5.0 out of 5 stars
"Gene Autry B-Western Series ... Blue Canadian Rockies (1952) ... Image Ent. (2005)", September 18, 2007
This review is from: Blue Canadian Rockies (DVD)
Columbia Pictures present "BLUE CANADIAN ROCKIES" (Released: 30 November 1952) (58 mins/B&W) (Fully Restored/Dolby Digitally Remastered) --- relive those thrilling days when the "First Singing Cowboy" Gene Autry took us down the dusty trails with hard riding and straight shooting hitting the bull's eye with excitement every time --- the Gene Autry series of B-Westerns were a staple of Saturday matinees in the 1930s and 1940s --- The Following Segments are from the "Melody Ranch Theater", which originally aired on the Nashville Network in 1987 --- Hosted by Gene and longtime sidekick Pat Buttram the program showcased many of Gene's classic motion pictures and featured personal anecdotes about how the films were made --- Information on costars and significant happenings in Gene's personal life and career. --- don't miss any of the Singing Cowboy's features loaded with action and songs that will leave you wanting more of Gene Autry's B-Western Adventures --- The sale of this DVD will further the educational and cultural mission of the renowned "Autry National Center in Los Angeles".
Under George Archainbaud (Director), Armand Schaefer (Producer), Gerald Geraghty (Screenwriter), William Bradford (Cinematographer), James Sweene (Editor) - - - - - our story line and plot, from the opening scene Gene lazily riding Champ as he sings he title tune, there is a feeling of revival of old fashioned Republic Autry Westerns --- the elements are all there, Gene as a ranch foreman sent to Canada by his employer Cyrus Higbee (Don Beddoe) to discourage the marriage of his daughter Sandra (Gal Davis) to Todd Markley (Ross Ford) --- Higbee suspects that he is a fortune hunter --- Sandra has started a dude ranch and wild game preserve --- Gene and his pal Pat Buttram find themselves in the middle of trouble between the lodge and French-Canadian loggers bossed by Ed Mitchell (Mauritz Hugo) --- also some mysterious murder attempts and the killing of a Mountie with guilt seemingly pointing to Sandra's fiance' --- some beautiful scenery mixed with a good brawl played somewhat broadly for comic effect --- Gene's radio show "Melody Ranch" was always listed among the top 15 shows on the air, his "Gene Autry Show's TV series was also a ratings winner --- Gene commented once, "I have always tried to make the most of what I had, I never depend on luck, but I sure take advantage of it when it comes along, what success I've had has come mostly from hard work and concentration, and most of all, the basis for along life in show business is - don't let the public forget you" --- Gene was listed as one of the Top 10 Western Movie Stars for 15 years, he is one of the very few recording artists to have 10 songs sell over a million records, now that saying something - - - - some wonderful tunes, BLUE CANADIAN ROCKIES (Studio Singers, Gene Autry), YODEL, YODEL, YODEL (Carolina Cotton), MAMA DON'T LIKE MUSIC (Gene Autry and Cass County Boys), OLD CHISHOLM TRAIL (Cass County Boys), LOVIN' DUCKY DADDY (Carolina Cotton and Cass County Boys), BIG ROCK CANDY MOUNTAIN Cass County Boys), ANYTIME (Gene Autry and Cass County Boys), FROGGY WENT A-COURTIN' (Cass County Boys), BLUE CANADIAN ROCKIES (Gene Autry) - - - - some Autry fun facts, Gene's television production schedule called for him to shoot two episodes of his half-hour television series at the same time.
the cast includes
Gene Autry ... Gene Autry
Champion ... Autry's Horse (as Champion, World's Wonder Horse)
Pat Buttram ... 'Rawhide' Buttram
Gail Davis ... Sandra Higbee
Carolina Cotton ... Carolina Cotton
Ross Ford ... Todd Markley
Tom London ... Pop Phillips
Don Beddoe ... Cyrus Higbee
David Garcia ... Met-Lik, Indian boy
Maxine Gates ... Chubby Blonde
Chick Hannon ... Rusty
Mauritz Hugo ... Ed Mitchell
John Merton ... Lumberman Frenchy
Gene Roth ... Lumberman Swede
Billy Wilkerson ... Indian Joe
BIOS:
1. Gene Autry
Date of Birth: 29 September 1907 - Near Tioga, Texas
Date of Death: 2 October 1998 - Studio City, Los Angeles, California
Special footnote, Orvon Gene Autry was an American performer who gained fame as The Singing Cowboy on the radio, in movies and on television --- Discovered by film producer Nat Levine in 1934, he and Burnette made their film debut for Mascot Pictures Corp. "In Old Santa Fe" as part of a singing cowboy quartet; he was then given the starring role by Levine in 1935 in the 12-part serial "The Phantom Empire" --- Shortly thereafter, Mascot was absorbed by the formation of Republic Pictures Corp. and Autry went along to make a further 44 films up to 1940, all B westerns in which he played under his own name, rode his horse Champion, had Burnette as his regular sidekick and had many opportunities to sing in each film --- Autry became the top Western star at the box-office by 1937, reaching his national peak of popularity from 1940 to 1942. His Gene Autry Flying "A" Ranch Rodeo show debuted in 1940 --- Gene Autry is the only celebrity to have five stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, one in each of the five categories maintained by the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce --- Radio, Films, Recordings, Television and Live Theater.
SPECIAL FEATURES:
1. Reminiscing with Gene Autry and Pat Buttram at the "Melody Ranch Theater"
2. "Don't Touch That Dial", Gene Autry is on the air - excerpts from the Original "Melody Ranch Radio Show"
3. Production and Publicity Stills
4. Horseplay
5. Poster and lobby Card Art
6. Trivia and Movie Facts
7. Original Press Kit Material
Check out a new book from Empire Publishing - "GENE AUTRY WESTERNS" (Hardcover) - by author Boyd Magers, like no other book on Gene Autry --- all of Gene's Mascot, Republic and Columbia westerns included, as well as his half-hour TV Episodes --- each segment contains the release date on each film ... major production credits ... complete cast (including character played) ... all songs included, songwriter and who performed them in the film ... running time of each film ... dates of the filming ... bios on the cast and major players (Smiley, Pat Buttram, Cass County Boys, Herbert J. Yates, directors, leading ladies, songwriters and various heavies, etc.) ... locations that were used ... budgets and negative cost ... stunt people involved ... analysis and synopsis on each film ... notes and comments (including film and cast background info, salaries paid, working titles, etc) ... comments from Gene and many other cast members on each film ... theater exhibitors comments at the time of the films release ...this tribute was written from the heart and it shows.
Hats off and thanks to Les Adams (collector/guideslines for character identification), Chuck Anderson (Webmaster: The Old Corral/B-Westerns.Com), Boyd Magers (Western Clippings), Bobby J. Copeland (author of "Trail Talk"), Rhonda Lemons (Empire Publishing Inc) and Bob Nareau (author of "The Real Bob Steele") as they have rekindled my interest once again for B-Westerns and Serials --- looking forward to more high quality releases from the vintage serial era of the '20s, '30s & '40s and B-Westerns ... order your copy now from Amazon where there are plenty of copies available on DVD --- stay tuned once again for top notch action mixed with musical songs and adventure --- if you enjoyed this title, why not check out Image Entertainment where they are experts in releasing B-Westerns --- all my heroes have been cowboys!
Total Time: 58 min on DVD ~ Image Entertainment ~ (4/19/2005)
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