Under Fiesta Stars

Gene inherits a mine when his mentor dies. The only good thing at the beginning is he must share it with the beautiful and talented Carol Hughes. Pauline Drake is her gorgeous partner in crime trying to smooth talk Smiley 'Ole Frog' Burnette. The law firm of Arnold and Fry well played by Sam Flint and Ivan Miller send in the henchmen as the tension mounts. Frank Darien shows his great acting skills as the upright lawyer and Joe Strauch Jr. gives the first of his many great performances. Great action and many wonderful songs by Autry such as "Purple Sage in the Twilight".

It's not all that unusual to see a B-western remade a few years later. Gene Autry, Roy Rogers and Hopalong Cassidy did this several times...remaking their earlier films. But "Under Fiesta Stars" is unusual because it's a remake of a film made just a year earlier, "Rancho Grande"! Plus, the plot involving a ranch left to a brat who wants to sell out but can't has been done a few other times as well. So, originality certainly isn't something you could say about "Under Fiesta Stars".

Early in the film, an accident occurs and a ranch owner is killed. While his niece expects to inherit the place, she's shocked to see that half of it has been given to Gene. This irritates her, as she just wants to sell out and head back east...but can't because of how the will was written. After seeing a reputable lawyer who tells her she cannot possibly contest the will, another soon tells her he can help. But his help involves destroying the mine on the property so he can buy it up for cheap...and she has no idea that is what he has in mind. What's next for this brat and Gene? See the film.

This is a pleasant and enjoyable story despite a problem with originality! Gene is good and fortunately the bratty girl isn't the awful stereotype you expect....you know, the hot-headed and unreasonable woman. She's not that bad and her transition from enemy to friend with Gene seems reasonable and the writing was pretty good. Well worth seeing.