Product Details

• Actors: Gene Autry, Smiley Burnette, Lucile Browne, George 'Gabby' Hayes, Norma Taylor
• Format: Black & White, NTSC
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: Republic Pictures (I)
• VHS Release Date: March 2, 1999
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B00000G3BU
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #664,750 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars GENE'S FIRST AND ONE OF HIS BEST!!!, March 9, 2008

By 

Richard J. Oravitz - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Gene Autry Collection: Tumbling Tumbleweeds (DVD)

After guest starring in Ken Maynard's feature IN OLD SANTA FE (1934) and serial MYSTERY MOUNTAIN (1934) Gene was given the chance to star in Mascot's THE PHANTOM EMPIRE (1935) when the studio cut ties with the troublesome Maynard. And even though he sang a few songs as an entertainer in IN OLD SANTA FE and the setting for that film was a contemporary Dude Ranch, it's THE PHANTOM EMPIRE that really set up the AUTRY-STYLE as Gene hosts a radio show broadcast live from his own radio/guest/dude ranch mixing his action feats with popular Western tunes. Truly a milestone in B-Western history!
TUMBLING TUMBLEWEEDS (1935) for the newly formed REPUBLIC PICTURES is Gene's first starring feature, and what a doozie it is, ranking as one of Gene's all time best, and rightfully so.
Lazy and seemingly idle Gene just likes to sit around and sing while his father has to battle intruding nesters. But Gene is really on the ball and sticks up for the nesters only to quarrel with his father and be banished from the homestead. Gene joins a medicine show and returns five years later only to learn that his best friend has been blamed for the recent murder of his father...Gene and Smiley Burnette sort things out with the help of a pre-Gabby George Hayes.
This is a GREAT REPUBLIC WESTERN skillfully directed by Joe Kane. The camera set-ups are outstanding, the photography crisp and inventive. It seems so modern for the 1930's. Few films today are so creatively made. Truly a joy to watch!
And the IMAGE dvd from the GENE AUTRY COLLECTION is as noted on the cover: FULLY RESTORED! It looks as though it had been released yesterday! I really felt as though I were present in the theater in 1935 watching this gem.
...Just a side note here in that I want to mention B-WESTERN vetern Jack Rockwell's outstanding performance as McWade. Rockwell played in countless B-WESTERNS during his long career, often as a henchmen but also on the side of the law as well, and this is one of his better outings, if only a personal favorite of mine...
All said, a fantastic start for Gene Autry on to a career that would make him perhaps the greatest Western film star of all time.
SUPER HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!!!!!

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A great start for the Singing Cowboy!, September 12, 2007

By 

Wayne Engle "Wayne Engle" (Madison, IN United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Gene Autry Collection: Tumbling Tumbleweeds (DVD)

This was Gene Autry's first feature-length starring movie, and his acting is just a little stilted in a few places. But overall, he takes charge of this classic tale of ranchers vs. nesters just like the pro he quickly became. His scenes with the two lovely young women are especially relaxed and natural.
Autry looks as young and fresh as a daisy in "Tumbling Tumbleweeds," although he's still got a little baby fat on him that had pretty much disappeared by his movies made in early 1937. It's funny how if you watch his early movies in chronological order, you can see him gradually slim down at the same time his wardrobe sharpens up and his horsemanship on Champ goes from passably adequate to effortlessly expert.
Gene's singing wasn't quite yet what it became later, but nevertheless there's nothing wrong with his pipes as he sings three western classics during the movie: the title song; "Riding Down the Canyon;" and the song for which he won the first-ever gold record: "That Silver-Haired Daddy of Mine."
As the other reviewer mentioned, George Hayes, not yet Gabby, shows his versatility in this flick as the pompous, phony-dignified medicine show "doctor." Smiley Burnette gives samples of the humor and tunes he'll offer in future Autry movies.
This is an expert blend -- just the right proportions of drama, comedy, music and action. The first singing cowboy movie was a great start to a great genre. It's well worth watching.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars one of the best, July 23, 2009

By 

living in the past / tasch - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Gene Autry Collection: Tumbling Tumbleweeds (DVD)

one of the best from image entertainments finely restored "gene autry collection". great cast of supporting characters and all classic songs. although five stars should be reserved for classic westerns such as "shane", this deserves a five star rating because of who gene autry was and what he represented. bonus features also a definite plus.