Down Mexico Way (1941)

After the bad guys 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.

Director:

Joseph Santley

Writers:

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

Stars:

Gene Autry, Smiley Burnette, Fay McKenzie

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Gene Autry	...	Gene Autry
Smiley Burnette	...	Frog Millhouse
Fay McKenzie	...	Maria Elena Alvarado
Harold Huber	...	Pancho Grande
Sidney Blackmer	...	Ellery 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	...	Rurale Captain Rodriguez
The Herrera Sisters	...	Singers

Storyline

Gene and Frog head down to Mexico, hot on the trail of a group of swindlers who convince townspeople to invest in movies to be filmed on location in their town, and then skip out without making the films.

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Plot Keywords:

swindle | singer | cowboy | con man | fistfight | 

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Taglines:

TOPS EVERY OTHER AUTRY HIT - Gene in his most likeable role...more songs...more thrills...more beautiful senoritas...a glamorous screen production that gives the most in entertainment and fun! (original poster)

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Genres:

Comedy | Thriller | Western

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

15 October 1941 (USA)

Also Known As:

A Canção do México

Filming Locations:

Santa Clarita, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Republic Pictures (I)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

77 min 54 min (edited) 77 min (original)

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Goofs

During the gunfight scene when one of the bad guys takes a shot at Pancho behind a tree, knocking his hat off, Pancho's horse is standing directly behind Pancho yet he doesn't get hit.

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Quotes

Pancho Grande: Salute, Pancho.
Juan: Don't give me the salute, give me the news!
Pancho Grande: I'm sorry, Pancho. I don't find out anything.
Juan: Oh, you big disappointment. You don't find nothing? The next time there's nothing to be done, I do it myself.

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Soundtracks

"Maria Elena"
Written by Lorenzo Barcelata
English Lyrics by Bob Russell (as S.K. Russell)
Performed by Gene Autry

User Reviews

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.