The Old Corral (1936/I)

User Rating:

5.6/10   

Director:

Joseph Kane

Writers:

Bernard McConville (story)
Sherman L. Lowe (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

21 December 1936 (USA)

Genre:

Crime | Musical | Western

Tagline:

AN EASTERN GANG MEETS A WESTERN SHERIFF (original ad - all caps)

Plot:

As the sheriff of a small western town, Autry sings his way into a relationship with Eleanor, a singer...

Plot Keywords:

Sheriff | Murder | Gangster | Saloon | Singer

Cast

Gene Autry	...	Sheriff Gene Autry
Smiley Burnette	...	Deputy Frog Millhouse
Irene Manning	...	Eleanor Spencer, aka Jane Edwards (as Hope Manning)
Sons of the Pioneers	...	O'Keefe Brothers
Champion	...	Gene's Horse
Cornelius Keefe	...	Martin Simms
Lon Chaney Jr.	...	Garland - Simms Henchman
John Bradford	...	Mike Scarlotti
Milburn Morante	...	Clem Snodgrass
Abe Lefton	...	Abe - Rodeo Announcer
Merrill McCormick	...	Joe (Scarlotti henchman)
Charles Sullivan	...	Frank - Scarlotti Henchman
Buddy Roosevelt	...	Tony - Scarlotti Driver
Lynton Brent	...	Dunn - Gambler
Frankie Marvin	...	Wife-beating Prisoner

Also Known As:

Texas Serenade (UK)

Runtime:

54 min (edited version) | 57 min (original version)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono | Mono (RCA Sound System)

Certification:

USA:Approved (PCA #2806)

Company:

Republic Pictures (I)

Trivia:

'Roy Rogers' appears in this 'Gene Autry' feature as one of The Sons Of The Pioneers' singing group. Better yet, he gets into a fight with Gene, which Gene wins, and then Roy yodels. Gene prophetically replies "Keep singin'".

Movie Connections:

Featured in Gene Autry: White Hat, Silver Screen (2007) (TV)

Soundtrack:

So Long Old Pinto

Sons of Pioneers musical number

"The Old Corral" became famous for its fight scene between Gene Autry and his future competitor at Republic, Roy Rogers, known at that time as Dick Weston. Rogers was part of the Sons of the Pioneers musical group featured in Autry's pictures. In this film, they play highwaymen (overland bus robbers) who also known how to warble a tune. While most of them are captured and put in jail, young Weston gets away and Autry has to go after him, not only for the robbery but because the group needs his harmony. After he is subdued, Autry asks him to yodel. Rogers then learns why he was captured. In the next scene, the group is shown singing "Silent Trail," a moving ballad about the passing of the old West. The sincere expressions on their faces as they sing compliments their harmonious treatment. They always gave their songs a bit more class than the usual "hillbilly" groups Autry had in his films, who had been taken from the National Barn Dance radio show.