Video Link: Gene Autry - Be Honest With Me (from Ridin' on a Rainbow 1941)

Video: Gene Autry - Cold, Cold Heart (from Apache Country 1952)

My Pal Trigger (1946)

 

Maybe it is the horse lover in me, but My Pal Trigger stands as my favorite Roy Rogers movie and with how much I love these films this is saying a lot. I am in good company as Roy himself considered this movie to be his favorite that he made. 

This film tells a fictionalized story about how Roy met his famous horse. Roy is a horse trader who wants to mate his mare with rancher Gabby's (Gabby Hayes (a regular in Roy's movies at this time)) star stallion. Gabby refuses this offer, feeling that Roy's horse is not good enough. When the villainous Brett Scoville (Jack Holt (who would later play a major role in Roy's movie, Trail of Robin Hood (1950))) steals Gabby's horse, the stallion escapes and finds and mates with Roy's mare. Brett tracks the stallion down and accidently kills him. Gabby accuses Roy of this killing and our cowboy hero must go on the lam. The mare gives birth to a colt, who Roy names Trigger. 

This story may be a bit corny and predictable at times but throughout his career, Roy Rogers had a talent for making something that would be corny and predictable in other hands feel sincere and heartfelt (one just needs to listen to the many children songs he recorded). Sincerity is the main reason this movie works so well. Everything is so heartfelt and put together with care that the film simply becomes irresistible. There is more drama here than there is in the average Roy Rogers movie with some scenes that pack a surprising emotional punch. These scenes show that Roy is much better actor than he is often given credit for. Yet this does not mean that the film in any way is lacking in the fast paced action and great country music that all of us want from a Roy Rogers movie. Director Frank McDonald (who directed 3 other Roy Rogers movies in 1946 alone (Song of Arizona, Rainbow Over Texas and Under Nevada Skies (as well as the Gene Autry picture Sioux City Sue of the same year))) keeps the action moving at a brisk fast pace that is simply a joy to watch. Roy Rogers, Dale Evans (who the following year would marry Roy) and the Sons of the Pioneers (one of the greatest country music groups of all time and one that Roy was a founding member of) are all at the top of their game here and remind us just why we love vintage country music so much.

Some musical highlights include the lovely wistful and nostalgic Livin' Western Style (sung by Roy and written by Don Swander and June Hershey (the team that wrote Deep of the Heart of Texas)), the lively western swing number Harriet (sung by Roy and Dale and written by Abel Baer and Paul Cunningham (the team that wrote Piggy Wiggy Woo)) and fast paced and fun Alla En El Rancho Grande (performed by The Sons of the Pioneers, a Spanish langue song written by Silvano Ramos with some English lyrics by Bartley Costello). The last of those songs listed has also been recorded by the likes of Elvis Presley, Dean Martin and Gene Autry. 

Showman's Trade Review, 1947

The following is an article from Showman's Trade Review (dated June 29, 1946). "Republic Pictures has announced an unique, nation-wide contest in connection with the forth coming release of 'My Pal Trigger,' Roy Rogers outdoor film in which $1000 in cash prizes will be donated to the authors of the best names of twin colts sired by Trigger, star movie horse. Birth of the twin colts is an integral part of the film's plot. The contest has been especially designed to enable participating exhibitors to stage local contests, coincident with their showing of the film. While Republic has announced that $1000 in cash will be divided among 18 national winners, selected from the best five entries from each theatre participating. There is nothing in the contest rules to prevent exhibitors rom promoting additional prizes locally for the best five local entries, these to be selected by exhibitors or by a board of local judges of their own choosing. Contest aids have been prepared by Republic, including two-color window cards suitable for lobby display ; contest blanks telling the contest story ; special publicity stories planned for local planting with newspapers, etc. Contest blanks are intended for distribution through schools, stores, clubs, milk companies, etc. All contests aids are to be made available to exhibitors without charge. The press book for 'My Pal Trigger' suggests that exhibitors contact local branches of The Roy Rogers Fan Clun for exploitation plans for the pictures. Entries in the Colt naming contest close December 31, 1946."

The following is a review from Photoplay Magazine. "Like all films of this series, this is a very good Roy Rogers and an excellent Trigger up to all sorts of tricks to insure you a fine western. The picture is tightknit, has genuine sincerity, is filled with well worked suspense. Rogers is accused of killing the great Golden Sovereign; after being bailed out of jail, he clears town in a hurry. In the midst of his wandering his Mare Lady, presents him with a foal, Trigger, the image of Golden Sovereign. From there on in Roy and Trigger fight their way over a rough western road to handshakes for Roy from his old enemy and laurel wreaths for Trigger. Familiar faces grace the struggle - George "Gabby" Hayes, Dale Evans and Bob Nolan and the Sons of the Pioneers. If you're in mind to go west for a couple of hours buy your ticket. The trip will turn out fine. Your Reviewer Says: Roy and Trigger know their monkey business."

Motion Picture Herald, 1944

Video: Gene Autry - Poor Little Dogie (from Colorado Sunset 1939)

 

Video: Gene Autry - Mexicali Rose (from Mexicali Rose 1939)

 

Video: Gene Autry - Take Me Back to My Boots and Saddle (from Boots and Saddles 1937)

 

Sergeant Gene Autry

Hello my friends as many of you like me love Gene Autry. Why wouldn't you? He is both a movie cowboy and a country music legend. Unlike many others who have had both a movie and music career, Gene was able to stay at the top of his game in both fields at the same time. As many of my fellow Gene Autry fans know, Gene also joined the army during World War 2 and received the title of sergeant. This following 1943 article from Screenplay magazine discusses that part of his life. If you have any trouble reading click on the pages and use your touch screen to zoom in. 












If you wish to watch Gene Autry movies legally for free click here.

-Michael J. Ruhland

Movie Music Monday: South of the Border

The movies have served as a musical education to me. They have constantly broadened and expanded my musical taste and knowledge and continue to do so. From the cowboy music of The Sons of the Pioneers, Gene Autry and Roy Rogers to the classical music of Fantasia to the musical standards of the Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers musicals to the rock and roll of Elvis Presley and concert films like The Last Waltz (1978) to jazz legends like Miles Davis, Paul Whiteman and Louis Armstrong to crooners like Bing Crosby and Frank Sinatra, movies have helped introduce me to so much great music. These Movie Music Monday posts I hope will give you some of the same experience the movies have given me.

Today's song is South of the Border. In Gene Autry's autobiography, he remembered how he first became acquainted with this song. He wrote, "Neither a prison in Nashville nor an airfield in Dallas was the oddest place I ever found a song. That happened during my prewar tour of the British Isles in 1939. Two young Englishmen, Michael Carr and Jimmy Kennedy, visited my dressing room in Dublin between shows. They had written a song with me in mind and hoped I would record it. The song was 'South of the Border.' They had never been to Mexico and had seen it only in my films (which meant they were probably looking at Arizona). How two Englishmen came to write a song about a country they had never seen, for a movie cowboy they had never met is a question I wish I could answer. But 'South of the Border' sold over a million copies." (Autry, 27). Later in the book Gene wrote, "As luck would have it one of the things I brought back was the song written for me by the two British lads Michael Carr and Jimmy Kennedy - 'South of the Border.' There was even time for a script to be written and for the film of the same name to become our last release for 1939." (Autry, 74). The following is an exhibitor's review of that movie from The Motion Picture Herald, "South of the Border: Gene Autry, Smiley Burnette - Here is one exhibitor who is thanking the Almighty that Republic discovered Gene Autry and 'South of the Border is the answer to our prayer. We played it three days to sell out business. Never saw the like of it. Don't know where they came from. Wish we had played it a week. Any exhibitor who hasn't played this one has missed the boat. Did more business than 'Snow White' by $175 in three days against four days. More than 'Boys Town,' 'Jesse James' and 'Kentucky' and that's something. We're going to try it book it for a return showing in a couple months. I didn't think it was possible to do business on this picture like we did. Were the creditors tickled! We gave it a big campaign in advance and it paid; yes sir! If any of our good friends out west haven't played this, do so. - Harold Rankin, Plaza Theatre, Tilbury, Ontario, Canada. General Patronage."



Gene wasn't the only one to record this song in 1939. Guy Lombardo and His Royal Canadians, also did their version.




Shep Fields and His Rippling Rhythm Orchestra also recorded the song in 1939, having one of their biggest hits.





Bob Wills and His Texas Playboys recorded one of my favorite versions of the song in 1948.







Frank Sinatra had a hit off the song in 1953.




Mel Tormé performed the song on his 1959 album, ¡Olé Tormé!: Mel Tormé Goes South of the Border with Billy May.




Pasty Cline did a version for her 1961 album Showcase.




Jazz musician Herb Alpert used the song as the title track for a 1964 album.




Chuck Berry did a cover of the song on his self titled 1975 album. Chuck changed the lyrics more than little.





Willie Nelson recorded this song twice for his 1988 album What a Wonderful World.




-Michael J. Ruhland

 

Roy Rogers: The Saturday Sinatra

Hello again my friends. Despite being a huge film buff, I am hardly one to look at movie stars as any sort of heroes. If I were to make an exception to this rule, it would easily be Roy Rogers. The more I read about him the more I admire him. He was everything a cowboy should be both on and off the screen. 

The following is a 1946 article about Roy from Photoplay magazine. If you have trouble reading any of the below pages click on them and use your touch screen to zoom in.



  








As a bonus here are some song numbers from various Roy Rogers movies.











-Michael J. Ruhland

From the Mouth of Wendy Barrie

Wendy Barrie is a name that even a lot of film buffs won't recognize. That is why it immediately caught my attention to see her name when looking through an old movie magazine. As a fan of old B movies, I know her for being in some of The Saint films as well as some from The Falcon series. What many film buffs will recognize her for is her roles in The Private Life of Henry VIII (1933) as well as the William Wyler classic Dead End (1937). As I started to read this article it became more fascinating, as Wendy was interviewed for this article herself. So enjoy this 1935 article from The New Movie Magazine. If you have trouble reading either of this pages click on them and use your touch screen to zoom in.




-Michael J. Ruhland