Take Me Back to Oklahoma (1940)

Storm is out to wreck Ace's stage line. When Tex arrives to help Ace, Storm brings in hired killer Mule Bates. But Tex and Bates know each other and the two devise a plan to fool Storm.

Director:

Albert Herman (as Al Herman)

Writer:

Robert Emmett Tansey (screenplay) (as Robert Emmett)

Stars:

Tex Ritter, Karl Hackett, Bob Wills

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Tex Ritter	...	Tex Lawton
Bob Wills	...	Bob Wills
Slim Andrews	...	Slim Hunkapillar
Terry Walker	...	Jane Winters
Robert McKenzie	...	Deacon Ames (as Bob McKenzie)
Karl Hackett	...	Storm
Donald Curtis	...	Henchman Snapper
Gene Alsace	...	Henchman Red
Olin Francis	...	Mule Bates
Carleton Young	...	Ace Hutchinson (as Carlton Young)
George Eldredge	...	Sheriff
Johnny Lee Wills	...	Texas Playboy Bass Player (as Johnnie Lee Wills)
Leon McAuliffe	...	Texas Playboy Steel Guitar Player
Son Caz Lansford	...	Texas Playboy
Wayne Johnson	...	Texas Playboy

Storyline

Storm is out to wreck Ace's stage line. When Tex arrives to help Ace, Storm brings in hired killer Mule Bates. But Tex and Bates know each other and the two devise a plan to fool Storm.

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Plot Keywords:

cowboy in tight pants | cowboy horse relationship | cowboy cowboy relationship | stagecoach | robberies | 

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Taglines:

Wanted by the law...marked by the lawless...betrayed by his best friend...but you can't stop a Texan while there's a song on his lips...and lead slugs in his six guns!

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Genres:

Western

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Certificate:

Approved

Did You Know?

Trivia

The earliest documented telecasts of this film took place in New York City Tuesday 16 November 1948 on WCBS (Channel 2) and in Los Angeles Monday 10 July 1950 on KTSL (Channel 2).

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Connections

Edited into Six Gun Theater: Take Me Back to Oklahoma (2016)

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Soundtracks

Kalamity Kate
by Lew Porter and Johnny Lange

User Reviews

A whole lotta country music interrupted, occasionally, bit a bit of story.

In B-westerns of the 40s and 50s, music was frequently inserted into the film--especially the films of Roy Rogers and Gene Autry--both fine singers who sang quite a bit themselves. However, in almost all these films, the music is secondary. In the case of "Take Me Back to Oklahoma", however, it looks as if the film is almost all music--with only a bit of a story. This is great if you adore old time country music--but miserable otherwise. In this case, Boy Wills and the Texas Playboys sing and sing and sing and sing. They sing as they ride in on the stage, they sing when folks are stealing the strongbox---heck, they probably sang in their sleep! And, oddly, after a while I found myself liking the music a lot---which surprised me, as I usually hate this sort of singing. But, even though I did like the singing, there just wasn't much room for a story! The story is pretty typical--a local baddie is trying to run the town and take over the stage business--though no one knows for sure that he's behind all the crazy happenings. But, when Tex comes to town and tries to help out the lady who owns the stage, the baddies all conspire to frame him for robbery and then, when that doesn't work, shoot him--all to stop him from driving in 'the big race' (another cliché).

Pluses were decent music and,....Ritter did NOT use a stuntman in a few very dangerous scenes. As for the acting, at times it was pretty lame--especially from Tex's really annoying third-rate sidekick, Slim. And, the story is both familiar and thin. Overall, worth seeing if you love old B-westerns, but if you don't, this one won't win you over to the genre!

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

11 November 1940 (USA)

Also Known As:

Oklahoma Bound

Filming Locations:

Garner Ranch, Mountain Center, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Edward F. Finney Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

57 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1