Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
Gene Autry | ... | Gene Autry | |
Champion | ... | Champion, Gene's Horse | |
Patricia Barry | ... | Helen Carter (as Patricia White) | |
Jimmy Lloyd | ... | Joe Lucas | |
Douglass Dumbrille | ... | Henry Mitchell | |
Damian O'Flynn | ... | Bill Wright | |
Clayton Moore | ... | Henchman Pete | |
Harry Cheshire | ... | Dr. Daniel Chadwick | |
Leon Weaver | ... | Abner Weaver | |
Jerry Scoggins | ... | Jerry Scroggins - Forest Range-Singer (as The Cass County Boys) | |
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Fred S. Martin | ... | Fred Martin - Forest Ranger-Singer (as The Cass County Boys) |
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Bert Dodson | ... | Bert Dodson - Forest Tanger-Singer (as The Cass County Boys) |
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The Pinafores | ... | Singing Trio |
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Beulah Kettle | ... | Singing Sister (as The Pinafores) |
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Ione Kettle | ... | Singing Sister (as The Pinafores) |
While trailing Forest Ranger Charles Carter (Jason Robards Sr.), who is suspected of permitting lumber man Henry Mitchell (Douglass Dumbrille) to cut restricted timber, Gene fires at a dangerous mountain lion and apparently kills Carter. Actually, Bill Wright (Damian O'Flynn), Mitchell's associate, killed Carter because the ranger had discovered tussock moth infestation in the forest, and if the infestation was not reported, the trees would die and have to be cut, thereby profiting Mitchell and Wright. In order to compensate the best he can, Gene sells his sportsman's camp and gives the money to Carter's daughter Helen (Patricia Barryas Patricia White) . En route to Texas, Gene discovers the infestation and is assigned by the Forest Department to supervise the program of spraying the area with DDT from the air. After the first day of spraying, the DDT is blamed by furious stock men for the many animals found dead of poisoning. Gene suspects a strange plane heard flying in the night ... Written by Les Adams <longhorn1939@suddenlink.net>
This is one of my favorite Gene Autry movies. The action starts when Autry thinks he killed the dad of Helen Carter (Patricia Barry) after missing a shot at a mountain lion. Villains Douglass Dumbrille and Damian O'Flynn are very believable in ruthlessly trying to stop Autry from saving the forest. He's not getting much help from Jimmy Lloyd who finds out drinking and flying don't mix. Great to see Harry Cheshire who played Judge Ben Wiley in the TV series Buffalo Bill, Jr. and Clayton Moore, this time playing a henchman. Leon Weaver of The Weaver Brothers and Elviry even gets some great foot stomping music in along the way.