Rancho Grande (1940)

Kay and her eastern clan go out West to run the ranch left her by her grandfather. Badguys are out to ruin the ranch's irrigation system, so Autry lends a hand.

Director:

Frank McDonald

Writers:

Peter Milne (story), Connie Lee (story),

Stars:

Gene Autry, Smiley Burnette, June Storey

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Gene Autry	...	Gene Autry
Smiley Burnette	...	Frog Millhouse
June Storey	...	Kay Dodge
Mary Lee	...	Patsy Dodge
Dick Hogan	...	Tom Dodge
Ellen Lowe	...	Effie Tinker (as Ellen E. Lowe)
Ferris Taylor	...	Emery Benson
Joe De Stefani	...	Jose (as Joseph De Stefani)
Roscoe Ates	...	Tex
Rex Lease	...	Joe Travis
Ann Baldwin	...	Susan Putnam
Pals of the Golden West	...	Musicians (as The Pals of the Golden West)
Boys' Choir of St. Joseph's School	...	Church Choir (as The Boys' Choir of St. Joseph's School)

Storyline

This Gene Autry entry was sold to the exhibitors as a "Special" (a term used about once a production season when Republic wanted to charge the exhibitors a higher fee than usual for an Autry film) and finds "Rancho Grande foreman Gene Autry more than a little distressed when he learns that the heirs of the ranch, siblings Kay, Patsy and Tom Dodge, are on their way. The young Dodges have a nation-wide reputation as wild irresponsibles, and Gene already has his hands full trying to save the ranch from foreclosure. Before his death, the late John Dodge had mortgaged the ranch in order to secure funds for a vast irrigation system which must be completed by a certain date or face foreclosure from the Citrus Valley Association. Kay and Tom Dodge show up with intentions of turning the property into a pleasure resort for their eastern society friends, and they are encouraged in this by Dodge family attorney Emory Benson, who also happens to be a heavy stockholder in the Citrus Valley ...

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Plot Keywords:

ranch | irrigation | will | dynamite | grandfather | 

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Genres:

Western

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English Spanish

Release Date:

22 March 1940 (USA)

Filming Locations:

Bronson Canyon, Griffith Park - 4730 Crystal Springs Drive, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Republic Pictures (I)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

68 min 67 min (2003 restoration) 54 min (edited) 68 min (original)

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA High Fidelity Recording)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Soundtracks

"Oh! Susanna"
(1848) (uncredited)
Written by Stephen Foster
Sung by friends of Kay and Tom Dodge

User Reviews

Excellent plot and outstanding cast!

This Gene Autry film is about as good as musical westerns get. The songs are beautifully performed by Gene, Mary Lee, and Smiley Burnette. The movie also features a Great performance by June Storey who portrays Kay Dodge.Smiley Burnette and Mary Lee add comedy to the movie in two scenes that you would not want to miss, and the extra musicians pitch in to compliment the musical aspect of the movie in songs like Rancho Grande and The Swing of the Range.

The plot is exciting from star to finish with 68 minutes packed with action and excitement. This movie definitely ranks as one of Gene's best movies along with Melody Ranch, South of the Border, and Whirlwind.