''The Singing Cowboy'' 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

Mack V. Wright Mack V. Wright (March 9, 1894 – August 14, 1965) was an American actor and film director. Active as a director from 1920 to the late 1940s, he also had an extensive career as an assistant director, second-unit director and production man ...

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 ...

Lois Wilde Edithia Lois Wilde (August 14, 1907 – February 16, 1995) was an American actress, Model (art), model, dancer, and beauty contest winner. She was most famous for appearing in Western (genre), B-Western and Action film, Action movies, and also know ...

and

Lon Chaney Jr. Creighton Tull Chaney (February10, 1906 – July12, 1973), known by his stage name Lon Chaney Jr., was an American actor known for playing Larry Talbot in the film '' The Wolf Man'' (1941) and its various crossovers, Count Alucard (Dra ...

Based on a story by Tom Gibson, the film is about a cowboy who decides to sing on television in order to raise money for the orphaned daughter of his former boss who was murdered.

Plot

Ranch owner Steve Stevens (John Van Pelt) is shot by his greedy partner, Martin (

Lon Chaney, Jr. Creighton Tull Chaney (February10, 1906 – July12, 1973), known by his stage name Lon Chaney Jr., was an American actor known for playing Larry Talbot in the film '' The Wolf Man'' (1941) and its various crossovers, Count Alucard (Dra ...

), who then sets fire to Stevens' barn. Stevens' last request is for cowboy Gene Autry (

) to look after his daughter, Lou Ann (Ann Gillis), who was trampled by a horse during the barn fire and paralyzed. Martin befriends Lou Ann, hoping to gain possession of the secret gold mine beneath the Stevens' ranch. Lou Ann does not suspect Martin in her father's murder. Needing to raise $10,000 for Lou Ann's spinal surgery, Gene confidently wrangles his way into a promotional job with Covered Wagon Coffee Company and travels in a caravan equipped with television equipment, broadcasting a Covered Wagon Coffee show to small towns in the West. In his home town of Plainesville, Gene organizes an amateur singing contest. Helen Blake (

), the daughter of his boss Henry Blake (Harvey Clark), auditions without her father's permission and without Gene knowing her real identity. Concerned about his daughter, Henry Blake sends Helen's fiancée, Herbert Trenton (Earl Eby), after her. With the date of Lou Ann's surgery quickly approaching, Gene receives a bank advance on his radio contract to cover the cost. Martin steals Gene's wagon, unaware that Helen is hiding inside. This fouls Gene's bank advance and it is cancelled. Helen secretly sends an "S.O.S." signal using the equipment in the stolen wagon, and Gene is able to find the wagon and free her. Martin's gang follows Gene and Helen into town where they are arrested. Gene collects the reward money offered by Trenton for Helen's safe return, getting enough money to cover Lou Ann's surgery. Thinking that Gene is interested only in her money, Helen goes back to Trenton. Gene eventually captures Martin, and after his men reveal his guilt in connection with the secret gold mine, he is also arrested. After performing in the recovered coffee caravan, Gene rushes to the Plainesville courthouse and saves Helen from marrying Trenton. Gene and Helen sing "Rainbow Trail" while a recovering Lou Ann looks on.

Cast

as himself *

as Frog Millhouse *

as Helen Blake *

as Martin * Champion as Champion, Gene's Horse *

Ann Gillis Alma Mabel Conner (February 12, 1927 – January 31, 2018), known professionally as Ann Gillis, was an American actress, best known for her film roles as a child actress. She performed the voice of Faline in the 1942 Disney animated film ' ...

as Lou Ann Stevens * Earle Hodgins as Professor Sandow * Harvey Clark as Henry Blake * John Van Pelt as Steve Stevens * Earl Eby as Herbert Trenton * Ken Cooper as Second Henchman, Stevens' Barn * Harrison Greene as Mayor Hawkins * Wes Warner as Pete, Musical Ranchhand * Jack Rockwell as Sheriff * Tracy Layne as Henchmen Leader Kirk

Production

Stuntwork

* Ken Cooper * Joe Yrigoyen

Filming locations

* Agoura, California, US * Brandeis Ranch,

Chatsworth, Los Angeles Chatsworth is a suburban neighborhood in the City of Los Angeles, California, in the San Fernando Valley. The area was home to Native Americans, some of whom left caves containing rock art. Chatsworth was explored and colonized by the Spanish be ...

, California, US * Iverson Ranch, 1 Iverson Lane, Chatsworth, Los Angeles, California, US

Soundtrack

* "There's an Empty Cot in the Bunkhouse Tonight" (Gene Autry) by Gene Autry and cowhands * "Ya Hoo" by Gene Autry, Smiley Burnette, Art Davis, Frankie Marvin, Jack Kirk, Wes Warner, and other cowhands * "We're on the Air" (Tibor Bencze) by the cowhands * "True Blue Bill" (Gene Autry, Frankie Marvin, George Rainey) by Gene Autry and cowhands * "Rainbow Trail" (Smiley Burnette, Oliver Drake) by Gene Autry and Lois Wilde * "Rainbow Trail" (reprise) (Smiley Burnette, Oliver Drake) by Lois Wilde * "Rainbow Trail" (reprise) (Smiley Burnette, Oliver Drake) by Gene Autry * "Down in Slumberland" by Gene Autry at the hospital * "Scattin'" by Fred 'Snowflake' Toones and two unidentified African Americans (instrumental) * "The New Jassackaphone" (Tibor Bencze) by Smiley Burnette * "Washboard and Room" by Frankie Marvin on a washboard * "My Old Saddle Pal" (Gene Autry, Oddie Thompson) by Gene Autry * "I'll Be Thinking of You, Little Gal" (Gene Autry) by Gene Autry and Earle Hodgins

References

;Citations ;Bibliography * * *

External links

* * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Singing Cowboy, The 1936 films 1936 Western (genre) films American black-and-white films Films directed by Mack V. Wright Republic Pictures films Films produced by Nat Levine American Western (genre) films 1930s English-language films 1930s American films