South of the Border

The United States was officially neutral during the first two years of World War II. What many do not know is that Congress passed a law that essentially restricted free speech....forcing the film industry to stay out of the conflict. Finally, in 1939, Warner Brothers ignored the law and came out with "Confessions of a Nazi Spy"....and it specifically focused on a real case where Nazi agents were working in the States. But apart from this, other studios were scared to mention the war and when they did, they were very vague...like the script in this Republic offering. While Gene Autry plays a federal agent investigating foreign intervention in the oil industry in Mexico, Germany and the Nazis or any other power were never mentioned. But who else COULD have been the evil spies who were fomenting discord in this country in late 1939?! So if you see this, understand that studios were afraid to buck this stupid law AND they were afraid of losing revenue abroad by getting involved in any way.

The story begins, not surprisingly, with a song. Soon after this, he then sings the title song...one of Gene's best....and he sings a longer and more enjoyable version at the end. You soon learn that Gene is a federal agent and he's been sent to Mexico undercover to investigate the oil industry. It seems that there's a worry that 'some foreign power' will try to disrupt oil production. His cover is that he's come to Mexico to help with some cattle drive...and Frog comes along to help. What no one realizes is that this foreign power is building a submarine base and plans on creating a revolution in the country!! So, it looks like Gene really has his work cut out for him.

This is a very enjoyable film....and I loved the music The actor that really impressed me was German-born Frank Reicher. He is a very familiar character actor but I was shocked how well he put on a Mexican accent! And, apart from that this is a pleasant little film...worth seeing though perhaps not among Gene's very best.

Gene Autry and Smiley Burnette, along with the Checkerboard Band, are Federal agents sent down to a Mexican island, where revolution looms. Not only are they there to make sure that American interests in the oil wells and refinery are maintained, but a foreign country wants the island for a submarine base. Their contact is local rancher Frank Reicher. His son, Duncan Renaldo, is a member of the revolutionary army. Autry falls in love with the daughter of the house, Lupita Tovar.

With Europe at war -- although so far fighting had only broken out on the Eastern front -- the staff at Republic was already sounding the call for American for Americans, national preparedness, and friendship with Mexico. This movie shows that impulse. Of course, the real point of the movie is the title song, written for this movie, and played at the open, the close, and as incidental music throughout. Burnette sings a silly song; series regular June Storey gets a couple of tunes, including a western swing duet with Autry; and newcomer Mary Lee (in her first of nine appearances with Autry) gets a song for herself and a duet with Gene. Other familiar faces include Claire D Brey, William Farnum, and Queen of the Dress Extras Bess Flowers.

While Gene Autry was most famous for his singing, he became a very competent actor & horseman. He was the hero to millions of children & a role model who was very conscious of his public image in their eyes (he was a two-fisted drinker but most people didn't even know it). This film is one of his best, with lots of great songs, hard riding, & hundreds of blank cartridges. The scene where Gene leaps from Champ (his beautiful stallion) onto a speeding tanker truck, was filmed without a stunt double, Gene actually did the stunt himself, to the horror of the director (if Gene had been hurt or killed, everyone would've been out of work!). In another film (I forget which one) Gene did a leap from Champ onto a locomotive. He told me once that it came about the same way, he was supposed to stop & let the stunt double do it, but he just decided that he could do it, so he did. This film also stars Duncan Reynaldo (The Cisco Kid) as the leading lady's outlaw brother.