Yodelin' Kid from Pine Ridge

Although in the film Gene Autry is from the town of Pine Ridge and gets to sing quite a few numbers, I don't believe I heard a single yodel come from him in the Yodelin' Kid From Pine Ridge. He was not a yodeler, unlike his main singing cowboy rival who would soon be making his first starring western Roy Rogers. Now he yodeled in just about every film he made.

In Yodelin' Kid From Pine Ridge, Gene is cast as Gene Autry Jr., a sensitive young man who is devoted to the cattle business, but does not like to see the violence developing between the cattlemen and a group of turpentiners who are from the hills. These transplanted hillbillies headed by Russell Simpson like the pine forests because they strip the bark off the pine trees and make turpentine to sell.

The cattlemen however want more grass acreage for the cattle to graze and want to burn down the forest. And they don't like the hillbillies just taking cattle whenever they need a meal. Cattlemen LeRoy Mason and Charles Middleton want to lead the effort to burn the forest. And Middleton is Gene Autry, Sr. Talk about exotic casting, Gene Autry as the son of Ming The Merciless.

Anyway Gene is banished from the councils of the cattlemen and joins a Wild West show and many years go by before he returns to Pine Ridge and only as part of the Wild West show. But he's back involved as soon as he returns. Part of the reason of his involvement is Russell Simpson's stepdaughter, former silent screen star Betty Bronson.

In the 54 minute running time a lot of singing and riding gets mixed in with a lot of gunplay as Gene finally gets to the bottom of the feud between the cattlemen and turpentiners. Not much suspense as it is revealed pretty early in the film, but I won't reveal it.

Smiley Burnette plays the head of the Wild West Show, not the usual sidekick part with Gene. He's still getting a lot of laughs, but you will not hear one frog croak which was part of his screen persona.

For fans of the great singing cowboy tycoon, Yodelin' Kid From Pine Ridge should please them.

One reviewer on here said he "couldn't find a single yodel" in "Yodelin' Kid from Pine Ridge". He must have gone to the popcorn stand, or the restroom, just as the movie started, as Gene yodels the first few bars of the theme song over the credits of the movie. Yes, he did yodel, in a number of his early recordings. And yes, so did Roy Rogers. But my opinion is that Gene's yodeling was superior to Rogers'.

Gene Autry started making records in the late 1920s, and many of his early records were his versions of records made earlier by Jimmy Rodgers, who was famous for his yodeling. That's where Gene learned how to yodel.

This entry is on everyone's must-see list because it co-stars the legendary Betty Bronson. Betty had actually retired from movie-making in 1932, and after this "comeback", she didn't make another movie until A Pocketful of Miracles in 1961. Betty is absolutely lovely here and it's a thrill to see what a fine pair Gene and Betty make in this really top-notch script that helps to make it (as far as I'm concerned) one of Gene's top five pictures. Other assets include a fine support cast led by Smiley Burnette (who excels in what amounts to a character role), LeRoy Mason (a well-spoken heavy), Charles Middleton (Gene's dull-witted dad), and Russell Simpson (a delight as a really nasty piece of work). Good slots are also provided by Jack Dougherty (the heavy's partner in crime), Henry Hall (the sheriff), Jack Ingram and even Art Mix. Mr Toones, on the other hand, has – thankfully! – but one brief moment.

Despite its somewhat off-putting title, this entry shapes up as one of Gene's most vibrant and exciting. Even Joseph Kane, normally a rather humdrum director, seems to have realized the movie's potential and pulled out all stops to make it as thrilling as possible. Production values are great. (If you're quick, you can plainly spot Kane in a rare on screen appearance as one of the turpentiners. As far as I know he actually faced the camera only five times in his lengthy directorial and editing career).

Please note that while the Platinum Disc print is of good quality, it's mastered from the TV cut-down that's missing six minutes of essential footage, including the opening scenes of the street parade, other bits and pieces here and there, and the entire episode where Gene rides away from his home ranch after being dismissed by his dad, encounters Betty who asks him when he's coming back. Gene tells her that he doesn't know. A tearful Betty promises to wait for his return.

Beats me why The Western Channel only rated this entry a 1 out of 4. It's easily one of Gene's best. Great mix of hard riding, fast shooting, big cast, and scenic location, plus Gene's way with a song. And get a load of that jug band. They could make music with a bathtub. Gene's trying to bring peace between cattlemen and turpentiners, all the while baddie LeRoy Mason is rustling and blaming it on the turpentiners. Got to admit this is first time I've seen turpentine trees involved in a plot, but it is a change from the standard formula. Look for some good stunt work, plus the grinning aside that the cowboys are just shooting blanks—a joke that I guess stayed in. Looks like one trip-wire episode with a horse going suddenly head over heels-- I hope I'm wrong. Anyhow, Frog gets to cut-up, this time as an impresario of a big time pageant show! And with a moustache, no less. All in all, a fine Autry mix, thanks to Republic. Next time The Western Channel ought to watch a movie before rating it.

A "9" on the matinée scale.

Excellent storyline. Beautifully upscale sets. Nice direction and marvelous character actors. Plus Autry gets the most interesting girl he's been paired with in his movies! Thank goodness we didn't have to see him in Africa again!!!!