Down Mexico Way (1941)

Director:

Joseph Santley

Writers:

Dorrell McGowan (story) and
Stuart E. McGowan (story) ...

Release Date:

15 October 1941 (USA)

Genre:

Western

Plot:

After the badguys swindle the good folk of Sage City, Gene and Frog chase them to Mexico where they are now trying to rob a rich Mexican ranchero.

Plot Keywords:

Swindle | Singing Cowboy | Cowboy | Con Man | Singer

Cast

Gene Autry	...	Gene Autry
Smiley Burnette	...	Frog
Fay McKenzie	...	Maria Elena Alvarado
Harold Huber	...	Pancho Grande
Sidney Blackmer	...	Gibson
Joe Sawyer	...	Allen
Andrew Tombes	...	Mayor Tubbs
Murray Alper	...	Flood
Arthur Loft	...	Homer Gerard
Duncan Renaldo	...	Juan
Paul Fix	...	Henchman Davis
Julian Rivero	...	Don Carlos Alvarado
Ruth Robinson	...	Mercedes
Thornton Edwards	...	Mexican Rurale Captain Rodriguez
The Herrera Sisters	...	Singers

Runtime:

54 min (edited version) | 77 min (original version)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound System)

Certification:

Sweden:Btl

Filming Locations:

Alabama Hills, Lone Pine, California, USA

Company:

Republic Pictures

Soundtrack:

Gay Ranchero

Harold Huber at His Worst, Gene at His Second Best!

The plot of Gene Autry's 49th (out of 94) film revolves around that old "The Producers" gag in which suckers are fleeced by con men who are purporting to make a money-making movie. The robbers flee to Mexico, so naturally Gene and Frog follow suit.

At least this development give Gene a chance to sing his hit number, "South of the Border", early on in the piece. And this outing certainly proves a must-see for fans of Harold Huber (at his hammiest worst) and vivacious Fay McKenzie (whom Autry said on his "Melody Ranch" TV program was here making her movie debut. Not strictly true, although all her many previous parts were no more than bits. Gene also made a big point of the fact that Billy Gilbert was her uncle).

In other respects, the movie is extremely well produced. In fact production values are exceptionally lavish by "B" standards, with lots of colorfully-dressed extras running around strikingly designed sets, followed by a really extended action climax, packed full of picturesque shots of riders against stand-out natural backgrounds.

We are also treated to some thrilling stunts, although some are marred by obvious process screen effects. Particularly disconcerting is a manifestly fake climactic shot in which Gene is supposed to jump off a cliff into the back seat of a speeding convertible!

Perhaps it's just as well there's no action at all for the first half-hour, although we are handed a fair amount of stylish local color, including a fast track of Gene and his lady love strolling through the local markets and an even larger slice of ho-hum comic tomfoolery with Smiley Burnett playing stooge to the egregious Senor Huber.