Customer Reviews

Sioux City Sue [VHS]

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

A highly enjoyable Autry western, boosted by a spirited supporting cast, a non-formula script, and a sprinkling of very listenable songs including the delightful title number. Autry was always an unlikely cowboy hero, short, stout, and wooden, yet his way with a song was always pleasant and natural, while his horsemanship and fight scenes were as convincing as any. His secret of success may well have been his ordinariness. Unlike a towering John Wayne, Crash Corrigan, or innumerable other icons of the Saturday matinee, Autry was always within reach of the audience, a reassuring nearness for those of us who knew we would never grow into the boots of a Wayne or Corrigan. Anyway, I suppose the audience for this kind of innocent bucholic fun dwindles each year as we matinee kids age and shuffle off, leaving such fare to film historians and curiosity seekers. Historians should find this film particularly revealing for its behind-the-scenes look at the making of musical westerns, and also for a fluttery Sterling Holloway, a most unlikely comic relief for the macho western, which, I suppose, amounted to someone's comment on the film industry since he appears as a production assisstant. The leading lady also goes against type. A hard-driving studio scout, who overshadows the laid-back Autry, she defies patriarchal expectations by remaining with the studio at film's end. All in all, this programmer rises above the low expectations of a cowboy movie and remains well worth a look on several levels.

THIS PICTURE JUST GOES TO PROVE THAT GENE AUTRY WAS STILL COWBOY #1 EVEN AFTER HIS RETURN FROM THE WAR. WAS THEN AND STILL IS NOW!

This is probably the best of the the Post-WW2 Autry movies from a music standpoint. Many of the songs were hits for him and are delivered by a more mature Autry. The Cass County Boys do an excellent job of supporting him musically. The quality of this uncut video is excellent and the sound is above average for a reissue. A 'must have' for those who collect singing cowboy music and films.

Gene was my hero,and I had a crush on Lynn;Therefore a terrific oater! If you grew up watching Gene on Saturdays...this cd will stimulate your memory sensors.

Sioux City Sue may be my pick for most favorite movie of all the Gene Autry movies I have. The songs are just great, especially the title song, and the Cass County Boys really add to the music. The movie was filmed at Chatsworth Reservoir and Los Angeles, California. It was Gene's first movie after his release from the air force service in World War II.

This story is not so much a western, though there is the ranch and the cattle, and though shots are fired it is not just another 'shoot em up'. No sidekick either, as Smiley Burnette had moved over to Columbia during Gene's army service and Smiley's contract had expired at Republic Pictures. The film also offers up some rare glimpses of the back areas of the once Republic Studios. The studio is now gone and Pat and Gene discuss some of this. This disc, as with all the ones I have, show the Melody Ranch takes shot in the 1980s. These shots bracketed the movie: beginning, middle, and end. I saw them on Nashville TV at the time and it is nice to have them included on these DVDs. Pat and Gene not only reminisce but also talk about contents and individuals of the the movies.

All-in-all a very good, solid movie. One of Gene Autry's better films, I feel.

Republic Pictures present "SIOUX CITY SUE" (21 November 1946) (68 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 Frank McDonald (Director), Armand Schaefer (Producer), Olive Cooper (Screenwriter), Reggie Lanning (Cinematographer), R. Dale Butts (Composer (Music Score), Morton Scott (Musical Direction/Supervision), Fred Allen (Editor), Gano Chittenden (Art Director), Adele Palmer (Costume Designer), Howard Lydecker (Special Effects), Theodore Lydecker (Special Effects) - - - - - - Gene Autry's screen return following his WW II Army Air Corps service, "Sioux City Sue" --- with an unusual story line that has talent scout Sue Warner (Lynne Roberts) taking Gene to Hollywood to play the voice of a singing donkey in a musical --- embarrassed and ridiculed when he learns of the deception, he returns home to find outlaws plan to blow up the dam and drown his cattle --- Sue has fallen in love with Gene and follows him back to his ranch --- in the final scenes everyone back in Hollywood is behind Gene and America's Favorite Singing Cowboy triumphs once again, as the badmen are headed for the local calaboose --- The "Ding Dong Donkey" cartoon work was done by Walter Lantz studio. creators of Woody Woodpecker and other cartoon characters --- Sterling Holloway was the comic relief in this post-war western, made five appearances with Gene in his films ----- some wonderful tunes, SIOUX CITY SUE (Studio Singers), OKLAHOMA HILLS (Gene Autry), GREAT GRAND DAD (Cass County Boys and Extras), SOMEDAY YOU'LL WANT ME TO WANT YOU (Ken Lundy and Gene Autry), RED RIVER VALLEY (Ralph Sanford), SOMEDAY YOU'LL WANT ME TO WANT YOU (Ken Lundy and Gene Autry), SOMEDAY YOU'LL WANT ME TO WANT YOU (Gene Autry), SIOUX CITY SUE (Gene Autry and Cass County Boys), OLD CHISHOLM TRAIL (Gene Autry), RIDIN' DOUBLE (Gene Autry), YOURS (Gene Autry and Cass County Boys), SIOUX CITY SUE (Gene Autry and Cass County Boys) - - - - - - some Autry fun facts, In 1950, The official publication of the original Gene Autry Fan Club was "Autry's Aces."

the cast includes
Gene Autry ... Gene Autry
Champion ... Champion, Gene's Horse (as Champion - Wonder Horse of the West)
Lynne Roberts ... Sue Warner
Sterling Holloway ... Nelson 'Nellie' Bly
Richard Lane ... Jefferson Lang, Paragon Pictures
Ralph Sanford ... Big Gulliver aka Dogface
Ken Lundy ... Jody
Helen Wallace ... Miss Price, Lang's Secretary
Pierre Watkin ... G.W. Rhodes, Paragon's Owner
The Cass County Boys ... Musicians (as Cass County Boys)
Tristram Coffin ... Rhodes' Assistant
Kenne Duncan ... Steve Crawley, Gulliver Henchman
Sam Flint ... Doctor
LeRoy Mason ... Jim Dudley, Movie Director

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: 68 min on DVD ~ Image Entertainment ~ (7/29/2003)

Back from the war, and still under contract to Republic Pictures, Gene Autry made a few more films for that studio before switching to a more lucrative relationship with Columbia. Of the five Republic movies Gene made after the war, "Sioux City Sue" was the first, and some feel the best. While not on a par with his classic Republic films of the late thirties, "Sioux City Sue" still provides enjoyable entertainment for fans of filmdom's greatest singing cowboy. There are many good western songs featured in this movie sung by Gene and the Cass County Boys ( when Gene moved to Columbia, he was smart enough to take the "boys" with him ), including "Someday You'll Want Me to Want You" and the catchy title song.

The plot is very slight--Gene is manipulated by an unscrupulous movie studio and has to deal with a bitter, former cowhand from his ranch--but Gene's personality and relaxed vocal stylings overshadow any shortcomings. Lynne Roberts is an attractive leading lady. On the other hand, Sterling Holloway is downright annoying--he is not really a sidekick in this movie, but his silly over-acting and mannerisms get far too much screen-time. Great character actors like Tris Coffin and Kenne Duncan are wasted in minor roles.

Bottom line--this film is still good fun for fans of "America's Favourite Cowboy", and as usual Image gives us as pristine a picture as one could expect.