Cowboy Serenade

Routine Autry entry that nevertheless manages a few notable features. Gene's working to get back cattlemen's money lost by young Agnew (Brooks) in a crooked poker game. Trouble is the crooked set-up is headed by wealthy father (Richards) of the winsome young Stephanie (McKenzie). So Gene has to figure all of this out while hired henchmen are trying to stop him.

This is one of those entries that mixes cars and horses in a kind of weird overlap between different eras. But the mix works well in that thrilling climax that makes good use of both. And wow!—check out Frog (Burnette) who gets a bigger and more muscular role than usual, one that shows some versatility from the sidekick that's too seldom seen. Also, the supporting cast is stronger than usual, with a commanding Richards, a crafty Coffin, and a surprisingly humorous Cunningham.

Not much hard riding or gunplay, but some good athletic barroom brawls. No, nothing special; just a solid series programmer along with a couple of the pleasant Autry vocals.

"Cowboy Serenade" is has a decent plot. But what really sets the story apart is Cecil Cunningham as Aunt Priscilla. She was wonderfully well written and every moment she was on screen, I was thrilled! Rarely does a supporting character help improve a film this much!

When the story begins, Gene sends a young man by train with his and his friends' cattle in order to take them to market for sale. However, some card cheats on the train manage to involve him in a dishonest poker game and he soon loses the cattle! Gene and Frog soon go on this same train, hoping to find the cheats and see they face justice. But the local sheriff and DA seem unwilling to act when he does catch the crooks and so Gene goes to see a man who CAN help.

As I mentioned above, Aunt Priscilla was a hoot! She was spunky and fun and the ordinary story rose to great heights thanks to the inclusion of this character.