Anyone who reads this blog probably already knows that I am a major fan of movies from the 1920's, 30's and 40's. Once a month I cover an overlooked silent film for my silent film of the month posts. However I have decided to occasionally write about an overlooked talkie from these three decades. I don't know how regularly I will do these posts, but I definitely want to call more attention to these films. First off is a very offbeat Gene Autry western.
Anybody who has watched enough Gene Autry movies knows that his films almost all have very similar stories. That is what makes this movie stand out so much. This film is not about Gene Autry helping out a town that is in trouble, while a woman at first doubts him and then later falls in love with him. Instead Gene spends most of the picture in a ghost town and the girl is in love with him, before our story even starts. In fact Gene has to learn that she has been in love with him for a while. This is also a movie with a more serious tone. Gene does not have a comedic sidekick character (Smiley Burnette filled that role in more than a few of Gene's films) and in fact there is little comedy in this picture. This does not hurt the movie in anyway as the story being told here is actually really interesting. Having the lovely Nan Leslie as his romantic interest doesn't hurt either.
An important part of this picture is whether or not a ghost is living in this ghost town (I won't give that away here). This supernatural aspect is rare for an Autry film, but director John English (a regular director for Gene during this period), cinematographer Armand Schaefer and art director Harold MacArtur use this to its full advantage. Much of this film has an eerie look that separates it from other Autry vehicles. From the first sight of the ghost town, it is obvious that this is a different environment for Gene. It also perfectly pulls you further into the film. While it may not make you scared in the way a horror film does, it gives off a very strange and fascinating vibe, that pulls one further into the world of the film.
Even with this being a different style of Western for Gene Autry, there still are two songs. Gene Autry sings the title song (written by Hy Heath and Johnny Lange) and You're the Only Star in My Blue Heaven (written by Gene himself). Almost as if to make up for not having as many songs as the other Autry pictures, these are two fantastic tunes. Rim of the Canyon (which Gene sings over the opening credits) is a lovely little song about the beauties of the west. While Gene has sung many songs about this, this song stands out with its beautiful melody and great lyrics. You're the Only Star in My Blue Heaven is one of Autry's best love songs, with a great melody and lovely lyrics. The song was not written for this movie. In fact the Delmore Brothers and Roy Acuff recorded it back in 1936. This song has also been recorded by Elvis Presley, Eddy Arnold, Jerry Lee Lewis and George Morgan. It is hard to complain about any lack of songs when the songs you have are this good.
This oddball movie also served as the first time Gene, produced his own film.
To see a 1949 review of this movie in Showman's Trade Review, click here (It is odd that this review mentions "several songs" when there only are two.)
An article in Box Office Magazine (dated November 6, 1948) stated "Columbia purchased for Gene Autry Productions the film rights to 'Phantom 45's Talk Loud' by Joseph Chadwick which originally appeared in a western pulp magazine. It will be produced as 'Rim of the Canyon' with John Butler set to write screenplay. Autry now in Madision Square Garden with his rodeo will return in time to don greasepaint for a December start." To see the full article click here.
-Michael J. Ruhland
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