Back in the Saddle (1941)

Director:

Lew Landers

Writers:

Jesse Lasky Jr. (writer)
Richard Murphy (writer)

Release Date:

14 March 1941 (USA)

Genre:

Western

Plot:

After Gene discovers copper on his ranch, Bennett tries to get control of the fortune by framing him in a jail-break.

Plot Keywords:

Water Pollution | Toxic Waste Dumping | Western Swing | Song | Poisoned Water

Cast

Gene Autry	...	Gene Autry
Smiley Burnette	...	Frog Millhouse
Mary Lee	...	Patsy
Edward Norris	...	Tom Bennett
Julie Bishop	...	Taffy (as Jacqueline Wells)
Addison Richards	...	Duke Winston
Arthur Loft	...	E.G. Blaine
Edmund Elton	...	Judge Bent
Joe McGuinn	...	Sheriff Simpson
Edmund Cobb	...	Rancher Williams
Robert Barron	...	Henchman Ward

Runtime:

54 min (edited version) | 73 min (original version)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound System)

Filming Locations:

Iverson Ranch, Chatsworth, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Republic Pictures (I)

Movie Connections:

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

Standard issue B Western typifies singing cowboy film

Gene Autry provides a wealth of old-fashioned entertainment in Back in the Saddle, one of the factory-issue B Westerns that played to packed Saturday afternoon movie palaces full of kids who dreamed of life on the open range. Besides crooning the legendary title tune, Autry foils a dastardly mine owner who has been poisoning cattle to drive the local ranchers off their land. An interesting opening section depicts Gene and faithful, hopeless sidekick Smiley Burnette (here in his "Frog" incarnation) retrieving the son of a friend from the decadent big city -- a perfectly set-up showdown between wholesome country and degenerate city played for maximum effect. Back in the Saddle's most prominent set-piece, however, is an exciting shoot-out set in and around a jail with plenty of whizzing bullets and flaming hay-carts to set the heart pounding.