Gold Mine in the Sky

Fine Autry oater, with right mix of action and song. Foreman of ranch Gene has got to make sure his dead boss's wishes are carried out. Trouble is the estate goes to boss's city-fied daughter who's intent on marrying a fortune hunter. Worse, the no-goodnik has hooked up with local baddies. So Gene and Frog have got their hands full. Lots of scenic backdrop to the hard riding. Also, some well choreographed fist-fights. Then too, the storyline combines well with the rest of the matinée mix, always a challenge for these features. I really like the staging of the first rendition of Gold Mine…. It almost brought a tear to the eye of this old cynic. And look for a little gender-bending from the portly Ainsworth in her mannish outfits. Seems unusual for a matinée. I guess they figured kids wouldn't notice since she's supposed to be funny. Anyhow, it's a well-done hour from Republic Pictures who've decked Gene out in some of the spiffiest western outfits this side of Nashville.

An "8" on the Matinée Scale

This is one of the very best of the Gene Autry shoot-'em-ups from early in his singing cowboy career. Even Frog is funny this time. Where the producers found a female frog (Cupid Ainsworth as Jane Crocker) is a wonder. They later found a tadpole too. The ending is hilarious when Jane chases Frog to ride unwillingly away into the sunset.

Some of the lines are a scream. 'Lucky' Langham dies from a fall during a horse race. Not so lucky. His daughter, Cody, a spoiled girl from Chicago comes to claim her inheritance. One of the wranglers on the welcoming committee asks, When do we start shooting?" To which Frog replies, "After I give my speech." The wrangler retorts, "I wouldn't take no chances, Frog." When Cody and her friend Jane speed through the town upon their arrival doing damage and even killing a pig, Gene comments, "She's driving too fast." Frog corrects Gene, "She ain't driving too fast; she's flying too low." The pig's owner tells Cody that Hamabella was like one of the family. Cody looks the pig owner over and says, "Poor Hamabella!" Toward the end of the film, Larry Cummings (Craig Reynolds) tells the kidnapped Cody, "You must have overestimated your value; this time he (Gene) didn't even bother to sing a song."

Many of Gene's westerns were based on popular songs he sang. "There's a Gold Mine in the Sky" though not written by Gene or Smiley has become a cowboy classic. Several of the songs in the film were written by Gene, Smiley, and an up and coming songwriter Fred Rose who went on to discover Hank Williams Sr. and help form one of the biggest publishing companies in the world, Acuff Ross Publishing Company of Nashville. Gene began his career as a recording artist along the lines of the popular blue yodeler Jimmie Rodgers. On many of his early records it's difficult to tell that it's not really Jimmie Rodgers singing. Toward the end of "Gold Mine in the Sky" Gene does a blues type number called "As Long as I Have My Horse" which gives the listener an idea of what his early singing was like, much less pop oriented than later. Look for a young Pee Wee King (of "The Tennesse Waltz" and "Slowpoke" fame) as a member of the Golden West Cowboys.

The story and script are well written by Betty Burbridge who wrote many a cowboy script for both screen and later television. A spoiled girl from Chicago goes west to claim a ranch when her father is killed. The foreman, Gene, by will is given authority over her in selling the property or marrying someone. Her gangster boyfriend from Chicago and his hoodlum friends arrive to try to take over. Gene sees through it all and uses several different machinations including a faked kidnapping that turns real to keep her from making a mistake.

There's also plenty of action under the guiding hand of Joe Kane who directed many a Republic western before turning to television. Almost always Republic delivered the goods and one reason was the skillful hand of Kane. Republic also had the meanest-looking outlaws and the best stunt men around. Look for a young George Montgomery as one of the cowboys. So get ready for some fancy riding, roping, and shooting.

This was one of the very best of Gene Autry's early Westerns, filmed just after he and Republic Pictures owner Herbert Yates reached a compromise agreement on a salary dispute that had led Gene to go on strike for a few months. The title song, "Gold Mine in the Sky," is one of the most beautiful Western songs I've ever been privileged to hear, and the scene early in the movie when Autry sings the song to his boss who has been fatally injured in a horse-racing accident brought tears to my eyes.

An earlier reviewer, froberts73, also said he liked the movie but that he wouldn't give it a "10" rating for fear he would be teased and laughed at for rating a Gene Autry movie that high. Well, sir, Gene Autry was the most popular Western star at the box office for six years, 1937 through 1942 when he enlisted in the military during World War II, and I don't know why you, and many other reviewers, delight in referring to his movies as "oaters" and other disparaging names, and often describe a particular Autry film as "not up to his usual standard."

This film does feature the boss's ranch being inherited by his spoiled Eastern heiress daughter, and depicts the situations that became common in a number of Gene's later movies where he had to deal with such women (always beautiful, of course). But this film has different situations, humorous dialogue here and there, some very fine music, and several great action scenes.

So, Mr. froberts73, I'll give "Gold Mine in the Sky" a very solid "10" rating, and if people want to laugh, let them. It reminds me of a story about Gene when he was well into his successful career, and was leaving a dining room-saloon with a friend one evening when a drunk came up to him and said, "Aren't you Gene Autry?" The singing cowboy answered, "Yes, sir, I sure am." The drunk then said, "Well, Autry, you can't sing, you can't act, and you can't ride!" Gene just smiled, put his hand on the man's shoulder in a friendly fashion, and replied, "That's right, mister! I can't sing, I can't act, and I can't ride! And I've got $3 million to prove it!"

Gene always cried all the way to the bank.

Actually, I would have given this a full 10, but felt I would be chortled at giving an Autry western that many points.

This picture, Autry's best as far as I am concerned, has a very good story, wonderful performances, more laughs than most pictures listed as comedies, and two disparate female leads, sort of a Martin and Lewis thing, one that is easy on the eyes (and then some) and the other a comic foil with a butch appearance for good measure.

Miss Hughes, comely? That's a weak word. She is ddg - drop dead gorgeous, and handles her comedic portions very, very well. Hard to believe she was Regis Philbin's former mom-in-law. Her only marriage was to Frank Faylen who had many movie and television appearances to his credit, including a running role on Dobie Gillis.

Cupid (real name Helen) Ainsworth is a portly lady, best described as a hoot. She was, during her long career, also a writer and a producer. In this flick she lusts after Smiley Burnette. (I spent a day with him and it was great fun. Rufe Davis was there as well. He was one of the original Three Mesquiteers. We had a mutual friend in Frank Rice, half of the team of Mustard and Gravy, appearing with Eddy Arnold. When I was them they were partnered on the "Petticoat Junction" choo-choo.)

This is probably the most light-hearted western that ever came from Republic, and it features some really good western music including, of course, the title tune.

Even if the old black-white westerns are not your cup of Lipton, you will still enjoy this movie. If you like action, there is plenty of that.

The plot has to do with a fake kidnapping, winding up as a real kidnapping. The meanies are well-groomed city slickers, outmaneuvered at almost every turn by a youthful Gene Autry.

So-o-o, there is nothing really complicated about this movie, it is just pure enjoyment, top to bottom.