Public Cowboy No. 1 (1937)

Rustlers using modern technology (airplanes, shortwave radios, refrigerated trucks) are Gene's target.

Director:

Joseph Kane (as Joe Kane)

Writers:

Oliver Drake (screen play), Bernard McConville (original story)

Stars:

Gene Autry, Smiley Burnette, Ann Rutherford

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Gene Autry	...	Deputy Sheriff Gene Autry
Smiley Burnette	...	Frog Millhouse
Ann Rutherford	...	Helen Morgan
William Farnum	...	Sheriff Matt Doniphon
Arthur Loft	...	Jack Shannon
Frankie Marvin	...	Deputy Stubby
House Peters Jr.	...	Jim Shannon
James C. Morton	...	Eustace P. Quackenbush
Maston Williams	...	Thad Slaughter
Frank LaRue	...	The Judge (as Frank La Rue)
Milburn Morante	...	Ezra

Storyline

Shannon is running a modern rustling operation using an airplane to spot the cattle, short wave radio to alert the rustlers, and trucks to haul away the beef. When the aging Sheriff Doniphan is unable to bring them in, he is replaced by an eastern detective. But Doniphan's deputy Gene suspects Shannon and sets a trap to nab him and his gang.

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Plot Keywords:

cattle rustling | horse | 

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Taglines:

YOU'RE HEADED FOR BIG THRILLS WHEN YOU RIDE WITH GENE AND SING HIS STIRRING SONGS OF THE SADDLE! (original print ad-all caps)

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Genres:

Western

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Certificate:

Passed

Did You Know?

Goofs

After Frog Millhouse (Smiley Burnette) falls off the refrigerated meat truck where he was dangling on a meat hook, the back of his jacket no longer has a hole in it where the hook would have been.

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Quotes

Deputy Sheriff Gene Autry: Thanks a lot, folks. Speeches are not exactly my strong point so maybe I better sing. I'm dedicating this number to a man we should all be mighty grateful to. You old timers remember about 30 years ago this town was pretty wild. Gunfights took place in this very street that claimed the lives of my folks and some of yours. Then a young fella named Doniphon was elected sheriff. He didn't have much equipment - just his guns and his nerves. He still carries the scars of those battles, but he made ...

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Connections

Featured in Gene Autry: White Hat, Silver Screen (2007)

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Soundtracks

Wanderers
(1937) (uncredited)
(also known as "Wanderers of the Wasteland")
Written by Felix Bernard and Paul Francis Webster
Sung by Gene Autry, William Farnum, and others
Reprised by them at the end

User Reviews

A Solid 8 on the Matinée Scale

Good imaginative mix of music, action, comedy, and man vs. machine. Gene's trying to stop a gang of cattle rustlers. Trouble is they're using modern technology like airplanes (spotters) and refrigerated trucks (hauling carcasses) to elude capture. Old Sheriff Doniphon and younger deputy Autry are not having much success, so ranchers call in a high-falutin' motorized detective company (think Pinkertons). So how's this all going to work out—will the new win out over the old. There's a little more story depth here than usual.

Catch ace director, old Joe Kane using an off-angle camera shot to heighten effect of careening cars. Good touch even if on the arty side. Then there's cutie Ann Rutherford showing why she had such a durable Hollywood career. Heck, I even got laughs out of Frog and buddy donning a cow hide, especially when the horny and apparently near-sighted bull chases them. Okay, these are basically kid's shows, not to be taken seriously. So I have no problem with all the goofy anachronisms as long as they add to entertainment, which they do.

On the matinée scale (not to be confused with adult westerns) I give this Autry entry a solid 8.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

23 August 1937 (USA)

Also Known As:

Cow-Boy Público nº 1

Filming Locations:

Kernville, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Republic Pictures (I)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

61 min (copyright length) (restored) 53 min (edited)

Sound Mix:

Mono (R.C.A. Victor 'High Fidelity' Sound System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1