Hollywood Barn Dance (1947)

Based on and built around the west coast radio program, "The Hollywood Barn Dance", although no members of the 1947 cast of the program are in the film, but the better-known (on a national ... See full summary »

Director:

Bernard B. Ray

Writers:

Bernard B. Ray (story), Dorothea Knox Martin (screenplay),

Stars:

Ernest Tubb, Lori Talbott, The Texas Troubadors

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Ernest Tubb	...	Ernie
Lori Talbott	...	Helen
The Texas Troubadors	...	ErnestTubb Band
Helen Boyce	...	Esmeralda 'Ezzy' Perkins
Earle Hodgins	...	Francis D. Cartwright
Frank McGlynn Sr.	...	Pa (Hiram) Tubb (as Frank McGlynn)
Phil Arnold	...	Toppit
Larry Reed	...	Pete Dixon (as Larry Reid)
Red Herron	...	Red Herron
Ann Kunde	...	Ma Tubb
Betty Mudge	...	Ma Perkins
Jack Guthrie	...	Jack Guthrie-Singer
Dorothy Swan	...	Dot
Lewis Swan	...	Smoky
Sam Wolfe	...	Harmonica Player

Storyline

Based on and built around the west coast radio program, "The Hollywood Barn Dance", although no members of the 1947 cast of the program are in the film, but the better-known (on a national scale) Ernest Tubb and His Texas Troubadors, Jack Guthrie and Jimmy and Leon Short more than make up for that. The slight plot, around 18 songs, begins with Tubb and his band searching for $2000 needed to rebuild their town chuch after it burned down while they were rehearsing in it. Hollywood, here they come.

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Plot Keywords:

hollywood | texas | barn dance | song | radio program | 

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Taglines:

A HARVEST OF HI-JINKS! (original print ad-all caps)

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Genres:

Musical | Western

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

21 June 1947 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Screen Guild Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

72 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Soundtracks

"If It's a Dream"
Written by Sam Neuman and Michael Breen

User Reviews

The Rise of Ernest Tubbs

This is a perfectly adequate movie version of Ernest Tubbs' then-popular radio show: a few country-western songs, a few cornball jokes and enough plot to cover the corners. I'm a banjo player myself (a rather bad one) and find the music a little oddly calculated; they seem to use a Hawaiian guitar when they should be using a Dobro and the songs tend to be dolorous for western swing, except for the seemingly inevitable harmonica solo.

Writer/director Bernard Ray had been a big noise in Gower Gulch, in the 1930s, writing, producing and directing but his career was winding down, even though he was only in his early fifties. He would direct only four more pictures over the next dozen years before dying in 1964. It shows in the production values: cheaply decorated sets.

The net result is about what you'd expect. If you're a fan of the music, you'll have a good time. If not, then not so much.