Search - GENE AUTRY: STRAWBERRY ROAN on DVD

"Gene Autry B-Western Series ... Strawberry Roan (1948) ...

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

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Columbia Pictures present "STRAWBERRY ROAN" (1 August 1948) (79 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 Jon English (Director), Armand Schaefer (Producer), Dwight Cummins (Screenwriter), Julian Halevy (Screenwriter), Dorothy Yost (Screenwriter), Julian Zimet (Short Story Author), Fred Jackman, Jr. (Cinematographer), Mischa Bakaleinikoff (Musical Direction/Supervision), Paul Mertz (Composer (Music Score), Henry Batista (Editor), Harold H. MacArthur (Art Director), George Montgomery (Set Designer) - - - - - our story line and plot, as young Joe Bailey (Dickie Jones) is paralyzed is bucked by a wild horse, a strawberry roan he is paralyzed --- his father Walt Bailey (Jack Holt) becomes angry and wants to shoot the horse --- Gene Autry his foreman stops him and roan escapes --- Autry is fired, told to leave the ranch by Walt --- Gene finds and trains the horse and calls him Champ --- hoping by returning Champ to Joe, it will give him the will to live, have a normal life and overcome his disability --- This was Gene Autry's first picture in color, and (of course) featured him singing five songs of the West --- "The Strawberry Roan" ranks with the greatest of filmed horse stories, full of sentiment that tugs at the heartstrings --- without a doubt, one of Gene's most enduring westerns and one of his most popular, primarily due to the heart warming human interest qualities --- Gene's longtime friend and radio sidekick Pat Buttram makes his film debut with Gene in this picture ----- some wonderful tunes, THE STRAWBERRY ROAN (Gene Autry), THE STRAWBERRY ROAN (Gene Autry and Dick Jones), THE STRAWBERRY ROAN (Dick Jones), TEXAS SANDMAN (Gene Autry and Extras), SWEET GENEVIEVE (Instrumental), THE ANGEL SONG (Gene Autry), THE ANGEL SONG (Instrumental), WHEN THE WHITE ROSES BLOOM (Gene Autry), THE STRAWBERRY ROAN (Gene Autry and Extras) - - - - - - some Autry fun facts, Gene always preferred his sponsor's product, Wrigley's Doublemint Gum, to smoking.

the cast includes
Gene Autry ... Gene Autry
Champion ... Champ, the Strawberry Roan
Gloria Henry ... Connie Bailey
Jack Holt ... Walt Bailey
Dickie Jones ... Joe Bailey (as Dick Jones)
Pat Buttram ... Hank
Rufe Davis ... Chuck
John McGuire ... Bud Williams
Eddy Waller ... Steve
Redd Harper ... Andy
Sam Flint ... Dr. Nelson
Jack Ingram ... Pete Lucas
Ted Mapes ... Smitty
Eddie Parker ... Jake

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

Strawberry Roan - Gene Autry

Mrs. J. Long | Kansas | 06/25/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

""Strawberry Roan" is another one of my favorite Gene Aurty movies. I love that it is in color. Wish he had been able to do more color movies, but I love all his movies. He was a really good guy! I like all the extras on the DVDs also. I had never seen the Melody Ranch shows before. It is fun watching Gene and Pat and hearing their comments about the movies."