Colorado Sunset

A typical pre-World War II Gene Autry film, filled with lots of music, action and good production values. Republic Pictures was willing to spend extra here -- well above the average for a B-Western -- because Autry's films were always profit makers. In fact, Gene Autry was one of the most popular film stars of the late 1930's. Here too is the usual anachronistic mixture of horses and old western towns populated with trucks, motor cars -- even a radio station. Some will see this as ridiculous; personally, I find it rather charming. This well directed film featured a very exciting chase scene done with a polish that many big budget action films failed to achieve.

As a Gene Autry fan I like this, find it very watchable, and as charming as the previous reviewer; if you're not a fan however you'll only be able to revel in how bizarre it must appear. Most modern movies appear bizarre to me so I don't waste my valuable time watching them.

Frog buys a cattle farm for Gene and the "Texas Troubadours" to sell beef only to find they have a herd of milk cows on their hands. They have trouble delivering the milk thanks to a dodgy business Association which is pretending to be help led by baddie Robert Barrat and his semi-baddie poodle Buster Crabbe (who was seemingly trying to look like Brian Donlevy) – but do the goodies or baddies win out? They hold an election for Sheriff which again proved that Democracy = Cracked Heads. Elmo Lincoln had a small part, meaning there were two ex-Tarzan's in here. The Texas Rangers sang a few nice little ditties - I had previously thought they supported Gene in loads of his movies but have just realised Johnny Mack Brown was the guy instead. Ever smiling and nicely coiffured June Storey was here in the 4th of her 10 Autry outings playing Crabbe's sister and the announcer on the local radio station KWTR. Favourite bits: Poor Little Dogie sung by Gene to the admiring June; the charming Beautiful Isle Of Somewhere; the Vote For Autry campaign; the sight of Frog on a titchy motor scooter.

For me an hour well spent in good company, I'd welcome 'em all back anytime.

Our 'Hero' Gene Autry must help out Frog Milhouse (Smiley Burnette) who has acquired a Dairy Farm rather then the Ranch intended. There is trouble with the local Dairy Association and a group of Rackeeters who wish to control all deliveries of milk. These are led by Dr. Rodney Blair (Robert Barrett) with Dave Haines (Buster Crabbe) doing the heavy lifting. Carol Haines (June Storey), Dave's Sister and manager of the local radio station is their unwitting dupe and future romantic interest for Gene. Don't worry, justice will prevail and the milk will get through to the Big City and the Kiddies!

Robert Barrett usually played a similar role in 'B' films over at Warner Brothers, so is quite at home roughing it up out west. Buster Crabbe over from Universal lays down his Raygun and Sword for Six-Shooters and switches from Space-Ship to Horses. Doing very well playing a heel who redeems himself in the last reel. Mr. Crabbe in the 1940s and 50s would make the switch to Westerns for most of his roles.

Like most Autry Westerns the 'west' is a combination of contemporary and traditional. The print on Encore Westerns is the restored 65", nice and clean. Usual Western themed songs are interspersed with action scenes. The climatic chase is very well handled and would not disgrace a 'A' film. These films have a innocent charm about them and are well worth the watch.

Notice in these productions from the '30's how often Gene is protecting little guys against big predators. It's a popular theme, I suspect, for that Depression decade. Here he's helping dairy farmers against a conniving outlaw outfit, led by a double-dealing doctor. Then too, these productions liked to work radio broadcasting into the storyline, as they do here with the doc giving orders in code over the air (clever).

It's a typically good Autry oater from the period, with a bang-up climax of hard-riding and buckboard crashes. That's along with two standout songs, especially the one by lakeside, plus little Patsy Montana who can be my cowboy's sweetheart any day.

Watch for Elmo Lincoln in a dairyman's role—he was one of the screen's earliest Tarzans! Quite a trip from the jungles to the Old West. Of course, Frog gets his usual comic relief, but he also gets to battle the bad guys just like Gene. Maybe the biggest surprise is tall, handsome Buster Crabbe as a good-bad guy, and so soon after traveling the universe as Flash Gordon. He's tough competition for Gene, but our hero manages. Anyway, it's another fine matinée special from our friends at Republic and Melody Ranch.

An "8" on the matinée scale.

"Colorado Sunset" is an early Gene Autry film which stands out from his usual movies because it has an unusually strong supporting cast...with Robert Barrat, Buster Crabbe, Kermit Maynard and Barbara Pepper (of "Green Acres" fame) in various supporting roles.

When the story begins, Gene and his gang of nice guys is shocked to see that the cattle ranch Frog bought with their money is actually a dairy farm....and they know nothing about this sort of work. What they also don't know is that their jobs are going to be a LOT tougher than they anticipated since some jerks are trying to drive all the local dairy farmers out of business. And, after the sheriff is murdered, Gene decides to run for sheriff...and has the boisterous support of the women in the county. But his opponent's sister owns the local radio station and won't allow Gene to use the airwaves...while giving her crooked brother air time. And, will this lady ever realize that her nice-guy brother is a dirty skunk?

The plot to "Colorado Sunset" has a huge plus...it's very original and isn't just another B-western. That, paired with the excellent cast, make this one to see.