South of the Border (1939)

Federal Agent Gene Autry and his sidekick Frog are sent to Mexico to prevent foreign powers from gaining control of Mexican oil refineries and fomenting revolution among the Mexican people.... See full summary »

Director:

George Sherman

Writers:

Betty Burbridge (screenplay), Gerald Geraghty (screenplay),

Stars:

Gene Autry, Smiley Burnette, June Storey

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Gene Autry	...	Gene Autry
Smiley Burnette	...	Frog
June Storey	...	Lois Martin
Lupita Tovar	...	Dolores Mendoza
Mary Lee	...	Patsy
Duncan Renaldo	...	Andreo Mendoza
Frank Reicher	...	Don Diego Mendoza
Alan Edwards	...	Saunders
Claire Du Brey	...	Dueña
Dick Botiller	...	Bandit Pablo
William Farnum	...	Padre
Selmer Jackson	...	American Consul
The Checkerboard Band	...	Musicians

Storyline

Federal Agent Gene Autry and his sidekick Frog are sent to Mexico to prevent foreign powers from gaining control of Mexican oil refineries and fomenting revolution among the Mexican people. Gene falls in love with Senorita Dolores but finds he must leave for the island of Palermo, where her uncle, Don Diego, is being prevented from transporting his cattle to market by the foreign agents, who have co-opted Dolores' brother Andreo into joining them. While trying to load cattle by sea into a waiting cargo ship Gene and his men are attacked by Andreo and his revolutionaries, with fatal results.

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Plot Keywords:

cattle | ship | foreign agent | mexico | revolution | 

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Taglines:

Inspired by and featuring the song sensations of the year

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Genres:

Western

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

15 December 1939 (USA)

Also Known As:

Mia Mexikana oneirou omorfia

Company Credits

Production Co:

Republic Pictures (I)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

70 min 70 min (1999 restoration) 54 min (edited)

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA High Fidelity Recording)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Quotes

[first lines]
[Gene, Smiley and the gang arrive in a Mexican town during a fiesta]
Frog Millhouse: Gee, I betcha this celebration is for us!
Gene Autry: I hardly think so. Besides, we gotta report to the Consul.

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Connections

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

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Soundtracks

"Moon of Manana"
(uncredited)
Written by Gene Autry and Johnny Marvin
Sung by Gene Autry
Reprised by Gene Autry

User Reviews

One of Gene's Best Films

While Gene Autry was most famous for his singing, he became a very competent actor & horseman. He was the hero to millions of children & a role model who was very conscious of his public image in their eyes (he was a two-fisted drinker but most people didn't even know it). This film is one of his best, with lots of great songs, hard riding, & hundreds of blank cartridges. The scene where Gene leaps from Champ (his beautiful stallion) onto a speeding tanker truck, was filmed without a stunt double, Gene actually did the stunt himself, to the horror of the director (if Gene had been hurt or killed, everyone would've been out of work!). In another film (I forget which one) Gene did a leap from Champ onto a locomotive. He told me once that it came about the same way, he was supposed to stop & let the stunt double do it, but he just decided that he could do it, so he did. This film also stars Duncan Reynaldo (The Cisco Kid) as the leading lady's outlaw brother.