Strong and Moving!

if their story seems completely bonkers, almost like a feverish work of fiction, you ain't heard nothing yet.

The joyful confection is coated in a sparkly gloss, bright enough to gleam from the darkest, most cynical corners.

The movie really just wants to entertain people.

The most interesting part of this sub-par Autry oater is poor Kay Hughes. I don't know what wardrobe put her in, but the frou-frou is eating her alive. Only her head is still visible. Meanwhile, all the white lace, bustles, and brocade have consumed the rest of her. Too bad, because she could easily pass for Elizabeth Taylor's younger sister, if Liz had one. Too bad too, that the script's a mess, that is, if you can keep up with it. Something about Texas Rangers, the US Cavalry, and American Indians, all learning to get along. Well, at least the former two. Already, it seems, Texas hates the Feds since they quarrel over who gets to fight the Indians. That's because from the movie, it seems "the only good Indian is a dead one". After all, this is back when red men were mainly circling targets for cavalry target practice. Then too, if I'm not mistaken, the script manages to slight just about everybody at some point.Meanwhile, the tunes are forgettable, the barroom brawl badly staged, and absolutely no hard riding, while the comedy consists mainly of a scalping wannabe. I will say the stock footage is nicely blended into the film as a whole, which at least lends visual continuity. I don't know what Republic had in mind with this 60-minutes, but as a fellow reviewer remarks, they should have sent the script back for a rewrite. And, for gosh sakes, put poor Hughes in a dress instead of a pile of woman-eating frills and frou-frou. All in all, Autry fans should skip this one.A "4" on the matinée scale.

This Gene Autry film has two distinctions. First, it's one of the few westerns I've seen with TWO sidekicks--Max Terhune and Smiley Burnett. I've never seen this before and doubt I ever will again, as it's completely against the usual formula. Second, the film has the distinction for begin the most anti-American Indian film I've ever seen--and I've seen a lot.The film begins with Gene and Max leaving the Texas Rangers and joining up to help the Cavalry. However, it soon becomes clear that the Colonel is a complete potato-head--with the brains to match. He loves the Indians and refuses to accept the idea that any of them could be in any way bad. Gene and Max (particularly Max) think the only good Indian is a dead one--and they are sure to say this again and again. In their estimation, Indians are an evil that needs purging--and they sound like they are about to go on some ethnic cleansing. So guess who is proved right in the end?! Aside from having a hate-filled and historically inaccurate script in regard to Indians, the film repeats the myth of the attack on the wagon train and circling the wagons--things that, despite being in films, didn't happen in the old west. An accurate view of the tribes would have been that SOME are pretty hostile and some are not--much like what you would say about any group of people. I don't say all this because I am Mr. Political Correctness but as a retired history teacher, I just like to see the facts straight. Overall, a stupid and terribly written film that is sure to ruffle a few feathers!

Although made in 1936, this film has the stodgy, choppy, primitive look of a B western of 1930 or 1931. I'm not particularly an Autry fan, but I've seen far better examples of his work than this. The script is forced, the "humor" involving an Indian repeatedly trying to scalp Frog (Smiley Burnette) to collect on a bet is not only unfunny but insulting and degrading, even for the 1930s. The songs are uninspired and leaden, Autry's delivery of both dialogue and lyrics are even more wooden than usual, and the tinny, uneven sound quality is reminiscent of the worst of PRC. Republic's westerns are usually much more technically proficient and accomplished, and director Joseph Kane has done far, far better work both before and after this film came out, so I'm not quite sure what the problem was with this picture, but it had more than its share of them. On the other hand, there's a somewhat exciting horse race, and Kay Hughes, as the girl fought over by rivals Autry and George J. Lewis, is ravishingly beautiful, much more so than many of Autry's other Republic leading ladies, and that goes a long way toward making up for the film's deficiencies, both technically and otherwise. But it's not quite enough to cover the fact that this picture is definitely one of Autry's weakest efforts. Skip it; you won't be missing much.

Gene Autry doesn't get much of a chance to stand out in this routine and rather dated feature. The plot had potential, with Autry leading a group of Texas Rangers who are trying to stop an Indian attack while working against the skepticism of a cavalry commander.But what follows is not very entertaining, and most of the problems can probably be blamed on the script. The characters remain one-dimensional, with little or no justification for their actions, and none of them really appears in a very good light. It does not help that the Indians are portrayed in a rather dated and cartoonish fashion, even for the 30's.Nothing at all against the talented and very likable Autry, but this one just does not work very well at all. Even the most devoted fans probably won't find much here to get excited about.