The Old West

"The Old West" is a Gene Autry film he made towards the tail end of his career. So, instead of the youthful guy you see in his early pictures, here he's a middle-aged cowboy hero.

The story begins with a religious service and soon a wagon master begins to narrate the story...letting you know what happened leading up to this meeting. It seems that the town has been lawless and full of riffraff for some time...all thanks to Doc (Lyle Talbot). This jerk wants to control everything...including who supplies the stage coach line with horses. And, ultimately this all comes down to 'the big race'...which is pretty much the theme of an earlier Roy Rogers film, "Man From Oklahoma".

The film has a sort of vague religious message that likely won't satisfy religious viewers but won't offend others. It's odd how a preacher in the film talks and talks and preaches...yet never mentions God or the Bible or anything that is actually religious! I understand why they did it...they didn't want to drive away viewers. But it also comes off as a bit hard to believe.

So is the rest of the film any good? Well, it's not bad...but certainly not a masterpiece. I noticed one reviewer called it this...and I'm glad they enjoyed it. But I just think Gene made far better films than this rather run of the mill picture.

In this later film from Gene's Columbia days, he does battle with ruffians diverting his much-needed horse supply. The action, script and casting here are quite good. Fans of less music/more action in their B-westerns should like this one.

Pat Butram provides several funny gags and both House Peters Sr AND Jr. appear in this one! The great Lyle Talbot is at his villainous best, (worst ?).

In many ways , this film was a departure from the song-filled light entertainment that Gene provided in the '40's. He did both well, but I feel this was one of the best of his later films ! Enjoy, pardners ...

The movie was brilliantly directed by George Archainbaud. The wonderful opening scene had Autry singing, "Somebody Bigger Than You and I" and Louis Jean Heydt telling his daughter (Kathy Johnson) about the Old West and the contrast is striking. Heydt adds, "Every other building was a salon or a dance hall. The man behind all the corruption was Doc Lockwood" (Lyle Talbot). Of course the incomparable Pat Buttram had a strong presence throughout but not as a sidekick but more of an old acquaintance of Autry's. Gail Davis proved why she's the 'perfect western actress' putting the henchmen in their place when they came a calling. It all seems like typical western fare until House Peters arrives on the scene as Parson Jonathan Brooks. Would the town choose faith in the Lord over their lawlessness and corruption? Even today, every town has to search their souls for the faith that will lead to their salvation.