Search - The Gene Autry Collection: Gold Mine in the Sky on DVD

"Gene Autry B-Western Series ... Gold Mine in the Sky (1938)

J. Lovins | Missouri-USA | 07/22/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Republic Pictures present "GOLD MINE IN THE SKY" (July 4, 1938) (60 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 ... 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

Under Joseph Kane (Director), Charles E. Ford (Producer), Betty Burbridge (Screenwriter), Jack Natteford (Screenwriter), William Nobles (Cinematographer), Gene Autry (Songwriter), Alberto Colombo (Composer (Music Score), Charles Kenny (Songwriter), Nick Kenny (Songwriter), Johnny Marvin (Songwriter), Fred Rose (Songwriter), Les Orlebeck (Editor) - - - - our story and plotline, spoiled girl from Chicago goes west to claim a ranch when her father is killed --- The foreman, Gene, by a will is given authority over her in selling the property or marrying someone --- Her gangster boyfriend from Chicago and his hoodlum friends arrive to try to take over --- Gene sees through it all and uses several different machinations including a faked kidnapping that turns real to keep her from making a mistake --- The ending is hilarious when Jane (Helen Ainsworth) chases Frog (Smiley Burnette) to ride unwillingly away into the sunset - - - - some wonderful tunes "HUMMIN' WHEN WE'RE COMING ROUND THE BEND" (Gene Autry, Smiley Burnette, and Extras), "THERE'S A GOLD-MINE IN THE SKY" (Gene Autry and Extras), "THAT'S HOW DONKEYS WERE BORN" (Smiley Burnette, Frankie Marvin, and J.L. Frank's "Golden West Cowboys"), "DUDE RANCH COWHANDS (Gene Autry, Smiley Burnette, Stafford Sisters, and J.L. Frank's "Golden West Cowboys"), "I'D LOVE TO CALL YOU MY SWEETHEART" (Gene Autry), "HIKE YAA" (Gene Autry, Smiley Burnette, and Extras), "I'M A TUMBLEWEED TENOR" (Smiley Burnette, Frankie Marvin, and J.L. Frank's "Golden West Cowboys"), "AS LONG AS I HAVE MY HORSE" (Gene Autry) --- Gene Autry's recording career spans multiple decades and a variety of musical genres.

the cast includes
Gene Autry ... Gene Autry
Smiley Burnette ... Frog Millhouse
Carol Hughes ... Cody Langham
J.L. Franks' Golden West Cowboys ... Musicians and Cowhands
Craig Reynolds ... Larry Cummings
Helen Ainsworth ... Jane Crocker
LeRoy Mason ... Red Kuzak
Frankie Marvin ... Cowhand Joe
Robert Homans ... 'Lucky' Langham
Eddie Cherkose ... Sykes
Ben Corbett ... Spud Grogan
Milburn Morante ... Mugsy Malone
Jim Corey ... Henchman Chet
George Guhl ... Constable Cy Wheeler
The Stafford Sisters ... The Levinsky Trio (as Stafford Sisters)
Champion ... Champion - Gene's Horse (uncredited)
Tommy Coats ... Cowhand (uncredited)
Art Dillard ... Cowhand
Earl Dwire ... Station Agent
Charles King ... House Painter
Frank King ... Accordion Player of J.L. Frank's 'Golden West Cowboys'
Pee Wee King ... Bandleader of J.L. Frank's 'Golden West Cowboys'
Jack Kirk ... Ranch Cook
George Montgomery ... Cowhand
George Plues ... Henchman
Al Taylor ... Henchman
Fred 'Snowflake' Toones ... Ranch Cook

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
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 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: 60 min on DVD ~ Image Video #3469 ~ (2/06/2007)"