Twilight on the Rio Grande (1947)

Director:

Frank McDonald

Writers:

Dorrell McGowan (original screenplay) and
Stuart E. McGowan (original screenplay)

Release Date:

1 April 1947 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Adventure | Drama | Musical | Romance | Western

Plot:

Gene and Pokie are on vacation in Mexico when they learn that their buddy Dusty has been bumped off.

Plot Keywords:

Mexico | Smuggler | Vacation | Jewelry | Jewel Smuggling

Cast

  (Complete credited cast)

Gene Autry	...	Gene Autry
Sterling Holloway	...	Pokie
Adele Mara	...	Elena Del Rio
Bob Steele	...	Dusty Morgan
Charles Evans	...	Henry Blackstone
Martin Garralaga	...	Mucho
Howard Negley	...	Jake (as Howard J. Negley)
George J. Lewis	...	Captain Gonzáles
Nacho Galindo	...	Torres
Tex Terry	...	Henchman Joe
The Cass County Boys	...	Musicians, Ranch hands

Runtime:

54 min (edited version) | 71 min (original version)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound System)

Certification:

USA:Approved (PCA #12260)

Filming Locations:

Victorville, California, USA

Company:

Republic Pictures

Trivia:

One of the films included in "The Fifty Worst Films of All Time (and how they got that way)" by Harry Medved and Randy Lowell.

Quotes:

[first lines]
First Flower Girl: Welcome to the carnival, senor.
Gene Autry: Thanks. Viva Mexico!
Second Flower Girl: Viva United States!
Pokie: Yeah. Viva pretty girls!

Soundtrack:

Great Grand Dad

Highly anachronistic but enjoyable

This film is listed in Harry Medved's "Fifty Worst Movies" book but this really doesn't make sense, as it's a decent little B-western. I usually agree with Medved but this time the film isn't particularly bad, nor good--just a very typical programmer.

While much of the film doesn't make sense (such as the extensive use of phones and trucks in the West and a guy patronizingly named "Mucho Dinero"), the film is rather likable and is pretty indistinguishable from other Gene Autry films. The usual singing, light banter and adventure is all here, though I must admit the "action" was very, very muted. I guess Gene was getting older and exerting himself just wasn't in his contract! However, he did sing some lovely songs and I was surprised how much I enjoyed the title song--especially since I usually hate cowboy music! So is it a bad film or not? Well, it all really depends on your perspective. All of Autry's and Roy Rogers' films were pretty cheesy--with very simple plots, incredibly dumb sidekicks and lots of pointless singing. If you can't stand them, then this film is a "must avoid" film. However, if you like the genre, then it's pretty typical and well made compared to these films--though not the average non-B Western.