Rootin' Tootin' Rhythm

Plot

Gene Autry and his sidekick, Smiley Burnette, are suspected of cattle rustling in this action-packed Republic Pictures Western directed by former actor Mack V. Wright. Actually, Gene and Frog (Burnette) had been chasing a couple of real cattle rustlers, Apache Kid (Max Hoffman Jr.) and Black Jim (Charles King), when they discovered the bodies of two lawmen. Realizing that the rustlers killed their pursuers, our heroes get the bright idea of masquerading in the apparel left by the outlaws. Heading for the border, things get even more complicated, but Gene and his pal manage to stay alive and catch the secret leader of the gang, Joe Stafford (Monte Blue), the supposed upstanding head of the cattlemen's association. When they're not chasing down rustlers, Autry, Burnette, and Al Clauser and his Oklahoma Outlaws perform "The Old Home Place," "Mexicali Rose," and the title tune, all by Sol Meyer, Jule Styne, and Raoul Kraushaar. Rootin' Tootin' Rhythm was partially filmed on-location in Lone Pine, CA, where the production took advantage of a terrific real-life storm. ~ Hans J. Wollstein, Rovi

Review

For once in a Gene Autry oater, there is actually more rootin' and tootin' than rhythm. The film Rootin' Tootin' Rhythm commences with the obligatory songs in the introduction and then gets down to business. Business that is by no means unusual or in any way startling, but satisfying nonetheless. The highlight: Smiley Burnette incapacitating a whole gaggle of infuriated ranchers by blowing sneezing powder at them. This time, Burnette even gets a love interest of his very own, a statuesque blonde named Ann Pendleton. ~ Hans J. Wollstein, Rovi

Cast

• Gene Autry - Gene Autry
• Smiley Burnette - Frog
• Armida - Rosa
• Monte Blue - Stafford

Hal Taliaferro - Buffalo; Max Hoffman, Jr. - Kid; Charles King - Jim; Frankie Marvin - Hank; Nina Campana - Ynez; Champion (The Horse); Curley Dresden; Karl Hackett; Jack Rutherford; Wally Wales - Buffalo; Henry Hall; Art Davis; Ann Pendleton - Mary

Credit

Mack Wright - Director, Tony Martinelli - Editor, William Nobles - Cinematographer, Armand Schaefer - Producer, Jack Natteford - Screenwriter, Johnston McCulley - Short Story Author

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