Gene Autry Collection, Cowboy Kids and Jane Withers & Tadpole, Vol. 5 [DVD]

Image Entertainment presents "GENE AUTRY COLLECTION: COWBOY KIDS, JANE WITHERS & "TADPOLE" VOL.5" (Released: 1940-42) (273 mins/B&W) (Fully Restored/Dolby Digitally Remastered) --- relive those thrilling days when the "First Singing Cowboy" Gene Autry took us down the dusty trails with hard riding and straight shooting hitting the bull's eye with excitement every time --- the Gene Autry series of B-Westerns were a staple of Saturday matinees in the 1930s and 1940s --- The Following Segments are from the "Melody Ranch Theater", which originally aired on the Nashville Network in 1987 --- Hosted by Gene and longtime sidekick Pat Buttram the program showcased many of Gene's classic motion pictures and featured personal anecdotes about how the films were made --- Information on costars and significant happenings in Gene's personal life and career. --- don't miss any of the Singing Cowboy's features loaded with action and songs that will leave you wanting more of Gene Autry's B-Western Adventures --- The sale of this DVD will further the educational and cultural mission of the renowned "Autry National Center in Los Angeles".Republic Pictures present "THE BELLS OF CAPISTRANO" (15 September 1942) (73 mins/B&W) --- Under William Morgan (Director), "Bells of Capistrano" was Gene's 56th film, was the last he made before becoming Sergeant Gene Autry in the U.S. Air Force --- this oater has a good cast, thrilling action spotted among the musical numbers --- also an excitingly staged fire sequence and a rousing Madison Square Garden patriotic rodeo production number close with Gene singing the 1915 World War One tune. "DON'T BITE THE HAND THAT'S FEEDING YOU" --- in 1942 Gene was taking his oath from Lt. Col. Edward Shaifer and was due to report to Ft. Sheridan August 3rd of that same year --- it would be four years before his return to the screen after flying transport planes in the Pacific. ----- some wonderful tunes, "FORGIVE ME" (Gene Autry), "AT SUNDOWN" (Gene Autry), "FORT WORTH JAIL" (Gene Autry), "IN OLD CAPISTRANO" (Gene Autry and Extras), "DON'T BITE THE HAND THAT'S FEEDING YOU" (Gene Autry).Republic Pictures present "HEART OF THE RIO GRANDE" (11 March 1942) (69 mins/B&W) --- Under William Morgan (Director), Our story line and plot, mostly music and comedy, what action there is consists almost entirely of Gene rescuing Edith Fellows from an assortment of dangers --- Frog Millhouse (Smiley Burnette) is shadowed by a fat little boy, appropriately named Tadpole (Joe Strauch, Jr.) --- Tadpole dresses just like Frog including the same hat style (front brim turned up). He has a lot of precocious lines and a very bass singing voice --- Early in the film a girls' school arrives at the dude ranch for the summer --- The teacher Alice Bennett (Fay McKenzie) serves as both Gene's tame romantic interest and his sidekick Frog's (Smiley Burnett) unrequited love --- Their dueling serenade of Alice is the best of a whole bunch of pretty good musical elements in the film ----- some wonderful tunes, "LET ME RIDE DOWN IN ROCKY CANYON" (Gene Autry and Extras), "DEEP IN THE HEART OF TEXAS" (Gene Autry, Smiley Burnette, Extras and Joe Stauch, Jr.), "DUSK ON THE PAINTED DESERT" (Gene Autry), "OH WOE IS ME" (Smiley Burnette),"RUMBLE SEAT FOR TWO" (Gene Autry and The Jimmy Wakely Trio), "RANCHO PILLOW" (Gene Autry), "RAINBOW IN THE NIGHT" (Edith Fellows), "CIMARRON" (The Jimmy Wakely Trio), "I'LL WAIT FOR YOU" (Gene Autry and Fay McKenzie), "DEEP IN THE HEART OF TEXAS" (Gene Autry and Cast - - - - - - some Autry fun facts, following completion of filming "Heart of the Rio Grande", Gene appeared with his own rodeo at the Coliseum in Houston, Texas, from February 6th through the 15th in 1942.Republic Pictures present "UNDER FIESTA STARS" (25 August1941) (65 mins/B&W) --- Under Frank McDonald (Director), our story has Gene's life in danger as a mine owner dies and leaves half to Gene and half to easterner Barbara Erwin --- Gene wants to continue operation of the mine as requested in the will but Barbara wants to sell and leave with her half of the money --- So she hires two lawyers not knowing they are crooks and the fun begins --- Gene and his sidekick Smiley Burnette perform, THE MAN ON THE FLYING TRAPEZE (Gene Autry, Smiley Burnette, Joseph Strauch, Jr. and Extras), KEEP IT IN THE FAMILY (Smiley Burnette and Joseph Strauch, Jr), PURPLE SAGE IN THE TWILIGHT (Gene Autry), I'VE GOT NO USE FOR WOMEN (Gene Autry), WHEN YOU'RE SMILING (Gene Autry), UNDER FIESTA STARS (Gene Autry).20th Century Fox presents "SHOOTING HIGH" (26 April 1940) (65 mins/B&W) --- Under Alfred E. Green (Director), Jane Withers admired Gene Autry and asked her studio if she could appear in a movie with him --- Withers was under contract to 20th Century Fox, and would not be allowed to work on a Republic picture --- She was able to convince the studio to work out a deal so she could appear with Gene Autry, and this film was the result --- Gene Autry plays Will Carson in the middle of his family's generation-old feud with the Pritchard's --- A motion picture company comes to make a movie about Will's grandfather Wild Bill Carson --- When the real star of the movie (Robert Lowery)is scared out of town, Will takes the part of his beloved ancestor --- Feuding, singing, a bank robbery all while motion picture is being filmed --- some wonderful tunes, WANDERERS (Gene Autry and Jane Withers), IN OUR LITTLE SHANTY OF DREAMS (Gene Autry and Jane Withers), THERE'S ONLY ONE LOVE IN A LIFETIME (Gene Autry), LITTLE OLD BAND OF GOLD (Gene Autry) - - - - some Autry fun facts, According to a 1948 Life magazine article, "if [Gene's records] were all shipped to one place, [they] would make up a freight train solid with Western songs and be more than a mile long."BIOS:1. Gene AutryDate of Birth: 29 September 1907 - Near Tioga, TexasDate of Death: 2 October 1998 - Studio City, Los Angeles, CaliforniaSpecial footnote, Orvon Gene Autry was an American performer who gained fame as The Singing Cowboy on the radio, in movies and on television --- Discovered by film producer Nat Levine in 1934, he and Burnette made their film debut for Mascot Pictures Corp. "In Old Santa Fe" as part of a singing cowboy quartet; he was then given the starring role by Levine in 1935 in the 12-part serial "The Phantom Empire" --- Shortly thereafter, Mascot was absorbed by the formation of Republic Pictures Corp. and Autry went along to make a further 44 films up to 1940, all B westerns in which he played under his own name, rode his horse Champion, had Burnette as his regular sidekick and had many opportunities to sing in each film --- Autry became the top Western star at the box-office by 1937, reaching his national peak of popularity from 1940 to 1942. His Gene Autry Flying "A" Ranch Rodeo show debuted in 1940 --- Gene Autry is the only celebrity to have five stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, one in each of the five categories maintained by the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce --- Radio, Films, Recordings, Television and Live Theater.SPECIAL FEATURES:1. Reminiscing with Gene Autry and Pat Buttram at the "Melody Ranch Theater"2. "Don't Touch That Dial", Gene Autry is on the air - excerpts from the Original "Melody Ranch Radio Show"3. Production and Publicity Stills4. Horseplay5. Poster and lobby Card Art6. Trivia and Movie Facts7. Original Press Kit MaterialCheck out a new book from Empire Publishing - "GENE AUTRY WESTERNS" (Hardcover) - by author Boyd Magers, like no other book on Gene Autry --- all of Gene's Mascot, Republic and Columbia westerns included, as well as his half-hour TV Episodes --- each segment contains the release date on each film ... major production credits ... complete cast (including character played) ... all songs included, songwriter and who performed them in the film ... running time of each film ... dates of the filming ... bios on the cast and major players (Smiley, Pat Buttram, Cass County Boys, Herbert J. Yates, directors, leading ladies, songwriters and various heavies, etc.) ... locations that were used ... budgets and negative cost ... stunt people involved ... analysis and synopsis on each film ... notes and comments (including film and cast background info, salaries paid, working titles, etc) ... comments from Gene and many other cast members on each film ... theater exhibitors comments at the time of the films release ...this tribute was written from the heart and it shows.Hats off and thanks to Les Adams (collector/guideslines for character identification), Chuck Anderson (Webmaster: The Old Corral/B-Westerns.Com), Boyd Magers (Western Clippings), Bobby J. Copeland (author of "Trail Talk"), Rhonda Lemons (Empire Publishing Inc) and Bob Nareau (author of "The Real Bob Steele") as they have rekindled my interest once again for B-Westerns and Serials --- looking forward to more high quality releases from the vintage serial era of the '20s, '30s & '40s and B-Westerns ... order your copy now from Amazon where there are plenty of copies available on DVD --- stay tuned once again for top notch action mixed with musical songs and adventure --- if you enjoyed this title, why not check out Image Entertainment where they are experts in releasing B-Westerns --- all my heroes have been cowboys!Total Time: 273 min on DVD ~ Image Entertainment ~ (9/26/2006)