Melody Ranch (1940)

Director:

Joseph Santley

Writers:

Jack Moffitt (original screenplay) &
F. Hugh Herbert (original screenplay) ...

Release Date:

15 November 1940 (USA)

Genre:

Romance | Western

Tagline:

Join the fun with Public Cowboy No. 1!

Plot:

His Arizona hometown of Torpedo invites Gene back to be the honorary sheriff of the Frontier Days Celebration.

Plot Keywords:

Saloon | Cowboy | Trolley | Radio Show | Show Business

Awards:

1 win

Cast

Gene Autry	...	Gene Autry
Jimmy Durante	...	Cornelius J. Courtney
Ann Miller	...	Julie Shelton
Barton MacLane	...	Mark Wildhack
Barbara Jo Allen	...	Veronica Whipple (as Barbara Allen 'Vera Vague')
George 'Gabby' Hayes	...	Pop Laramie
Jerome Cowan	...	Tommy Summerville
Mary Lee	...	Penny Curtis
Joe Sawyer	...	Jasper Wildhack (as Joseph Sawyer)
Horace McMahon	...	Bud Wildhack (as Horace MacMahon)
Clarence Wilson	...	Judge Henderson
William 'Billy' Benedict	...	Slim (as William Benedict)

Runtime:

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

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound System)

Certification:

USA:Approved (PCA #6737) | USA:Passed (National Board of Review) | USA:TV-G (TV rating) | Sweden:Btl

Filming Locations:

Alabama Hills, Lone Pine, California, USA

Company:

Republic Pictures

Trivia:

The 'Melody Ranch' set built for this film consisted of a long, one story house and a much larger gambrel-roof barn with a practical interior. The house portion's exterior was revamped after filming, and the set was a fixture on Republic's back lot for several years. It was featured in the show "My Three Sons" (1960).

Quotes:

Cornelius J. Courtney: Hey, Gene. Listen, I've been thinking it over, and I think maybe I ought to go with the others on the bus.
Gene Autry: Oh no you don't. Get up on that horse and shut up.
Cornelius J. Courtney: But, Gene...
Gene Autry: Remember, this was your idea.
Cornelius J. Courtney: I'd forgotten.

Movie Connections:

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

Soundtrack:

What Are Cowboys Made Of

Singing is nice, acting is average

Gene Autry has a radio show with singing and a drama each week. His co-star, Ann Miller, thinks he his, shall we say, less than sophisticated. She thinks she is too good for him and the show. His hometown wants him to come back as honorary sheriff during a special celebration. While there he tangles with three brothers who run the town headed by Barton MacLane. And Gene develops a love interest toward Ann. As a movie the acting is somewhat weak. Ann Miller goes around with a smile plastered on her face regardless of the type of scene. If she had put more into her performance I would have rated this movie higher. Then there is Jimmy Durante (who has some very good scenes) and Gabby Hayes (who always does his 'Gabby' role very well). They used their scenes very effectively. Bartin MacLane as the bad guy also used his talents effectively in the few scenes he was in. In other words, the character actors put some real effort into their roles and they are quite enjoyable. Not a movie that you will see over and over again but it certainly worth seeing once. 5/10