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13 reviews in total

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7 out of 7 people found the following review useful:
Where's the plot?, 19 October 2004

Author: Mike-764 (michaelnella@yahoo.com) from Flushing, NY

Mammoth Pictures star Tom Ford decides to go on vacation, but the studio's press agent Wilson needs to get ahold of him so he can make a scheduled appearance at the Texas Centennial in Dallas. The problem is solved when Wilson convinces Ford's stuntman, Gene Autry (Autry also doubles as Ford here), to go to the event impersonating Ford. The ruse works, but things go wrong when Autry decides to go on the radio singing, which Ford can not do. This ticks off Ford, who comes back to the studio to get Autry fired, but some gangsters are at the Centennial hoping to collect some of Ford's gambling debts from Autry. This film is good, but nothing more than a promo film for both the Centennial and Autry & the singing groups at Republic, as well as the studio itself. There are some pretty good action scenes at the beginning with Autry as the stuntman. Autry as Ford, however, doesn't convince anyone since his thespian abilities were never great (especially this early in his career). Fun to watch. Rating, based on B westerns, 7.

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5 out of 5 people found the following review useful:
Enjoyable B-Western With the Likable Gene Autry, 14 December 2005
Author: Snow Leopard from Ohio

The likable Gene Autry plays a dual role and has some good opportunities to use his variety of talents in this enjoyable B-Western. The story is light but entertaining, and it has some good musical numbers plus some comic relief from Smiley Burnette. The Texas Centennial setting also gives it some additional historical interest.

Autry plays both a bad-tempered movie star cowboy and his talented, good-natured stunt double, so the setup offers some good lighter moments in its look at the movie industry. The story starts with the stunt double filling in for the star at a public appearance, with numerous complications arising from there. Autry gets many opportunities to sing, and there are also some good action sequences.

Most of it works pretty well, because it generally allows Autry to use his strengths. Burnette also gets some good moments, and while the story is mostly used to showcase Autry and the other musical entertainment, it works too as a way of pulling things together.

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6 out of 7 people found the following review useful:
Buh bye Champion…, 2 April 2006

Author: Spuzzlightyear from Vancouver

This was almost a guilty pleasure to like. Gene Autry plays.. Gene Autry, a stunt double for the famous cowboy Tom Ford in his movies. When Ford skips town to go fishing, his agent is in a pickle as Ford is scheduled to work the Texas National Exposition1 The agent gets a brilliant idea to send Autry instead, since they are EXACTLY alike. Well almost.. You see when Autry arrives in Dallas for the fair, he is caught singing and is put on the fair's radio for all to hear! This radio station is broadcast everywhere! Everyone hears it! The Hollywood studio where Ford works is amazed and wants to book singing cowboy pictures! Problem is.. Other people hear it too.. Like underworld types Ford owes money to and, well, Ford himself! Again, I have no idea why I found this as enjoyable as it was. Probably the main thing was the originality's of the darn thing. I mean, we find out how cowboy films are made! I wonder if Gene Autry, who is playing a stunt man, had a stunt man for his stunt scenes? (He risked life and death though, playing certain "danger" scenes in front of a laughably fake screen). I also loved the fact that they shot ½ the movie at the actual fair itself. I guess they had a wild west show there. LOVE the song he sings at the show when he sings about shooting his injured horse, Champion. I mean, THAT'S ENTERTAINMENT!

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3 out of 3 people found the following review useful:
One of the best of the Gene Autry Movies, 18 December 2008

Author: Sharclon8 from United States

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.

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2 out of 2 people found the following review useful:
Madcap Comes to Autryland, 16 October 2009

Author: dougdoepke from Claremont, USA

A lot of fun as long as you're not expecting a traditional formula Western. There're more imaginative set-ups in this Republic oater than in most A-pictures. Catch the Light Crust Boys as they roll down the road, or the talking horse a couple decades before Mr. Ed, or a mustachioed Gene acting mean and nasty. No, there's no real plot, but the pace is brisk from one lively set-up to the next. And whose great idea was it to film at the new Texas state fair, a backdrop like no other. Those live panoramas are a taste of big screen pageantry before the big screen. All in all, it's a great little peek at popular history and Art Deco. Then too, catch the clever little spoof of movie-making and tyrannical studio heads. I love the movie love scene that immediately becomes a hate scene once the cameras stop rolling. I guess my one complaint is with the movie as a driver's manual-- Driving down the wrong side of a two-lane highway is not, I repeat Not, a good way to deliver lunch. Anyway, the diverse story elements are neatly combined into a highly entertaining 71 minutes, programmer or no programmer. Thanks Western Channel and Autry Enterprises for the full restoration.

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1 out of 1 people found the following review useful:
The Texas Centennial, 15 June 2011

Author: bkoganbing from Buffalo, New York

For one of eight films that Republic Pictures new singing cowboy star Gene Autry appeared in 1936, the studio did the unheard of thing and filmed part of the story at the Texas State Centennial at their state fairgrounds in Dallas. In fact the centennial was an integral part of the story.

In a film with plot elements similar to MGM's Callaway Went Thataway, Gene Autry plays two roles that of himself who is fearless stunt double who happens to sing to Tom Ford, arrogant movie cowboy who doesn't and also played by Autry.

In fact Ford has himself in some trouble with gamblers and has to lam out to parts unknown after his last pictures wraps. Which leaves the studio holding the bag because they promised an appearance by their star at the Texas Centennial. Studio head Charles Judel is nursing his growing ulcer as a result.

Then studio yes man William Newell gets the idea to get Autry to impersonate Ford and when he sings on the radio and in personal appearances, Mammoth Pictures figures it has a star with greater venues.

If you've seen Callaway Went Thataway you know what happens. The Big Show turned out to be one of Gene's better early westerns.

A lot of acts get in the act in this film and Gene has two special numbers, Nobody's Darlin' But Mine and Ole Faithful. The latter was a cowboyballad written in England and introduced in America by Bing Crosby on his radio show.

Gene gets to romance Kay Hughes and Smiley Burnette and Sally Payne are around for comic relief. One of Gene's better early Republic westerns.

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1 out of 1 people found the following review useful:
Mostly Memorable for Seeing the Texas Centennial of 1936, 12 March 2008

Author: John W Chance (Chance2000esl@yahoo.com) from San Francisco, California

*** This review may contain spoilers ***

Let's get the plot out of the way first. Gene plays a double role as a bad tempered cowboy star, Tom Ford (who has large gambling debts and a blonde fiancée) and his stunt double. Gene winds up impersonating Ford at the Texas Centennial of 1936, as a cowboy and a singer, even though Ford can't sing. We expect some identity mixups and we get them. The fiancée and the gamblers appear to cause trouble and a final chase scene, but the film mostly centers around the Centennial.

It's an unusual Western because it was filmed during the Centennial celebration at Fair Park, where we see many shots showing the abundance of deco buildings and statues. They're all still there, as it is now called the Texas State Fairgrounds. What a setting for a picture! We see a cast of thousands! The parades, the stadium crowds, and the outdoor staged 'panoramas' that were a common part of expositions and World Fairs from before to after the turn of the century, even up to the late forties. We see the Western cavalcade, the Texas Six Flags, and Gene's singing farewell to his 'wounded' horse Champion.

It's definitely a musical Western, because the story elements fly by, especially in the 54 minute edited version found in most remainder bins (such as Platinum's 'The Great American Western Volume 5' DVD, which is the version I have.) The performance of 'The Lady Known as Lulu' by the black 'Jones Boys' is missing from the 54 minute versions. The official, restored 71 minute version has 10 songs, but only two are halfway decent (both ballads, 'Mad About You' and Jimmie Davis's 'Nobody's Darlin' But You').

Other highlights: Kay Hughes is the female lead. Gene apparently likes wholesome looking girls, since she was also in 'Ride, Ranger, Ride' (1936). She plays Gwen in the first Dick Tracy serial (1937), and the spunky Molly Selkirk in 'Radio Patrol' (1937). Contrary to what most people say, here's a film where Gene actually does kiss the girl at the end of the movie, but with the vocal track still going, he's singing while he does it!

Another lowlight: Gene is clearly not a stunt man. In the scenes where he's supposedly stunting for Ford, he can be seen several times carefully, warily, and worriedly looking for his safety hand holds. And of course, he's all too obviously doubled for in the fight sequence in the hotel with the evil gambler Collins (Rex King).

William Newell seems to get as much screen time as Gene; his other big role is as Mala's helper Hank in 'Robinson Crusoe of Clipper Island' (1936), but after that he went on to a distinguished career as an uncredited bystander in hundreds of movies and TV shows.

We get our standard sidekicks Smiley Burnette and Max Terhune (this time doing his ventriloquist act), the Beverly Hillbilles as Gene's backup group, fresh from 'The Phantom Empire' (1935), and the Sons of the Pioneers with the twinkling smile of Roy Rogers (Leonard Slye), a rhythm guitarist in the back row.

Full of historical interest, it's an enjoyable diversion despite the weak music, but as a film it's just a four.

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1 out of 1 people found the following review useful:
Talk about being replaced by a back up, 21 September 2006

Author: Thomas Fasulo from Gainesville, Florida

*** This review may contain spoilers ***

In this movie, Gene Autry is a stunt man for Tom Ford, and then does a stand-in for Ford at a Texas Centennial celebration when Ford goes on a fishing trip. At the end of the movie Gene is the star and Tom Ford is now his stunt man.

But look! When the Sons of the Pioneers do their singing part in the back of the wagon, who is the guy singing, right front? Why, it's Leonard Slye, one of the original members of the Sons of the Pioneers.

The movie was filmed in 1936. Five years later, when Gene Autry left the studio to serve in World War II, the studio needed another singing cowboy and Leonard Slye was chosen. Of course, the studio had to change his name, so Leonard became Roy Rogers.

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Too much singing, but it's nice singing and the film is fun..., 24 November 2011

Author: planktonrules from Bradenton, Florida

*** This review may contain spoilers ***

This film finds Gene Autry playing dual roles--a fat-headed movie actor as well as a nice-guy stuntman named 'Gene Autry'. However, when the actor goes on vacation and cannot be located, the press agent is able to convince Gene to imitate the guy. The problem is that Gene is BETTER than the actor and his singing is very impressive. But, the actor, other than being a jerk, cannot sing and he feels threatened by this. To make things worse, the actor is engaged and Gene's new girl finds out about this girl and thinks Gene is a two-timer. Can Gene extricated himself from this mess?

This is an unusual film cause even for a B-western it has a lot of singing. While I usually hate this, the singing is among the best I've heard in a B. And, I was surprised to see the Sons of the Pioneers in the film as well--since they mostly appeared in Roy Rogers films. And, another surprise was having TWO sidekicks--Max Terhune and Smiley Burnett. This is actually the second Autry film with both sidekicks--the other being "Ride Ranger Ride"--which, incidentally used the same theme song you'll find in "The Big Show". Overall, a fun film with a silly plot--but so much fun that fans of the genre won't mind.

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"Well what do you think of your drugstore cowboy now"?, 3 October 2010

Author: classicsoncall from United States

*** This review may contain spoilers ***

Up till now I thought the only film in which Roy Rogers appeared with Gene Autry was "The Old Corral". Not that it was much of an appearance, as he shows up briefly in three of Gene's singing numbers as a guitarist with the Sons of the Pioneers. Even though he's uncredited, it's still cool to see him show up here.

But this is Gene's picture all the way, and he appears not once, but twice, as a stunt double for the nominal star of Mammoth Pictures, Tom Ford. The fake Ford isn't around much for the picture as he goes off on a fishing trip, but his hassle with a trio of gangsters who he owes ten grand to is made part of the story line. Gene also finds himself in a couple of romantic entanglements, one on behalf of Ford and one of his own doing. It's not really as complicated as all that, as you can follow the action along pretty easily as things get under way.

Apparently, the picture got some mileage as a publicity vehicle for the Texas Centennial of 1936 in Dallas. Quite a few singing groups make their way into the story, including the Light Crust Dough Boys (love that name!), the Jones Boys, the Beverly Hillbillies, and of course, the Sons of the Pioneers. Only the Pioneers get to do more than a single tune, and of course Gene himself has a host of musical numbers.

Gene's sidekick here is Smiley Burnette, but he's not the only one with a comedic role. Max Terhune's on board as well, along with his wooden buddy Elmer. Surprisingly, Terhune has the ventriloquist gimmick down pretty well, as his lips hardly ever move while speaking for Elmer, even while delivering a song of his own.

"The Big Show" is a fairly entertaining Western flick and a nice showcase for a numbers of B Western players from the mid Thirties. It's also the only film in which that running horse mount from behind is mentioned by name; Gene calls it a Crupper Mount. Smiley apparently was impressed enough to get one done by his third try at the end of the picture. By that time, Gene was closing out the picture in a smooch with Kay Hughes who played his romantic interest Marion Hill.

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