The streak continues. I tune in to Encore Westerns every Sunday at noon for a Gene Autry flick, and I still haven't run into a repeat. Sometimes they look familiar, but after a while, a lot of them do. This one started out resembling an earlier Autry picture called "Down Mexico Way" from 1941. That one had some crooked film producers trying to scam an investment for a phony movie deal from Gene's home town. In this one, the production is on the up and up, but Gene is being tagged to lend his singing voice to a cartoon mule. Look, I only report 'em as I see 'em.
Say, here's some advice for Sue Warner (Lynne Roberts), the Paragon Studio talent scout who's job it is to find and sign a cowboy crooner with a voice fairly dripping with sagebrush. The next time you get dragged by a runaway buckboard, let go of the rope!
Sterling Holloway portrays Sue's assistant in a comic relief role that replaces the need for an Autry sidekick. Ken Lundy might have been that character as the cowhand with a cactus voice; fortunately that gimmick wasn't carried too far. I always liked Holloway as a kid, but I don't know if I would have that same affection today if I hadn't seen him back in the day with the likes of Gene and Roy.
Fortunately, Sioux City Sue manages to get an actual role for Gene in one of Paragon's pictures that doesn't involve Ding-Dong Donkey. To do it, she had to sign on as Gene's camp cook, and even then, she was already past trying. The title song is repeated often throughout the story, along with "Someday You'll Want Me to Want You". I found the repetitive numbers to be somewhat distracting, but overall, the picture is another treat for Gene Autry fans.
Say, here's some advice for Sue Warner (Lynne Roberts), the Paragon Studio talent scout who's job it is to find and sign a cowboy crooner with a voice fairly dripping with sagebrush. The next time you get dragged by a runaway buckboard, let go of the rope!
Sterling Holloway portrays Sue's assistant in a comic relief role that replaces the need for an Autry sidekick. Ken Lundy might have been that character as the cowhand with a cactus voice; fortunately that gimmick wasn't carried too far. I always liked Holloway as a kid, but I don't know if I would have that same affection today if I hadn't seen him back in the day with the likes of Gene and Roy.
Fortunately, Sioux City Sue manages to get an actual role for Gene in one of Paragon's pictures that doesn't involve Ding-Dong Donkey. To do it, she had to sign on as Gene's camp cook, and even then, she was already past trying. The title song is repeated often throughout the story, along with "Someday You'll Want Me to Want You". I found the repetitive numbers to be somewhat distracting, but overall, the picture is another treat for Gene Autry fans.