Public Cowboy No. 1 (1937)Rustlers using modern technology (airplanes, shortwave radios, refrigerated trucks) are Gene's target. Director:Joseph Kane |
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Public Cowboy No. 1 (1937)Rustlers using modern technology (airplanes, shortwave radios, refrigerated trucks) are Gene's target. Director:Joseph Kane |
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| Complete credited cast: | |||
| Gene Autry | ... | ||
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Smiley Burnette | ... | |
| Ann Rutherford | ... |
Helen Morgan
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William Farnum | ... |
Sheriff Matt Doniphon
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Arthur Loft | ... |
Jack Shannon
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Frankie Marvin | ... |
Deputy Stubby
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House Peters Jr. | ... |
Jim Shannon
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James C. Morton | ... |
Eustace P. Quackenbush
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Maston Williams | ... |
Thad Slaughter
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Frank LaRue | ... |
The Judge
(as Frank La Rue)
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Milburn Morante | ... |
Ezra
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Shannon is running a modern rustling operation using an airplane to spot the cattle, short wave radio to alert the rustlers, and trucks to haul away the beef. When the aging Sheriff Doniphan is unable to bring them in, he is replaced by an eastern detective. But Doniphan's deputy Gene suspects Shannon and sets a trap to nab him and his gang. Written by Maurice VanAuken <mvanauken@a1access.net>
This is a pretty typical early Gene Autry Western. Cowpokes and cattle and horses and cars/trucks/airplanes ... yeehaw.
Anyway, the most unusual scene in this movie, very subtle indeed, is the opening sequence. Gene, ridin' and singin' along, the titles rolling by. Check out behind him and see if you see anything odd.
What's that? Looks like a dummy or something. No, it's Smiley Burnette, riding backwards with a forward facing mask on the back of his head. Even funnier, once the titles and song are finished, Gene and another guy have a long conversation before they even mention the bizarre Smiley and his "disguise" ...
His explanation: It was a disguise so that he could keep an eye out so no one could sneak up on them from behind. Ah, Smiley. Ah, humanity.