The Big Show (1936)

User Rating:

5.7/10   

Director:

Mack V. Wright

Writers:

Dorrell McGowan (screenplay) &
Stuart E. McGowan (screenplay)

Release Date:

16 November 1936 (USA)

Genre:

Music | Romance | Western

Tagline:

A Roundup of action actually filmed at the Texas Centennial!

Plot:

At the Texas Centennial in Dallas Autry confuses two girls by being himself and his own stunt double.

Plot Keywords:

Texas | Centennial | Double | Cattle | Cowboy

Cast

Gene Autry	...	Gene Autry / Tom Ford
Smiley Burnette	...	Frog
Kay Hughes	...	Marion Hill
Sally Payne	...	Toodles Brown
William Newell	...	Lee Wilson
Max Terhune	...	Ventriloquist
Charles Judels	...	Swartz - Studio Head
Sons of the Pioneers	...	Musicians
The Jones Boys	...	Singers (as Jones Boys)
The Beverly Hillbillies	...	Musicians (as Beverly Hill Billies)
The Light Crust Doughboys	...	Musicians (as Light Crust Dough Boys)
Champion	...	Champion - Studio Horse
Rex King	...	Fred Collins
Harry Worth	...	Tony Rico
Mary Russell	...	Mary

Runtime:

54 min (edited version) | 71 min (original version)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Victor High Fidelity Sound System)

Certification:

USA:Approved (PCA #2727) | USA:Passed (National Board of Review) | USA:TV-PG (TV rating)

Filming Locations:

Fair Park, Dallas, Texas, USA

Company:

Republic Pictures (I)

Trivia:

The film was cut to 54 minutes for television release in the mid-'50s and has only recently been restored to its original running time, thanks to the combined efforts of The Western Movie Channel, the Gene Autry Museum of Western Heritage and the University of California-Los Angeles.

Goofs:

Miscellaneous: The Light Crust Doughboys and The Jones Boys appear in the credits, but do not appear in the shortened (54 minutes) version, but along with some additional action they appear in the original (71 minutes) movie.

Quotes:

Lee Wilson: Now you have made a mess of things. You know Ford can't sing a note!
Gene Autry: Don't blame me, blame Collins.
Lee Wilson: Oh, I could ring his neck for this!
Fred Collins: [Collins enters] They're clamoring for an encore, Mr. Ford. Will you do another song?
Gene Autry: I'd be glad to.
Fred Collins: He's a sensation, and you've got me to thank for it!
Lee Wilson: Thanks.

Movie Connections:

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

Soundtrack:

Ole Faithful

One of the best of the Gene Autry Movies

The Big Show is about the most enjoyable to watch of all his movies for several reasons: One, Mr. Autry plays a double role. Two, there is a lot of clever stunt work, including the famous under the coach and handover hand to the horses stunt. Three, The Big Show has a very different plot from the usual Autry Western. Four, The Big Show contains some very listen-able songs. Five, it is really fun to see Roy Rogers when he was still with the Sons of the Pioneers as Leanard Slye. Six, it is also fun to see behind the scenes of movie making, with some back views of the Republic lot. Seven, since this is an earlier Autry entry, Smiley Burnett is Mr. Autry's side kick rather than Pat Butram. Eight, it is exciting to see the Texas Centennial Celebration as a background. All in all, this is one is really fun.