Michael O'Keefe You can't go too wrong with a singing straight-arrow cowboy. Gene Autry and his sidekick Frog Milhouse(Smiley Burnett)are heading home from New York City via automobile with Gene's horse, Champion, in a horse trailer. Westward and onward Gene and Frog find a young man named Ronnie Willoughby(Clifford Severn Jr.)trying to hitch a ride. The boy joins the two thinking they were sent by his father to pick him up and take him to his father's ranch. Well there isn't such; because Mr. Willoughby is in San Quentin Prison after being framed by a big packing company. To keep the elder Willoughby from testifying against the company, it is thought a good idea to kidnap young Ronnie. Plenty of action and reasons to belt out a tune or two; cause now filling out the movie is a runaway bride played by Joyce Halloway with a precocious younger sister(Mary Lee). Other cast members: Joseph Crehan, Smith Ballew, Wade Boteler, William Ruhl and Duncan Renaldo. A few of the tunes in this 66 minute Republic Pictures feature: "The Singing Hills", "Wide Open Spaces", "A Song of Sunset", "Keep Rollin" and of course the "Gaucho Serenade".

bozey45 What a fine Autry outing, just what the country needed trying to come out of the depression in 1940 right prior to WWII. Mary Lee, a very underrated singer from the era was only about 16 in this film and what a fine voice, as another user said a western Judy Garland. The young boy, played by Clifford Severn sort of reminded me of Freddie Bartholemew in his acting style. June Storey fine as usual in these B westerns; Duncan Renaldo later the Cisco Kid played Guacho Don Jose. Smiley Burnette, well what can we say?; the guy was fantastic. The on location shooting was wonderful, maybe Big Bear Lake area of California. The songs were fine in this film and was one of Autry's finest endeavours; not seen as often some others and deserves more airplay. The restored print aired on Encore Westerns is perfect.

funkyfry One of Gene Autry's most amusing films, all the better for taking the star out of his familiar horse opera surroundings. Of course, Autry is accompanied on his journey by usual sidekicks Smiley Burnette and Champion "The Wonder Horse," but the fact is that it takes him across the country with a pair of engaging girls. One of them (Mary Lee, I think) is sort of a country-western version of Judy Garland and the other plays an engaging young heiress on the lam from marriage. There's also a boy running from mobsters who try to kidnap him to blackmail his father into not testifying against their boss. There's a lot of funny situations, of course some fast riding and straight shooting, plus lots of pretty good songs. Pure escape and worth the trip.

antonio1952 As Gene and Frog cross the USA they meet up with 2 sets of stowaways, two sisters running away from a wedding ceremony and a boy being chased by criminals. As Gene sings several pleasant songs the movie moves at a rapid pace never dragging and includes a great railroad hijacking sequence. The new print from the Autry museum is perfect in every way and makes this movie indeed a serenade As b-westerns go this a 10.