Home on the Prairie

It's a bit weird, but I've seen hundreds of B-westerns and although Hoof and Mouth Disease is NOT a common theme in these films, "Home on the Prairie" is the third one I've seen in the last 10 days!! Yes, aside from this film, Republic made a couple Roy Rogers films with similar plots....."Pals of the Golden West" and "Down Dakota Way"!. What an odd coincidence!

Early on in the film, Belknap finds out that his herd has been infected with Hoof & Mouth. Instead of destroying the cattle, he instead wants to send them to market....no matter that it might end up killing thousands of cattle if he does this. But Gene is a border agent and the guy knows he cannot get the infected cattle past him....so he and his henchmen plan on discrediting Gene to get him off the job. Then, moving these infected animals should be much easier.

In general, this is about average for a Gene Autry film. The strange thing about it is that Gene and Frog didn't sing much at all in this one!

Gene and Smiley are cattle inspectors, who get mixed up with infected herds and slippery owners.

I've seen a ton of matinees, but this is the first where an elephant, yes an elephant, is complicit in a jailbreak. Now let's see the sheriff lock Him up. Pretty good Autry oater, some hard riding, but not many flying fists, nor much fast shooting. Still, the plot's unusual, dealing as it does with a common cattle disease—hoof & mouth-- that's seldom mentioned in oaters. Not much in the way of scenery, looks like Big Bear woods east of LA, at least for some of the shots. I'm constantly amazed by Burnette's low-key versatility. Watch him twirl the six- shooters, maybe comically, but as expertly as anyone. Here he also gets a big part in shaping events. What an underrated comic sidekick he was. Anyway, Storey's fetching, while blowhard Hodgins gets to peddle his patented snake-oil in amusing fashion. Too bad, the song selections are pretty undistinguished, but who cares when we've got Storey to ogle. All in all, it's a decent Autry package, with Gene in the spiffiest outfit this side of uptown Dallas.

A "5" on the Matinée Scale

Home On The Prarie casts Gene Autry as a cattle inspector checking various herds for hoof and mouth disease and other various and sundry ailments that affect the bovine. But a dead calf with hoof and mouth disease is found on the spread of his good friend George Cleveland and his daughter June Storey. Gene's romantic plans with Storey may get a real crimp in it if he has to have their herd destroyed.

But it's not Cleveland's herd that's the problem. That calf is planted there by the real villain who wants to get his cattle to market before they're discovered to be diseased.

Gene and Smiley Burnette take on a third and fourth partner in this one. Medicine show man Earle Hodgins and his elephant who come in mighty handy in the pinch. Think of Gunga Din as you reflect on my last remark.

Good paced Gene Autry western, even some grownups might like it.

There's plenty of action including a scene where Gene & Champion try to catch a speeding locomotive in this entertaining oater. As expected, Smiley "Frog" Burnette is along for a few belly laughs but unfortunately doesn't get to show off his musical talents much, mainly just observing Gene (one time throwing him a guitar) and a group called the Sherven Brothers Rodeoliers, sort of a budget Hoosier Hot Shots. Frog does have a novelty tune at the beginning called "There's Nothing Like Work," which is fun. The romantic interest is provided by the lovely June Storey as Martha Wheeler whose father's ranch stands to lose a lot of money if the herd has to be destroyed because of the hoof and mouth disease. Gene and Smiley are government inspectors who report finding a diseased animal to the main official who drives out to check out the story. In reality, the Belnap ranch (Belnap is played with just the right amount of insidiousness by Walter Miller)has in reality the only infected herd, but Belnap is in collusion with the equally sinister H. R. Shelby (Gordon Hart). Both villains are determined to put the blame on Gene, Smiley, and the Wheeler herd. Gene loses his job and spends the remainder of the film trying to prove himself innocent and the villains guilty. There is still enough time for a few musical outings, none up to the usual Gene Autry standards, but a few pleasing to the ears, the standout being one written by Gene called "I'm Gonna Round Up My Blues." With two of the best songwriters around why didn't Republic let Gene and Smiley compose more songs for their films? An added attraction is Earle Hodgins playing a film-flam man as only he could do.

Oh, I forgot to mention, an elephant plays a key role in the plot. And where's the prairie?