Rovin' Tumbleweeds (1939) User Reviews

Mr. Autry Goes to Washington!

[planktonrules · 7/10 · 3 August 2020]

As I watched "Rovin' Tumbleweeds", I couldn't help but think that the plot owes a lot to "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington". However, after doing a bit of looking, it's not clear that the film was inspired by "Mr. Smith". Sure, "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington" did come out first...but only a month before this Gene Autry film. And, while I know that these B-westerns were churned out quickly...I cannot be sure if the similarity is intentional or just a coincidence.

When the film begins, Gene and Smiley are out trying to help folks in the middle of a flood. When the lady announcer is talking about this on the radio, Gene grabs the microphone and blames their congressman for the flood, as the guy voted against a flood control bill. That, combined with him singing on the radio, suddenly make Gene a local hero...and folks are clamoring for him to run for congress. Soon, he's elected...and learns exactly how Washington works...or doesn't work! Again and again, the powers that be block Gene from trying to make a positive difference.

The songs in this film are exceptional....with him singing his classic "Back in the Saddle Again" (one of his most familiar songs). And, Smiley sings a cute ditty with his froggy voice.

As for the story, it's pretty good and enjoyable except for one thing...the cliched lady radio host. Too often older films feature ladies who are grouches and hate the leading man for no apparent reason....and this one is no exception. She's annoying an unrealistic...and according to the cliche, she eventually becomes Gene's love interest! This isn't a spoiler...as it's obvious this will happen the second you see and hear her! Fortunately, having the usually slimy and evil Douglass Dumbrille playing the baddie in this one is a major plus.

Overall, this is a most unusual B-western because it's also a very progressive film....sort of like a singing cowboy film combined with Depression-era issues and politics. Well worth seeing and one of Autry's better films, as it has a depth you usually would not expect in such a movie.

Gene Autry for Congress! No, really!

[funkyfry · 6/10 · 30 October 2002]

Gene hitches up and heads for Washington D.C. to fight for flood control. He manages to uncover corruption , sing some songs, and become a champion rodeo rider on the weekends. For an hour long movie like this to have so many irrelevant scenes, you know the screenwriters knew a few things about padding the film. Mary Carlisle is sprightly and engaging as a girl reporter who gradually warms up to Gene and ends up as his biggest fan.

Unfortunately, the film's ending is rather abrupt and forced -- somehow the rich industrialist who has opposed Gene's flood controls at every turn has a change of heart, and he tells everyone that he'll pass the law. This leaves a bad taste in one's mouth -- after all, if he's gonna pass a "good" law, isn't it just as corrupt as if he passed a "bad" law? Wouldn't some kind of plea for more democracy have been more appropriate than a kindly industrialist (this reminds me of the conservative propaganda of MGM's "Boom Town")? Shades of fascist here, but.....well, as long as it's a happy ending.......

Surprisingly Relevant to Today

[dougdoepke · 3 June 2011]

I don't think anyone watches one of these old matinees for anything other than unchallenging fun. After all, they were made mainly for kids. That being said, this one has more adult content than most. Yes, Gene is elected to Congress, of all places, following a successful stint on the radio. More importantly, he's expected to serve as an empty suit (cowboy suit) by his big money backers wanting to steal land away from flood-ravaged small farmers. It's not like the money men don't have some popular support. Local townsfolk resent the influx of refugees from the flood for driving down local wages. But needless to say, Gene turns out to be anything but an empty suit.

Clearly, the screenplay is not only more serious minded than most, but also reflects many conditions of the ravaged 1930's. Actually, this low-budgeter does a good job creating a sense of desperation among the flood-affected—note the intense crowd scenes, plus the chaos of old flivver cars. There's also Congress and its influence peddling where Gene finds out some hard truths. There's little hard riding or typical gunplay, so matinée fans expecting the usual may be disappointed. But, for folks willing to try something different, there's food for thought (except the utterly incredible ending) that appears still topical, even 70- years later.

"Ah Oui, I have heard of throwing the bull!"

[classicsoncall · 5/10 · 25 April 2010]

With a title like "Rovin' Tumbleweeds", you'd think the action would be a lot drier. Instead, Gene Autry finds himself elected as a Congressman (no kidding!) to make the pitch for a flood control bill for the citizens of Rand County. He gets there by way of getting discovered as a country singer, with his popularity on a local radio station helping him win the election over a crooked politician. But holy cow - did you catch this? While Gene croons a song about Hawaii (??), fan applause is registered by a croonometer! If this wasn't as corny as they come, I'd have to get out my cornometer.

Of course, Gene's cause is a just and noble one, but he has to take heat for leading the ranchers of Green Valley into Rand County where they swell the already large work force, driving down wages to a buck a day. But the temperature in Washington D.C. is even hotter, as Gene can't crack the committee system to get his bill introduced on the floor of the House. The picture's finale is somewhat implausible, as one of his political opponents (Douglas Dumbrille) has a change of heart after a major wash out is averted. Not trying to nit-pick here, but while that major storm threatened to flood the valley, that was the only place where it was night time and raining.

You'll have to check out that closing scene when Gene announces to the KYX Radio audience that he's hitching up with correspondent Mary Ford (Mary Carlisle) for good. Right after battling the flood, Gene and Mary share a hug and their cheeks touch, with Mary coming away with mud on the left side of her face. However going in, that side of Gene's face was clean!

As it relates to the flooding scenes, it seemed that some of them looked familiar to this viewer. I happened to catch 1941's "Sunset in Wyoming" a few weeks ago, and that story had to do with virtually the same theme of ranchers trying to save their homes, this time from the dangers of excessive timber logging. I couldn't say for sure, but it wouldn't surprise me if some of the footage from this picture were recycled in the latter one.

Put it down as a failure!

[JohnHowardReid · 4/10 · 15 April 2018]

NOTES: Number 36 of Autry's 94 movies.

COMMENT: The original title was Washington Cowboy. This was certainly accurate, but the release title has absolutely nothing to do with this plot variant of Mr Smith Goes to Washington. Like Sherman's vastly superior Colorado Sunset this is a political western. But whereas the politics were an entertaining and action-full ingredient of Colorado Sunset, here they are banal and inept.

In fact the best sections of this movie are those set strictly in the west. Though the customary sequence in which Autry gallops after a runaway horse is exceptionally weak, there's nonetheless some good action (set off by nice pictorial shots) at beginning and end. Sherman is at his best in a sequence with wagons racing across the terrain (though there are even more exciting examples of this type of work in his Colorado Sunset and Pillars of the Sky).

Alas, as soon as Congressman Autry hits Washington, our interest takes a nosedive. A totally irrelevant and unlikely rodeo episode, made up entirely of ancient stock footage, is introduced. Then there's a dime-novel plot twist that will have most viewers rubbing their eyes in disbelief. The one politico that Autry had won over is run over by an automobile and killed (off camera, of course). This development is then topped for unintentional ludicrousness with the sudden fade-out change-of-heart by the yarn's chief villain (played here in a characteristic but unhappily undistinguished - his material is so weak - manner by Douglass Dumbrille).

Fortunately, Autry and Burnette are their usual amiable selves. William Farnum is embarrassingly enthusiastic in a role written with singular ineptitude, even by the cliched standards of dialogue and characterization in evidence in this Washington. As for Mary Carlisle who made such a strong impression as Bing Crosby's leading lady in no less than three of his movies, her career seems to be slipping. The writers give her such thin and sparse material she can't help but make a colorless heroine.

Yes, there are songs, including one of Autry's most famous - he uses it as the title of his autobiography - and some mild comedy relief.

In all, Rovin' Tumbleweeds is a disappointing effort, especially when judged by Autry's usual high standards. Production values are no more than average "B". Technically, whilst the photography is a bit less flat, the direction is a lot less imaginative. True, the movie does offer some fair entertainment qualities, but we are inclined to agree with those critics who put it down as a failure.

What a nifty Gene Autry Western

[kelsci · 10/10 · 8 February 2009]

There is a very good reason for this. The crew who worked on this western is the same crew who were doing the THREE MESQUITEERS series. As such, this movie seemed almost like a "MESQUITEERS" western, but with Gene Autry in it. That's what makes this one so darn good. The action and dialog is brisk, fast and sharp. The music cannot be beat. I must say that Republic Pictures is the true AMERICANA studio of music IMHO. Republic pictures in most cases tried to entertain you and they did and IMHO they still do even in the 21st century. I am glad that there has been an effort to preserve their films such as the Autry series that he made for them during the 30s and 40s. Just think if they had invited THE THREE MESQUITEERS over to assist Gene in this one; what a crossover western this one would have made; but I bet nobody though about it.

Gene and Smiley ride into the halls of Congress

[frank4122 · 10/10 · 18 June 2020]

Fake news, crooked politicians and congressmen bought and paid for shows you times have not changed. Gene starts singing on the radio to aid ranchers and farmers whose lands were destroyed by floods. Local wheelers and dealers notice his popularity which propels him into politics. He finds that what it takes to pass a flood control bill may be more than he bargained for. While the action ensues, Gene, Ol' Frog and Pals of the Golden West entertain with some wonderful songs. Also, great comic relief by the storekeepers near the beginning of the film.