Ride, Ranger, Ride

Plot synopsis:
Following the American Civil War the Texas Rangers are disbanded with Texas Ranger Lieutenant Gene Autry (Gene Autry) accepts a commission into the US Army Cavalry who will now police Texas. His men follow him forming a troop. The American Federal Government now has ides about making friends with the hostile Comanche, blaming the hot headed Rangers and all other Texans for inciting the Indians.
The men adapt with Autry and cavalry Lieutenant Bob Cameron (George J. Lewis) competing for the attentions of Dixie Summerall (Kay Hughes), the beautiful daughter of Colonel Summerall (Robert Homans) the post commander at Fort Adobe, Texas. Their romantic aspirations are cut short when an Indian party wish to have a talk with the cavalry but wearing war paint is spotted by Autry and his scout Rufe. Though Autry and Rufe prevent an Indian attack by opening fire on the small party of Indians when they attempt to signal a larger party to attack, the larger party escapes without being seen. Autry is demoted to trooper and Rufe has loses one month's Army Scout pay. A peace treaty is signed with the help of Duval (Monte Blue), the fort's interpreter.
Gene and his buddies, Frog Millhouse (Smiley Burnette) and Rufe Jones (Max Terhune), suspect that Duval is working with the Indians, and they go to his canteen to investigate. Confronted by the Texas Ranger, Duval tries to kill Gene and a barroom brawl ensues. Afterwards, Gene and his friends are court-martialed for their involvement in the fight. When Gene tries to warn Colonel Summerall and about the interpreter's involvement with the Indians, he is arrested for the murder of a Comanche brave.
Known to the Indians as Chief Tavibo, Duval is now free to continue his plot to re-route a supply train so that the Comanches can attack and capture the cavalry's ammunition. After Gene escapes jail, he travels to meet the Governor of Texas and former Ranger Major Crosby. The Governor reinstates the Texas Rangers to protect the population. Autry joins the bloody battle between the cavalry and the Comanches. Soon Frog arrives with the Texas Rangers to win the battle, during which Duval is killed and his true identity is revealed. After peace is restored, Colonel Summerall apologizes to Gene, and Gene wins Dixie as his bride.

Tags: romantic, murder

Review:
Rather Routine & Dated.
Gene Autry doesn't get much of a chance to stand out in this routine and rather dated feature.
The plot had potential, with Autry leading a group of Texas Rangers who are trying to stop an Indian attack while working against the skepticism of a cavalry commander.But what follows is not very entertaining, and most of the problems can probably be blamed on the script.
The characters remain one-dimensional, with little or no justification for their actions, and none of them really appears in a very good light.
It does not help that the Indians are portrayed in a rather dated and cartoonish fashion, even for the 30's.Nothing at all against the talented and very likable Autry, but this one just does not work very well at all.
Even the most devoted fans probably won't find much here to get excited about..
Dull, slow-moving Autry vehicle.
Although made in 1936, this film has the stodgy, choppy, primitive look of a B western of 1930 or 1931.
I'm not particularly an Autry fan, but I've seen far better examples of his work than this.
The script is forced, the "humor" involving an Indian repeatedly trying to scalp Frog (Smiley Burnette) to collect on a bet is not only unfunny but insulting and degrading, even for the 1930s.
The songs are uninspired and leaden, Autry's delivery of both dialogue and lyrics are even more wooden than usual, and the tinny, uneven sound quality is reminiscent of the worst of PRC.
Republic's westerns are usually much more technically proficient and accomplished, and director Joseph Kane has done far, far better work both before and after this film came out, so I'm not quite sure what the problem was with this picture, but it had more than its share of them.
On the other hand, there's a somewhat exciting horse race, and Kay Hughes, as the girl fought over by rivals Autry and George J.
Lewis, is ravishingly beautiful, much more so than many of Autry's other Republic leading ladies, and that goes a long way toward making up for the film's deficiencies, both technically and otherwise.
But it's not quite enough to cover the fact that this picture is definitely one of Autry's weakest efforts.
Skip it; you won't be missing much..
Gee, what was that song again?.
Fairly tame Gene Autry vehicle (as if there were any hard-hitting, serious-minded ones) that deals with Autry and his pals getting jobs with the Texas Rangers, In this we realize a number of things..
we see that the rangers are trigger-happy when it comes to arresting Autry (and rehiring people on the spot), it shows how to to do the old flattened metal dish to block doorways from being locked, how people are around handily to turn tables over when there's a fight, and how the Indians, while using their "Man go that way" type of talk, also use sign language to get their point across.
This is a rather curious movie, that teaches us that the Texas Rangers are not to be trusted, has an EXTREMELY lame love interest, and how they are able to get a song in our head by repeating it 3 times.
Yikes!.
From The Rangers To The Cavalry And Back.
The Texas Rangers are about to be demobilized because the U.S. Cavalry is coming to Texas.
They've got garrison duty as the Comanches are allegedly at peace.
That's not what Gene Autry says and that's not what grizzled scout Max Terhune says, who actually does say the only good Indian is a dead one.
And that's allegedly without the dummy.Gene and the whole troop of rangers join the cavalry including Max as a scout and even Smiley Burnette.
They really don't take to military life to well.
In addition Gene's got a romantic rivalry going with George J.
Lewis over Kay Hughes.
Somebody is stirring up the Indians, acting as agent provocateur and for those interested in seeing this ancient oater I won't reveal who it is.Usually Autry westerns at least included some decent cowboy numbers.
But even after seeing this only a couple of hours ago on TCM, I can't remember a one of them.The Indians are really presented in a bad light.
Oafs and Dupes at best and savages at worst.
But you can't expect too much from a B western.Although saying B is giving this one too high a grade..
Dull, Routine, and Not Worth it.
A good Western film is built around the Good Guy- Bad Guy conflict and their eventual Showdown.
Here, that showdown is there, but it's not the major focus of the film.It's mainly about how we must fight against Indians.
Gene and his Texas Rangers know about Indians; the cavalry does not.
("Make your peace sign with one hand, and keep a gun in the other.") We get that awful 'Tarzan talk' in the way the White Man speaks to the Indians.
We get the cliché (it was used in John Ford's 'The Iron Horse' in 1924!) of a white man masquerading as a warlike Indian -- except this time he's a saloon owner.There is the throwaway of a love interest (surprisingly, Gene marries her and rides off into the off screen).
There is Republic's 'comic relief' of Smiley Burnette and Mex Terhune (he is actually good in this film!); and the dreadful running gag of Chief Thundercloud, who was so evil in the serial 'Custer's Last Stand' (1934), trying to scalp Frog Millhouse; but there's really nothing of substance going on in this picture.
It seems too have been made from the "let's crank out another one" mode as part of the new Republic formula of cheapie B pictures.There are much better Gene Autry films that seem more authentic, such as 'Yodelin' Kid From Pine Ridge' (1937) than this third rate formulaic cranked out film.
Gene is genial, but overall this movie is worth only a 3..
Despite having TWO sidekicks, this is one stinkeroo!.
This Gene Autry film has two distinctions.
First, it's one of the few westerns I've seen with TWO sidekicks--Max Terhune and Smiley Burnett.
I've never seen this before and doubt I ever will again, as it's completely against the usual formula.
Second, the film has the distinction for begin the most anti-American Indian film I've ever seen--and I've seen a lot.The film begins with Gene and Max leaving the Texas Rangers and joining up to help the Cavalry.
However, it soon becomes clear that the Colonel is a complete potato-head--with the brains to match.
He loves the Indians and refuses to accept the idea that any of them could be in any way bad.
Gene and Max (particularly Max) think the only good Indian is a dead one--and they are sure to say this again and again.
In their estimation, Indians are an evil that needs purging--and they sound like they are about to go on some ethnic cleansing.
So guess who is proved right in the end?!
Aside from having a hate-filled and historically inaccurate script in regard to Indians, the film repeats the myth of the attack on the wagon train and circling the wagons--things that, despite being in films, didn't happen in the old west.
An accurate view of the tribes would have been that SOME are pretty hostile and some are not--much like what you would say about any group of people.
I don't say all this because I am Mr. Political Correctness but as a retired history teacher, I just like to see the facts straight.
Overall, a stupid and terribly written film that is sure to ruffle a few feathers!.
Skip It. The most interesting part of this sub-par Autry oater is poor Kay Hughes.
I don't know what wardrobe put her in, but the frou-frou is eating her alive.
Only her head is still visible.
Meanwhile, all the white lace, bustles, and brocade have consumed the rest of her.
Too bad, because she could easily pass for Elizabeth Taylor's younger sister, if Liz had one.
Too bad too, that the script's a mess, that is, if you can keep up with it.
Something about Texas Rangers, the US Cavalry, and American Indians, all learning to get along.
Already, it seems, Texas hates the Feds since they quarrel over who gets to fight the Indians.
That's because from the movie, it seems "the only good Indian is a dead one".
After all, this is back when red men were mainly circling targets for cavalry target practice.
Then too, if I'm not mistaken, the script manages to slight just about everybody at some point.Meanwhile, the tunes are forgettable, the barroom brawl badly staged, and absolutely no hard riding, while the comedy consists mainly of a scalping wannabe.
I will say the stock footage is nicely blended into the film as a whole, which at least lends visual continuity.
I don't know what Republic had in mind with this 60-minutes, but as a fellow reviewer remarks, they should have sent the script back for a rewrite.
And, for gosh sakes, put poor Hughes in a dress instead of a pile of woman-eating frills and frou-frou.
All in all, Autry fans should skip this one.A "4" on the matinée scale..
"...when you see Indians, be careful, and when you don't see Indians, be more careful.".
Best not to pay close attention while watching this one, the longer it goes the less sense it makes.
Consider Autry's character for starters - today he would be on the politically incorrect side of things by insisting that the Comanches are getting ready to attack a supply train heading for Fort Adobe.
For his part in an altercation with an advance party, Autry is cited for general court martial for disobeying orders, jeopardizing a peace treaty and indirectly causing the death of a trooper.
Colonel Summeral (Robert Homans) states that upon his court martial, he'll also be reduced in rank - how does that work?
But after a bar brawl in which Gene participates, he's asked to resign the Cavalry!?!?
But later, when the Indians actually do attack, the Colonel reminds Autry that even though he was right, he's still scheduled to be shot!?!?
Did anyone proofread this script?Apparently I'm not alone, because a handful of other reviewers on this board have similar issues with the picture.
There's not a whole lot to recommend here for Western fans in general, or Gene Autry fans in particular.
Perhaps you can give the story some credit for supplying Gene with two nominal sidekicks, Smiley as usual doing an early Frog Millhouse, and Max Terhune as Indian scout Rufe Jones.
I'd have to say that the comedic nod goes to Max, even without Elmer around.
The fact that Smiley had to outrun Chief Thundercloud trying to take his scalp was more surreal than funny to my mind, though I'm sure young matinée fans back in the day got a kick out of it well enough.Another oddity compared to most of Gene's flicks has to do with the musical offerings.
Some of his pictures manage up to ten songs in an hour long format, but here there's only two, but they're performed multiple times!
Like 'On the Sunset Trail' that gets delivered twice, and the title song that pops up three times in the course of the story.
I don't know, I guess even Gene is entitled to a clunker every now and then considering his historic career in film and as a businessman afterward.
But "Ride Ranger Ride" is not one of his better ones, and if I had to bet, even Champion knew it because he kept his name out of the credits list..
If "The Old Barn Dance" seems somewhat lacking in sympathetic appeal to a modern-day audience, the same cannot be said for McConville's earlier script, "Ride, Ranger, Ride" (1936).
In this one, an army martinet (Robert Homans) is the villain - a piece of putty in the hands of super-bad renegade, Monte Blue - while Gene Autry, Smiley Burnette and a remarkably personable Max Terhune (minus "Elmer", I'm glad to say) lead the good guys in this elaborately produced (although helped out with some obvious stock footage) Nat Levine production.
Director Kane keeps the movie moving, but Gene himself often seems oddly subdued.
It's the other players who have all the good lines and handle most of the action.
Even the songs are sparse!
Even the songs are sparse!
(Echo Bridge used to handle DVD discs of the 16mm TV cutdown).