Customer Reviews

The Old Corral [VHS]

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This is one of my favorites to watch over and over. Gene plays a local sheriff who arrests the Okeff brothers for robbing a bus. Many people I know point to this movie as Gene giving Roy Rogers his start. Roy is listed as Leonard Sly, his real name. He appears with Bob Nolan, the song writer for the Sons of The Pioneers, and the rest of the group as the O'keff brothers. The real plot involves Eastern crooks that are looking for a girl who witnessed a shooting. It is a must have for a Roy Rogers or Gene Autry collector.

Watching this movie was great, it was total humour. I have added this to my collection of movies of the past. I can relax on Saturday mornings and watch this movie over and over. I have even gone as far as to join up with the original site for these movies, but I will still order more from Amazon as well. I would recommend this movie as a great classic.

The Old Corral, 1937 film

The film begins in a nightclub during a police raid. People scurry to get away. In the office one man boasts of causing the raid; he is shot dead. The shooter realizes a woman was there! She flees in a taxi, the police (and others) seek Eleanor Spencer everywhere. We see an old bu with the engine in front. Gene sings while driving a wagon. The bus horn scares the horses - a runaway. Sheriff Gene takes his prisoner on the bus. A tree across the road stops the bus, the passengers are robbed! [Did you recognize one of the bandits?] Sims (the gambler) sends a man to follow the girl in a gray suit and brown hat. "You betcha." Smiley Burnette shows his skill as a musician, and comedian. Gene takes extra horses for his pursuit of the highway robbers. The flat tire is changed without a jack. Can "Jane Edwards" trust Sims? Should she? "The Blue Moon" doesn't give its customers a fair deal. Can Sims be trusted?

"Jane Edwards" sings while Gene plays a guitar. Then Gene sings and yodels. Gene handles an unhappy customer. A telegram tells Scarlatti where the Spencer girl is hiding. There is a parade in Turquoise City before the celebration. Festivities begin with a Spanish dance. A telegram tells Gene to hold the Spencer woman for extradition to Cook county. Gene rounds up Buck and Tom to join their brothers. There is another song for entertainment. A new touring car arrives in town with five men from the big city. Scarlatti tells Sims how things work. Sheriff Gene sings another song. The five O'Keefe brothers sing, then follow Sheriff Gene to the Old Corral. Smiley drives away with Eleanor [stunt doubles?] while pursued by the Scarlatti gang. Smiley shoots the driver of the car, the others scatter on foot to attack from all four sides. Eleanor knows how to shoot a rifle. Gene catches Scarlatti, they roll under the car to escape the stampeding cattle. Gene locks up Sims, Garland, and Scarlatti. So there is another song for a happy ending. Gene kisses Eleanor.

This story is a change from the usual in its use of big-city criminals in a small town. This movie has so many interesting facets to make it better than average. You may also question the probability of parts of this story, but its only a movie designed to be dramatic. The popularity of Gene Autry may be due to his character on the screen.
The "Eleanor Spencer" character is named Hope Manning in the credits.

An engaging Gene Autry musical-western that clocks in at 54 minutes. Directed with breezy flair by Joseph Kane, "The Old Corral" (1936) features plenty of action, Smiley Burnette's comic relief, plus an early appearance by Roy Rogers and the Sons of the Pioneers (who sing "Down Along the Sleepy Rio Grande" and "Silent Trails"). It's also great to see Lon Chaney Jr. play a slimy henchman three years before his screen breakthrough in "Of Mice and Men." Republic's "B movie" craftsmanship provides the ideal showcase for America's Favorite Singing Cowboy.

Roy (billed as Leonard Slye) and the Sons of the Pioneers (all appearing as the singing O'Keefe brothers) rob a bus??? in which sheriff Gene is transporting wife beater (in film only) Frankie Marvin. Also aboard is a girl (Hope Manning) fleeing Chicago mobsters after witnessing a mob murder. The destination is Turquoise City. Lon Chaney Jr. is a gangster, Smiley Burnette a deputy, Oscar and Elmer are gas station attendent/ rubes (think Goober & Gomer) and there are plenty of songs, fights, shootings, fast cars and even faster horses in this wild B-Western that defies reality and logic in this amazingly wonderful 1930's Depression-era escapist Extravaganza!!!
Cowboys vs gangsters!!! Tommyguns vs six-shooters!!!
Kind of like Al Capone comes to Dodge City.
The Sons of the Pioneers sing SILENT TRAILS in jail. Gene pardons the O'Keefe boys if they join the posse. Gene gets the girl.
GREAT STUFF all 'round!!!
Buy this Alpha dvd, the image is very clear/sharp for a public domain issue. I keep it alongside my Image Gene Autry dvd collection.
A great buy for the money and a great Gene Autry movie on so many counts!!!