Search - Gene Autry: Last of the Pony Riders on DVD

"Gene Autry B-Western Series ... Last of the Pony Riders (19

J. Lovins | Missouri-USA | 12/28/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Columbia Pictures present "LAST OF THE PONY RIDERS" (3 November 1953) (59 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 George Archainbaud (Director), Gene Autry (Producer), Armand Schaefer (Producer), Ruth Woodman (Screen Story / Screenwriter), William Bradford (Cinematographer), Ross Di Maggio (Musical Direction/Supervision), Paul Mertz (Musical Direction/Supervision), James Sweeney (Editor Ross Bellah (Production Designer - - - - - our story line and plot, better than average oater after 18 years and 89 starring features this film ended an era for Gene Autry --- The pony riders under fire, the Pony Express route becomes a dead man's trail til Gene rides into the badlands and crushes the badmen out to cripple the Pony Express --- This final film from America's Favorite Singing Cowboy has all the elements that made Gene Autry the Hollywood legend --- Top notch action, pacing and fine supporting cast --- Gene's longtime sidekick Smiley Burnette returns back in the saddle again in the final films of the series --- This film is no exception in mixing history, humor and action in taking his final curtain call as for Gene, Smiley and the World's Wonder Horse ride off into the sunset --- Gene's very best films are from '35 to '39 --- His early Columbia films are the best of that period with good budgets and fine balance between music and action --- However Republic Pictures gave Autry a magical charm and myth - - - - - - some wonderful tunes, SING ME A SONG OF THE SADDLE (Gene Autry) -- SUGAR BABE (Gene Autry and Smiley Burnette) - - - - - - some Autry fun facts, Gene always preferred his sponsor's product, Wrigley's Doublemint Gum, to smoking -- According to a 1948 Life magazine article, "if [Gene's records] were all shipped to one place, [they] would make up a freight train solid with Western songs and be more than a mile long.".

the cast includes
Gene Autry ... Gene Autry
Champion ... Gene's "World's Wonder Horse" Champion
Smiley Burnette ... Smiley Burnette
Kathleen Case ... Katie McEwen
Dickie Jones ... Johnny Blair (as Dick Jones)
John Downey ... Tom McEwen
Howard Wright ... Clyde Vesey
Arthur Space ... Jess Hogan
Gregg Barton ... Dutch Murdoch
Art Dillard ... Henchman
Robert 'Buzz' Henry ... Yank
Harry Hines ... Bindlestiff
Harry Mackin ... Cliff Patrick
Kermit Maynard ... Henchman

BIOS:
1. Gene Autry
Date of Birth: 29 September 1907 - Near Tioga, Texas
Date of Death: 2 October 1998 - Studio City, Los Angeles, California

2. Smiley Burnette (aka: Lester Alvin Burnette)
Date of Birth: 18 March 1911 - Summum, Illinois
Date of Death: 16 February 1967 - Encino, 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
8. Centennial Bonus - Cliffhanger Serial "Phantom Empire": Chapter 6 - "Disaster from the Skies"

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: 59 min on DVD ~ Image Entertainment ~ (12/04/2007)"