he comes across a fight between Garland and the rancheros, who rent part of the land. Garland is in the process of forcing them off the property. Gene stops Garland from shooting the unarmed men. Garland offers Gene the job of ranch foreman and tells him that he plans to marry Estrellita. On the way back to the ranch, Gene offers a ride to Don Luis Alvarado ( William Edmunds), Estrellita's godfather. Don Luis has been hired to replace Felipe Gonzales (

Martin Garralaga Martín Garralaga (10 November 1894 – 12 June 1981) was a Spanish actor who worked in Hollywood from the 1930s through the 1960s. He was married to opera singer and actress Rosa Rey. Biography Garralaga first came to the United States whe ...

), who has worked on the ranch all his life. Gene does not want to displace Felipe, but he decides to accept the job in order to help the rancheros, who are led by Juan Vazcaro. Gene hires Felipe as his translator. Gene travels back to the United States planning to bring Estrellita back to her ranch in Mexico. Angie, who has been accompanying Estrellita in America, opposes Gene's plan, but Gene and Don Luis are able to kidnap Estrellita and drive her back to El Sombrero Grande. Meanwhile, Garland plots to sell the ranch to Ben McBride (

Gene Roth Eugene Oliver Edgar Stutenroth (January 8, 1903 – July 19, 1976), known profesionally as Gene Roth, was an American film actor and film manager. Early years Roth was born in Redfield, South Dakota. He was the son of a German father and ...

). McBride pressures Garland to get rid of the rancheros before they can sell their cattle and pay their back rent. When Gene learns of the plot, he secretly organizes a cattle drive with the rancheros. As Gene and Juan ride to a meeting of the rancheros, they are shot at by one of Garland's men. Gene and Juan capture him and then learn that the other rancheros are under attack. Although the rancheros are able to fight off Garland's men, a young boy named Tico accidentally reveals to Garland the plans for Gene's cattle drive. Meanwhile, Gene encourages Estrellita to take an interest in her ranch, but she is still eager to return to the United States. After the rancheros leave on the cattle drive, Garland and McBride ambush them at a mountain pass. During the gunfight, the young boy Tico is killed. The rancheros bring the boy's body back to the ranch. Garland professes his innocence, but Estrellita now knows his real intentions and orders him to leave the country. She then asks Gene to help her learn to care for the ranch. Sometime later, after Estrellita absolves the rancheros' debts, Gene leaves Mexico, but promises to return.

Cast

as Gene Autry *

as Champ *

as Estrellita Estrada * Stephen Dunne as Jimmy Garland *

George J. Lewis George J. Lewis (December 10, 1903December 8, 1995) was a Mexican-born actor who appeared in many films and eventually TV series from the 1920s through the 1960s, usually specializing in westerns. He is probably best known for playing Don Aleja ...

as Juan Vazcaro *

Vera Marshe Vera Marshe (July 15, 1905 – March 25, 1984) was an American film and television character actress. Biography Born in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on July 15, 1905. She began her career by appearing in a number of short films during the 30 ...

as Angie Burke * William Edmunds as Don Luis Alvarado *

as Felipe Gonzales (as Gene Stutenroth) *

as Ben McBride *

Neyle Morrow Francis Neyle Marx Jr. (October 28, 1914 – September 30, 2006) was an American film and television actor. Morrow was born in Jacksonville, Florida. He began his screen career in 1940, appearing in the film '' Drums of the Desert''. In the sa ...

as Tico

Production

Filming locations

Santa Clarita, California Santa Clarita (; Spanish for "Little St. Clare") is a city in northwestern Los Angeles County in the U.S. state of California. With a 2020 census population of 228,673, it is the third-largest city by population in Los Angeles County, the 17th ...

, USA *

Tucson, Arizona , "(at the) base of the black ill , nicknames = "The Old Pueblo", "Optics Valley", "America's biggest small town" , image_map = , mapsize = 260px , map_caption = Interactive map ...

, USA *

Vasquez Rocks Vasquez Rocks Natural Area Park is a park located in the Sierra Pelona in northern Los Angeles County, California. It is known for its rock formations, the result of sedimentary layering and later seismic uplift. It is located near the town of A ...

, Vasquez Rocks Natural Area Park, 10700 W. Escondido Canyon Road, Agua Dulce, California, USA *

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 * Monogram Ranch, 24715 Oak Creek Avenue, Placerita Canyon, Santa Clarita, California, USA * Rancho Maria, 25933 Sand Canyon Road, Bear Gap, Canyon Country, California, USARancho Maria and Sable Ranch
/ref> * Red Rock Canyon State Park, Highway 14, Cantil, California, USA * Starr Pass, Tucson, Arizona, USA

Soundtrack

* "You Belong to My Heart" (

Augustin Lara Augustin may refer to: * Augustin (name), male name, variant of Augustine * Augustin (typography), English or 14-point type * Augustin, Brașov, a commune in Brașov County, Romania * Dacian fortress of Augustin, ruined Dacian fortified town in ...

Ray Gilbert Ray Gilbert (September 5, 1912 – March 3, 1976) was an American lyricist. He grew up in Hartford, Connecticut. Career Gilbert is best remembered for the lyrics to the Oscar-winning song "Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah" from the film ''Song of the South'', w ...

) by Gene Autry * "La Golondrina" (N. Serredell,

Teddy Powell Teddy Powell (March 1, 1905 – November 17, 1993) was born in Oakland, California, United States, as Teodoro Paolella, and became a respected American jazz musician, band leader, composer, and arranger. Some of his compositions were written unde ...

) by Elena Verdugo (dancing) * "Rancho Pillow" (Allie Rubel, Charles Newman) by Gene Autry * "

My Adobe Hacienda "My Adobe Hacienda" is a song composed by Louise Massey and Lee Penny. It first became popular in 1941 with Massey's recorded version, where it placed at #23. The song was most popular in 1947 when Eddy Howard took the song to #2. That year the ...

" (Louise Massey, Lee Penny) by Gene Autry * "Goodbye to Old Mexico" (Dwight Butcher, Billy Johnson,

James Brockman James Brockman (December 8, 1886 – May 22, 1967) was an American songwriter. Born in Russia, he emigrated to New York by himself at the age of 9 or 10. His given name was Jacob Brachman but he changed the spelling of the last name because it was ...

) by Gene Autry * "I'm Thankful for Small Favors" (Smiley Burnette) by Gene Autry * "Oh, My Darlin' Clementine" (Arrangement by Percy Montrose) by Gene Autry * "Trail to Mexico" (

Johnny Lange John George Lange (August 15, 1905 – January 6, 2006) was an American songwriter, working mostly in the motion picture industry. His chief musical collaborators were Archie Gottler and Jack Meskill. Biography Lange was born in Philadelphia ...

Lew Porter Lew Porter (February 4, 1892, New York City – January 29, 1956, Los Angeles) was an American composer and songwriter, contributing to the soundtracks of 72 films.

References

;Citations ;Bibliography * * *

External links

* * * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Big Sombrero, The 1949 films Columbia Pictures films 1940s English-language films 1949 Western (genre) films Cinecolor films Films directed by Frank McDonald American Western (genre) films 1940s American films