Search - Gene Autry Collection, The Latin Films, Vol. 6 on DVD

"Gene Autry B-Western Series ... The Collection Vol. 6 ... I

J. Lovins | Missouri-USA | 09/22/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Image Entertainment presents "GENE AUTRY COLLECTION: THE LATIN FILMS VOL.6" (Released: 1939-41) (275 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".

Republic Pictures present "SOUTH OF THE BORDER" (December 15, 1939) (71 mins/B&W) --- Under George Sherman (Director), our storyline has Federal Agent Gene Autry and his sidekick Frog (Smiley Burnette) are sent to Mexico to prevent foreign powers from gaining control of Mexican oil refineries and fomenting revolution among the Mexican people --- will Gene falls in love with Senorita Dolores, but finds he must leave for the island of Palermo, where her uncle, Don Diego, is being prevented from transporting his cattle to market by the foreign agents, who have co-opted Dolores' brother Andreo into joining them --- While trying to load cattle by sea into a waiting cargo ship Gene and his men are attacked by Andreo and his revolutionaries, with fatal results --- musical feature was released approximately two years before World War II, and marked the beginning of a successful career for our hero Gene Autry - - - - some wonderful tunes "COME TO THE FIESTA" (Gene Autry, Smiley Burnette, and Extras), "SOUTH OF THE BORDER" (Gene Autry), "MOON OF MANANA" (Gene Autry), "GIRL OF MY DREAMS" (Gene Autry), "GOODBYE, LITTLE DARLIN', GOODBYE" (Gene Autry and Mary Lee), "MERRY-GO-ROUNDUP" (Mary Lee), "WHEN THE CACTUS BLOOMS AGAIN" (Gene Autry and The Checkerboard Band), "THE HORSE OP'RY" (June Storey and Gene Autry), "FAT CABALLERO" (Smiley Burnette), "SOUTH OF THE BORDER", (Gene Autry and Cast) - - - - some Autry fun facts, The California State Museum of Science and Industry in Los Angeles honored Gene during the summer of 1980 with a thirteen-week exhibit and film retrospective.

Republic Pictures present "DOWN MEXICO WAY" (15 October 1941) (78 mins/B&W) --- Under Joseph Santley (Director), Our story line and plot, has our favorite leading lady Faye McKenzie and she is excellent as Marie Elaina --- This oater included Smiley Burnette as Gene's usual side kick and Harold Huber as the duo's guide, what a comical combination --- watch for Duncan Renaldo who has a small role in this oater (later had a lead in The Cisco Kid, TV Series) --- will the con-men get away with this fraud, or can Gene come to the rescue and prove the guilt of these evil badmen producers ----- Gene's song "Maria Elena" led the Top 10 favorite tunes as U.S. Jukebox reported for 12 weeks in a row --- the Motion Picture Herald tradepaper in 1941 listed Gene the #1 among his "Western Winners" followed by Williams Boyd, Roy Rogers, Charles Starrett and Smiley Burnette --- some wonderful tunes, "DOWN MEXICO WAY" (Studio Singers), "BEER BARREL POLKA" (Gene Autry, Smiley Burnette and Cast), "SOUTH OF THE BORDER" (Gene Autry), "LA CUCARACHA" (Smiley Burnette), "LA CACHITA" (Fay McKenzie and The Herrera Sisters), "HARMONICA IMPROVISATION" (Smiley Burnette), "THE COWBOY AND THE LADY" (Gene Autry), "GUADALAJARA" (The Herrera Sisters), "DOWN MEXICO WAY" (Gene Autry), "A GAY RANCHERO" (Gene Autry and Extras), "MARIA ELENA" (Gene Autry), "DOWN MEXICO WAY" (Gene Autry, Fay McKenzie and The Herrera Sisters)

Republic Pictures present "MEXICALI ROSE" (March 27, 1939) (59 mins/B&W) --- Under George Sherman (Director), our storyline involves a fake oil company using Gene and Frog as radio entertainers promoting the sell of stock in the enterprise --- Gene and Frog devoted their talents thinking the money raised was going to help orphans in a mission run by Padre Dominic (William Farnum) and a pretty senorita, Anita Loredo (Luana Walters), the Mexicali Rose of the title --- Gene and Frog are confronted by Mexican bandits headed by an hombre named Valdez (Noah Beery) --- Valdez is after Gene's horse, but all is well when Valdez discovers that Gene is the singing cowboy he has come to idolize - - - - some wonderful tunes "MEXICALI ROSE" (Gene Autry), "ROBIN HOOD" (Gene Autry), "YOU'RE THE ONLY STAR IN MY BLUE HEAVEN" (Gene Autry), "ME BATTY" (Smiley Burnette) and "RANCHO GRANDE" (Gene Autry, Noah Beery, and Extras) - - - - some fun facts, Gene always preferred his sponsor's product, Wrigley's Doublemint Gum, to smoking.

Republic Pictures present "GAUCHO SERENADE" (May 10, 1940) (68 mins/B&W) --- Under Frank McDonald (Director), our storyline has Gene and Smiley coming across a couple of Stowaways, two sisters running away from a wedding ceremony and a boy being chased by criminals --- boy running from mobsters who try to kidnap him to blackmail his father into not testifying against their boss --- Mary Lee and Joyce Storey play the engaging young heiress and younger sister on the lam from marriage and with Gene's help may get out of this with a few songs to spare- - - - some wonderful tunes "HEADIN' FOR THE WIDE OPEN SPACES" (Gene Autry and Smiley Burnette), "GIVE OUT WITH A SONG" (Mary Lee), "A SONG AT SUNSET" (Gene Autry and Mary Lee) "GAUCHO SERENADE Gene Autry and Cast" (WOOING OF KITTY MC FUTY" (Smiley Burnette) "THE SINGING HILLS Gene Autry), "KEEP ROLLIN' LAZY LONGHORNS" (Gene Autry, Mary Lee, Smiley Burnette, and Cast), "GAUCHO SERENADE" (Gene Autry and Cast).

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: 275 min on DVD ~ Image Entertainment ~ (9/26/2006)"

Good Western Fun

Shelby L. Speight | Gates, N USA | 07/19/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This collection includes 4 DVDs: South of the Border, Down Mexico Way, Mexicali Rose, and Gaucho Serenade. The "Product Description" gives a good description of each DVD's plot. Gene and sidekick: track spies(WWII), chase con-men, romance pretty girls, evade gangsters, keep up the action, humor and music.
(Catch "Duncan Renaldo"--TVs'Cisco Kid early in his career).
Recommended for good western fun."