Song of the Gringo (1936)

Tex is sent to investigate miners being killed and their mines confiscated. The culprit is Evans and after Tex joins the gang, he is sent to kill two more miners. When Estaban is killed, Tex is put on trial for all three murders.

Director:

John P. McCarthy (as John McCarthy)

Writers:

John P. McCarthy (screenplay) (as John McCarthy), Robert Emmett Tansey (screenplay) (as Robert Emmett)

Stars:

Tex Ritter, Ted Adams, White Flash

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Tex Ritter	...	Tex
White Flash	...	White Flassh
Joan Woodbury	...	Lolita Valle
Ted Adams	...	Evans
Fuzzy Knight	...	Zony
Monte Blue	...	Sheriff
Warner Richmond	...	Henchman Cherokee
Al J. Jennings	...	Judge (as Al Jennings)
Martin Garralaga	...	Don Esteban Valle
William Desmond	...	Bailiff
Forrest Taylor	...	Prosecuting Attorney
Robert Fiske	...	Defense Attorney
José Pacheco	...	Orchestra Leader
Rosa Rey	...	Rosita - the Maid
José Pacheco and his Continental Orchestra	...	Fiesta Orchestra

Storyline

For Tex Ritter's first starring film Producer Edward Finney and director J.P.McCarthy chose to do a remake of a 1930's "Oklahoma Cyclone" which McCarthy had directed and Wellyn Totman wrote. McCarthy brought Totman's original along, Robert Tansey adapted it and he and McCarthy shared story and screenplay credit, and Finney added ex-outlaw Al Jennings name to it for whatever value it may have added. ("Very little" Finney wrote in a 1976 letter.) The story differs little (since "Oklahoma Cyclone" also had several songs, including the mincing "He a Lavender Cowboy" which died a quick deserved death in the first version) in that a young U.S.Deputy Marshal (Tex Ritter) hunting for his missing father, poses as a wanted outlaw and is chased by a posse into the rancho hacienda of Don Estaban Valle (Martin Garralaga) where he takes refuge in the bedroom of Lolita Valle (Joan Woodbury), the Don's daughter. She hides him from the searching sheriff (Monte Blue) and Evans (Ted Adams) the manager ...

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Plot Keywords:

hacienda | death of sidekick | guitarist | deputy marshal | 

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Taglines:

THE GREAT NEW WESTERN SINGING STAR! (original print ad-all caps)

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Genres:

Western

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Certificate:

Passed

Did You Know?

Trivia

Just prior to start of filming this, his first movie, Tex Ritter went to a barber shop for a haircut. He fell asleep in the barber's chair and too much hair was cut off. This is why in most of this movie he keeps his hat clamped tightly on his head, and when he does remove it he's wearing a very obvious wig.

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Quotes

Evans: Lolita, the Don's daughter, is of special interest to me. Is that clear?
Tex: Well I-I gather you mean, uh, you don't want no one to cut your fences.
Evans: You are very, very, comprehensive.

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Connections

Remake of The Oklahoma Cyclone (1930)

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Soundtracks

You Are Reality
(uncredited)
Written by Joan Woodbury
Sung by Joan Woodbury

User Reviews

Tex At His Best

Hard to believe this is Tex debut, it's one of his best works and might be my favorite of his. The music is also some of his best

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

22 November 1936 (USA)

Also Known As:

Song of the Gringo

Filming Locations:

Monogram Ranch - 24715 Oak Creek Avenue, Newhall, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Boots and Saddles Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

62 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1