Tumbling Tumbleweeds (1935)

Director:

Joseph Kane

Writers:

Alan Ludwig (story)
Ford Beebe (screenplay)

Release Date:

5 September 1935 (USA)

Genre:

Western

Tagline:

The Screen's New Singing Cowboy Star

Plot:

After a five year absence Gene returns home to find his father murdered and his boyhood pal accused of the dastardly deed.

Plot Keywords:

Medicine Show | Trap | Gunfire | Father Son Relationship | Bandit

Cast

Gene Autry	...	Gene Autry
Smiley Burnette	...	Smiley
Lucile Browne	...	Jerry (as Lucille Browne)
George 'Gabby' Hayes	...	Dr. Parker (as George Hayes)
Norma Taylor	...	Janet Brooks
Edward Hearn	...	Barney Craven
Eugene Jackson	...	Eightball
Jack Rockwell	...	McWade
George Chesebro	...	Henchman Connors
Frankie Marvin	...	Shorty

Runtime:

USA:58 min (2004 restoration) | 54 min (edited version) | 61 min (original version)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

USA:Passed (National Board of Review) | USA:TV-G (TV rating)

Filming Locations:

Bakersfield, California, USA

Company:

Republic Pictures

Trivia:

This picture was produced and copyrighted by Mascot Pictures in 1935. Its boss, Nat Levine opted to roll it into newly formed Republic Pictures, making it one of the company's first releases. With the creation of Republic, Mascot Pictures folded.

Quotes:

[Harry waves his pistol at the medicine show performers]
Harry Brooks: Turn around and face the wall. Take a rope off this bundle, boy, and tie there hands behind them. Work fast! If I start to pass out, I may take some of you with me for luck!

Movie Connections:

Featured in Gene Autry: White Hat, Silver Screen (2007) (TV)

Soundtrack:

Tumbling Tumbleweeds

Anyone can dance if they are properly persuaded

Surprisingly enjoyable Western where Gene solves the murder of his father, rights the wrongs attributed to his old friend, and gets both the horse and the girl – all in just over one hour! The writing is clever and Gene's acting is both more fluid and his lines more subtle than in many follow-on films. The substance of the dispute – water rights: a very real part of the history of the American West.

George "Gabby" Hayes (it appears with all his teeth) does yeoman service as Doctor Parker. Smiley Burnette is good as the sidekick that cannot quite find the mate to a missing spur.

Good songs and the use of a modern record player allow Gene to trap three of the bad guys. Good chase scene. Best line in move is when the good guys line up the three bad men and Smiley (angry that they just shot a hole in his guitar) tells them to dance. The bad guys say that they can't dance and the response is "anyone can dance if they are properly persuaded." Sure this is a low budget Saturday matinée special, but it appears that someone was trying very hard to show that this team of actors and director Joseph Kane would be able to produce a winner that could be replicated. Highly recommended.