Search - GENE AUTRY: BIG SOMBRERO on DVD

Long awaited

DVD Collector | BINGHAM, NOTTINGHAM United Kingdom | 09/18/2007

(3 out of 5 stars)

"As a lifelong fan of Gene Autry I was very pleased to see that the only two films he ever made in Colour was to become available on DVD. Having missed seeing them at the cinema when I was a teenager, I was even more pleased to be able to buy this DVD along with the only other colour film -"The Big Sombrero"

Whilst I found the production values and Script of 'The Strawberry Roan' to be much better than most other Gene Autry films, I was quite disappointed with the tranfer to video. Unfortunately I have found that the transfer has not come out well. The films suffers badly from poor quality colour (probably to to the actual Cinecolour process) and the sound has not been remastered too well.

On my copy at least the film brightness undulates sometimes and also has slight double vision in parts - quite disappointing. Having said this, I did like the story and the songs and it was nice to see Gene Autry in colour. Not a typical Gene Autry film unfortunately in some ways as he has no comic sidekick with him, nor are there any real baddies. A much better quality transfer of his only other colour is the "The Big Sombrero", this does however to me lack a decent script and has too much in the way of modern vehicles in it."

"Gene Autry B-Western Series ... The Big Sombrero (1949) ...

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

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Columbia Pictures present "THE BIG SOMBRERO" (19 April 1949) (78 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), William Bradford (Cinematographer), Mischa Bakaleinikoff (Musical Direction/Supervision), Henry Batista (Editor), Harold H. MacArthur (Art Director), George Montgomery (Set Designer) - - - - - our story line and plot, filmed shortly after Gene's only oater Cinecolor Columbia release "The Strawberry Roan" --- hired as foreman of the Big Sombrero ranch by Jim Garland (Stephen Dunne), Gene is handling the business affair of the owner Estrellita Estrada ( Gene is hired to be foreman of the Big Sombrero ranch by Jim Garland, who is handling all the business affairs of the owner, Estrellita Estrada (Elena Verdugo) --- she is more interested in traveling to America than taking care of her affairs --- Garland has a plan to run all the Mexican rancheros off the ranch and Gene discovers what has been going on --- Gene's sense of fair play is Garland's downfall --- Gene finds himself in the middle of cattle stampedes and an avalanche started by Garland's men --- Gene Autry was a fine rider, but the actor's beautiful horse Champion would have made any rider look --- Gene had made films for Republic before he went off to war, but when he returned he found he'd been replace by Roy Rogers, so he switched over to Columbia Pictures --- many of his co-workers stated that Autry was a big name but wasn't big-headed and easy to work with --- Gene had a tremendous following in the '30s. '40s and '50s, partly because of his personality and his fine singing voice and the great songs he sang ----- some wonderful tunes, YOU BELONG TO MY HEART (Gene Autry and Studio Singers), I'M THANKFUL FOR SMALL FAVORS (Gene Autry), RANCHO PILLOW (Gene Autry and Extras), TRAIL TO MEXICO (Gene Autry), CLEMENTINE (Gene Autry), LA GOLONDRINA (Gene Autry), MY ADOBE HACIENDA (Gene Autry and Extras), GOODBYE TO OLD MEXICO Gene Autry) - - - - - some Autry fun facts, The official publication of the original Gene Autry Fan Club was "Autry's Aces."

the cast includes
Gene Autry ... Gene Autry
Elena Verdugo ... Estrellita Estrada
Stephen Dunne ... Jimmy Garland
George J. Lewis ... Juan Vazcaro
Vera Marshe ... Angie Burke
William Edmunds ... Luis Alvarado
Martin Garralaga ... Felipe Gonzales
Gene Roth ... Ben McBride
Neyle Morrow ... Tico
Champion ... Champion, Gene's horse
Joe Kirk
Pierce Lyden ... Henchman Farmer
Artie Ortego ...

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: 78 min on DVD ~ Image Entertainment ~ (9/04/2007)"

Grat Movie!

Daniel S. Johnson | Wanamingo MN USA | 12/18/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"A Gene Autry movie in color with Elena Verdugo! What more could you ask for?"