Search - Gene Autry Collection - Back in the Saddle on DVD

Great Re-stored Movie

PATRICIA T. ALMDALE | AULANDER, NC USA | 01/26/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Back In The Saddle Again is one of the all time greats when it comes to an Autry film. As usual Autry portrays the role of moral and ethical proportions. The plot is about something we are all familiar with. Pollution of rivers and streams due to copper mining. It has great action and a good moral value is displayed. Along with the wonderful acting and singing of America's Favorite Cowboy, you also have the comedy of Smiley Burnette at His best. They even give you a glimpse of Madison Square Gardens at the beginning of the movie. This, in my opinion could be an actual footage of the personal performance and rodeo's that Autry did when he was the first one to ever play to a sell out crowd at Madison Square Gardens. It also shows what modern film technology can do for these old westerns. I have it from a good source that this film was restored using 7 versions collected from across the country and they did a great job. So if you want to give you children and family something to watch that has plenty of western excitement and a good dose of morals let them watch this movie and they will find that "The Good Guy in the White Hat always wins"!"

'..ottin', my ol' forty four...'

Professor Joseph L. McCauley | Austria+Texas | 02/15/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"We bought this, along with other English-language videos, so that our two young sons can keep up their English while attending German schools. After all (as I've observed), TV (not schools) is the reason that English is so widespread and better-spoken in Scandinavia than elsewhere in Europe. This video was played so often (consequently driving one of their older half-sisters nuts) that it should be worn out by now. Both boys soon could sing all the songs in it, in sequence. It was later succeeded in popularity by Melody Ranch. Some other recommendations: Popeye (cartoons and movie), Midway, Lonesome Dove, Bugs Bunny and Porky Pig, and, from the German side, Die Augsburger Puppinkist."

"Gene Autry B-Western Series ... Back In The Saddle (1941) .

J. Lovins | Missouri-USA | 08/14/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Republic Pictures present "BACK IN THE SADDLE" (14 March 1941) (72 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 Lew Landers (Director), Harry Grey (Producer), Jesse Lasky, Jr. (Screenwriter), Richard Murphy (Screenwriter), Ernest W. Miller (Cinematographer), Raoul Kraushaar (Composer (Music Score), Tony Martinelli (Editor) - - - - - - Our story line and plot, Gene Autry foils a dastardly mine owner who has been poisoning cattle to drive the local ranchers off their land --- An interesting opening has Gene and his faithful sidekick Smiley Burnette retrieving the son of a friend from the decadent big city --- watch for the perfectly set-up showdown between wholesome country and degenerate city played for maximum effect ----- some wonderful tunes, "BACK IN THE SADDLE AGAIN" (Gene Autry), "IN THE JAILHOUSE NOW" (Gene Autry), "NINETY-NINE BULLFROGS" (Smiley Burnette), "SWINGIN' SAM, THE COWBOY MAN" (Mary Lee), "WHEN THE RIVER MEETS THE RANGE" (Jacqueline Wells). "WHEN THE CACTUS IS IN BLOOM" (Gene Autry), "I'M AN OLD COWHAND" (Gene Autry and Mary Lee), "YOU ARE MY SUNSHINE" (Gene Autry) - - - - - - some Autry fun facts, Gene always preferred his sponsor's product, Wrigley's Doublemint Gum, to smoking.

the cast includes
Gene Autry ... Gene Autry
Smiley Burnette ... Frog Millhouse
Mary Lee ... Patsy
Edward Norris ... Tom Bennett
Julie Bishop ... Taffy (as Jacqueline Wells)
Addison Richards ... Duke Winston
Arthur Loft ... E.G. Blaine
Edmund Elton ... Judge Bent
Joe McGuinn ... Sheriff Simpson
Edmund Cobb ... Rancher Williams
Ben Corbett ... Barfly
Art Dillard ... Cowhand
Frank Ellis ... Rider chasing Duke
Tom Ewell ... Fight Spectator
Al Haskell ... Townsman
Reed Howes ... Cowhand Slim
Cactus Mack ... Barfly
Monte Montague ... Dealer
Jack O'Shea ... Miner
Fred 'Snowflake' Toones ... Train Porter

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.

2. Smiley Burnette (aka: Lester Alvin Burnette)
Date of Birth: 18 March 1911 - Summum, Illinois
Date of Death: 16 February 1967 - Encino, California

Second special footnote, Lester Alvin (Smiley) Burnette an American singer-songwriter who could play as many as 100 different musical instruments, was a successful comedy actor in Western films over three decades --- The popularity of Burnette's Frog Millhouse character, with his trademark floppy black hat, was such that when Autry left for World War II service he did sidekicks duties with Eddie Dew, Sunset Carson and Bob Livingston, plus nine other films with Roy Rogers. After leaving Republic Pictures in 1944, Burnette became the sidekick to Charles Starrett at Columbia Pictures in the long Durango Kid series. Starrett starred in the series from 1944 until 1952, and that pairing resulted in more than 50 films. After the Starrett series was over, Burnette joined Autry for his final six films, all released by Columbia Pictures in 1953.

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), Bob Nareau (author of "The Real Bob Steele") and Trevor Scott (Down Under DVD Com) as they have rekindled my interest once again for Film Noir, 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 deadly 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: 72 min on DVD ~ Image Video #3988 ~ (1/20/2004)"