The Big Sombrero (1949)

Director:

Frank McDonald

Writer:

Olive Cooper (original screenplay)

Release Date:

19 April 1949 (USA)

Genre:

Western

Tagline:

Hear Gene Sing: You Belong to My Heart - La Golondrina - Rancho Pillow - My Adobe Hacienda - Oh My Darling Clementine

Plot:

Gene is hired to be foreman of the Big Sombrero ranch by Jim Garland, who is handling all the business affairs of the owner...

Plot Keywords:

Singing Cowboy | Cowboy | Singer | Horse | Actor Shares First Name With Character

Cast

Gene Autry	...	Gene Autry
Elena Verdugo	...	Estrellita Estrada
Stephen Dunne	...	Jimmy Garland
George J. Lewis	...	Juan Vazcaro
Vera Marshe	...	Angie Burke
William Edmunds	...	Don Luis Alvarado
Martin Garralaga	...	Felipe Gonzales
Gene Roth	...	Ben McBride (as Gene Stutenroth)
Neyle Morrow	...	Tico

Runtime:

82 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Cinecolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Certification:

Finland:S

Filming Locations:

Corriganville, Ray Corrigan Ranch, Simi Valley, California, USA

Company:

Gene Autry Productions

Quotes:

Gene Autry: It might get a little rough.
Luis Alvarado: You think because my bones are old, I have no stomach for danger?

Soundtrack:

You Belong To My Heart

One of the few opportunities to see Gene Autry in color

Gene Autry only made two movies in color and this is one of them, sort of a cheap-looking process known as cine color that actually takes away rather than adds to the total effect of this south of the border western. If Edison Et Al had had the technology to make the first movies in color then possibly we wouldn't know anything about black and white films. But since few movies were made in color until the 1950's because of the expense involved we have grown used to seeing the old Saturday matinée cowboy shoot 'em ups in black and white. Seeing the few that exist in color somehow causes the viewer to lose interest while watching. With a big budget John Ford was able to make color work for the classic "She Wore a Yellow Ribbon," but this was not true for the B films of the day.

There is another problem with this Gene Autry western. Where is the comical sidekick? There is a lame attempt to provide a Mexican stand-in, but he is no Cisco Kid's Pancho or Tim Holt's Chito. I kept looking for a Smiley, a Pat Buttram, or a Pokie. Though Smiley is not present one of his songs is sung by Gene. Smiley, who was one of the most talented songwriters of his day, would sometimes sell his songs to Gene, but Gene would go ahead and put Smiley's name on the music with his, so it would be a 50/50 deal. There is an unintentionally funny opening. Gene is strumming his guitar and singing a love song to what appears to be a man behind a counter smoking a cigarette. No woman is present. It turns out that Gene is showing the guy how good his guitar sounds because he is pawning it for gas money.

There is a good performance by Estrellita Estrada. I don't recall seeing her in other films. I read that she was typecast to playing senorita-type roles and ultimately retired from the cinema.

The action is so-so and overall the film is not as good as many of Gene's earlier ones, still worthwhile for his many fans.