Gene takes care of three tough kids sent west from Chicago after their father died and left them a cattle ranch. They help him catch a bunch of rustlers.
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Title: Prairie Moon (1938)
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Cast
| Complete credited cast: | |||
| Gene Autry | ... | Gene Autry | |
| Smiley Burnette | ... | Frog Millhouse | |
| Shirley Deane | ... | Peggy Shaw | |
| Tommy Ryan | ... | William 'Brains' Barton | |
 |
Walter Tetley | ... | Clarence 'Nails' Barton |
| David Gorcey | ... | Hector 'Slick' Barton | |
| Stanley Andrews | ... | Frank Welch | |
| William Pawley | ... | Jim 'Legs' Barton | |
| Warner Richmond | ... | Mullins | |
| Ray Bennett | ... | Hartley (as Raphael Bennett) | |
| Tom London | ... | Henchman Steve | |
| Bud Osborne | ... | Henchman Pete | |
| Jack Rockwell | ... | Sheriff | |
|
|
Peter Potter | ... | Bandleader |
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Plot Summary
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Storyline
The dying outlaw Barton gets Gene to be the guardian of his three boys. The three troublemakers arrive on the Barton ranch from Chicago where they soon uncover Welsh's smuggling operation located there. So Welsh adopts the boys and boots Autry out. Gene counters by bringing three other boys and getting the Judge to declare them to be the real Bartons. Written by Maurice VanAuken <mvanauken@a1access.net>
Genres:
WesternParents Guide:
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William 'Brains' Barton: So what?
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(1938) (uncredited)
Written by Walter Kent and Eddie Cherkose
Sung by Gene Autry
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Did You Know?
Quotes
Gene Autry: I'm glad to see you fellas. I'm Gene Autry.William 'Brains' Barton: So what?
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Soundtracks
The Girl in the Middle of My Heart(1938) (uncredited)
Written by Walter Kent and Eddie Cherkose
Sung by Gene Autry
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Details
Country:
USALanguage:
EnglishRelease Date:
7 October 1938 (USA) See more »Also Known As:
Drei Lümmel in Texas See more »Company Credits
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"Prairie Moon" is a most unusual sort of Gene Autry film. While it has the standard bad guys who rustle cattle, it also features a trio of young punks which make this a one of a kind western.
When the story begins, a wanted criminal is killed in a shootout. Gene is there and witnesses his old friend-turned-bad as he dies. With his dying breaths, he asks Gene to be the godfather for his three boys back east. Gene agrees...not realizing these boys are little gangsters at heart!
In many ways, you can see that this film was influenced by earlier films like "Dead End" and the punk kid films were very popular in the late 30s and through the 40s....though I can't say I ever saw one that was a western! Fun and a great change of pace for Autry.