The Blazing Sun (1950)

Autry is out to capture a pair of bank robbers.

Director:

John English

Writer:

Jack Townley

Stars:

Gene Autry, Champion, Lynne Roberts

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Gene Autry	...	Gene Autry
Champion	...	Champ - Gene's Horse (as Champion World's Wonder Horse)
Lynne Roberts	...	Helen Ellis
Anne Gwynne	...	Kitty
Edward Norris	...	Doc Larry Taylor
Kenne Duncan	...	Al Bartlett & Mark Bartlett
Alan Hale Jr.	...	Ben Luber
Gregg Barton	...	Al Bartlett's Partner
Steve Darrell	...	Sheriff Phillips
Tom London	...	Tom Ellis
Pat Buttram	...	Mike

Storyline

Gene Autry hunts bank robbers Al Bartlett and Trot Lucas with his old friend Mike. Bartlett, to throw off his pursuers, kills Trot and his own brother. When Kitty Bartlett comes to town claiming to be the slain Bartlett's widow, Gene has to save her from the irate townspeople who are not aware that her name isn't Bartlett but she really is the daughter of a law officer slain by Al Bartlett. Ben Luder, a local hood, tricks Bartlett back into town by saying he has to fixed to have Doc Larry Taylor do plastic surgery on him. En route they meet Doc and his assistant Helen Ellis and Ben's ruse is exposed. Bartlett kills Ben and forces Doc to drive him to the railroad. Gene, in a fight atop a runaway train, captures Bartlett.

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Plot Keywords:

cafe | small town | ore | brother kills brother | gunfire | 

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Taglines:

GENE AND CHAMPION MAKE TODAY'S WEST EXPLODE WITH THAT OLD-TIME VIOLENCE! (original half-sheet poster-all caps)

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Genres:

Action | Adventure | Music | Western

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Certificate:

Passed

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

20 November 1950 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Blazing Hills

Filming Locations:

Iverson Ranch - 1 Iverson Lane, Chatsworth, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Gene Autry Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

69 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound System)

Color:

Black and White Black and White (Sepiatone)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The Carson and Colorado railroad used in the railroad sequences in this movie was one of the last classic narrow gauge RR's left in the United States at the time of filming. The movie was released in 1950 and last engine to travel the tracks was the #9 in 1960 when it was towed (it could not power itself because the boiler did not pass inspection) to Laws Califoria (east of Bishop)where it remains today. This engine and cars are featured in the movie. This railroad was incorporated in 1880 and its first goal was to build tracks from just south of Carson City to Mojave. That never happened and the railroad only built tracks to Keeler on the Owens Lake. The Southern Pacific built tracks from Mojave to Keeler but they built standard gauge so transfer from the narrow gauge C&C was difficult. It is good to see this historic railroad and engine #9 preserved on film.

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Soundtracks

Along The Navajo Trail
Written by Larry Markes, Dick Charles and Edgar De Lange (as Eddie DeLange)
Sung by Gene Autry

User Reviews

Superior Autry

Crackling good Autry, full of action, scenery, and two girls to ogle instead of just one. The plot's more complex than usual, but nicely worked out. The stunt work atop the train is an eye- catcher, and I think Gene did his own. Much of the action is woven into that great Lone Pine backdrop of the Southern Sierras, so there's a lot to look at. Then too, sidekick Buttram has a more serious role than usual, with little buffoonery.

Maybe the hardest thing is seeing Alan Hale Jr., the genial Captain from Gilligan's Island, playing a devious bad guy. Good to see Tom London (Tom) a veteran of a thousand and one oaters picking up another payday. He always looked so right for a cowboy part. Gene manages a couple of solo songs, both familiar western standards, so this is primarily an action feature, not an Autry musical. Anyway, as the movie title tells you, it's a grittier story than usual, and a good one it is.