Although Guns and Guitars was of Gene Autry's earliest movies, it was also one of his best. This film laid the groundwork for how most of his movies were scripted. A combination of fists, gun play, and smarts were used to foil the villain. Unlike some of Autry's other movies, this one did not have any "idiot sidekick" moments. Smiley Burnette did have some humorous moments in the film, but nothing over the top. J.P. McGowan played a great villain as Morgan. Too bad, these two enormous talents, McGowan and Autry, didn't work together more often. The only negative for this movie was the bad editing in the main fight scene. Morgan amazingly goes from losing his hat to having it back on again and then surrendering to Autry with no gloves on and then having handcuffs put on him with his gloves back on again. Definitely, a must see.
5 Reviews
"Watch her wiggle, watch her shake, and don't forget to watch that snake!"
classicsoncall21 November 2007
Warning: Spoilers
The story synopsis for this film on Encore Westerns stated that after being framed for murder, Gene Autry goes on a search for the real killers. I was wondering if he'd have better luck than OJ, so I tuned in to check it out. Actually, I knew he would, since Autry always gets his man, whether in the movies or on his TV show.
This was an early Autry Western for Republic Pictures, utilizing a plot element I haven't seen before. Chief villain Morgan (J.P. McGowan) and his top henchman Conners (Tom London) attempt to run an infected herd with 'Texas cattle fever' from Sage County across Colima County, where a quarantine is in effect. Autry's first brush with the bad guys occurs when he saves the sheriff's daughter (Dorothy Dix) from the gang. I got a kick out of that gun shot Autry used to knock the hat off Conners; directly behind Conners were three of his men on horseback and not one of them or their horses were hit!
You know, there's a fair amount of entertainment in this picture for one that comes in just under an hour. Smiley does his usual thing with a colorful tune, and black character Eightball (Eugene Jackson) does a neat tap dance. My favorite was the way Dr. Parker (Earl Hodgins) discredited the phony vet with his quick delivery on matters of veterinary medicine.
Maybe it was another rider, but I would swear that was Gene and Champion that took a tumble during the chase after the bad guys near the finale. If I'm wrong, someone give me a heads up. You know, I was just as curious as the town folk about that five o'clock deadline Connors gave Gene to get out of town. But somehow, it just didn't have the suspense of "High Noon".
This was an early Autry Western for Republic Pictures, utilizing a plot element I haven't seen before. Chief villain Morgan (J.P. McGowan) and his top henchman Conners (Tom London) attempt to run an infected herd with 'Texas cattle fever' from Sage County across Colima County, where a quarantine is in effect. Autry's first brush with the bad guys occurs when he saves the sheriff's daughter (Dorothy Dix) from the gang. I got a kick out of that gun shot Autry used to knock the hat off Conners; directly behind Conners were three of his men on horseback and not one of them or their horses were hit!
You know, there's a fair amount of entertainment in this picture for one that comes in just under an hour. Smiley does his usual thing with a colorful tune, and black character Eightball (Eugene Jackson) does a neat tap dance. My favorite was the way Dr. Parker (Earl Hodgins) discredited the phony vet with his quick delivery on matters of veterinary medicine.
Maybe it was another rider, but I would swear that was Gene and Champion that took a tumble during the chase after the bad guys near the finale. If I'm wrong, someone give me a heads up. You know, I was just as curious as the town folk about that five o'clock deadline Connors gave Gene to get out of town. But somehow, it just didn't have the suspense of "High Noon".
Almost Top of the Class, But Not Quite!
JohnHowardReid17 May 2008
A pleasant enough western, though there is just sufficient action footage including some excellent stunt-work -- to get by with the fans. Oddly, there's also less music than usual. Most of the picture is taken up with the plot (a serviceable offering) and the machinations of personable villain J.P. McGowan. Even Smiley Burnette's opportunities are limited, though he does have a bill-posting run-in with Charles King (in the comparatively minor role of the villain's offsider's offsider) a routine that was later used to greater advantage by Laurel and Hardy in "Air Raid Wardens" and a splendid fade-out.
Dorothy Dix proves an innocuous heroine, but Tom London makes his villain a fascinating figure, whilst Earle Hodgins blusters away effectively as Professor Parker (we like his amusing encounter with Harrison Greene's fake veterinarian). Good old Jack Rockwell graces his customary role as the sheriff.
Kane's direction rates as efficient. Not his fault that a bit more gun-slinging and a lot more guitar-strumming was really needed to lift this western to top of the class. Photography and music scoring climb well up to standard. Production values nudge the excellent level, thanks to actual location shooting and plenty of extras milling about.
Dorothy Dix proves an innocuous heroine, but Tom London makes his villain a fascinating figure, whilst Earle Hodgins blusters away effectively as Professor Parker (we like his amusing encounter with Harrison Greene's fake veterinarian). Good old Jack Rockwell graces his customary role as the sheriff.
Kane's direction rates as efficient. Not his fault that a bit more gun-slinging and a lot more guitar-strumming was really needed to lift this western to top of the class. Photography and music scoring climb well up to standard. Production values nudge the excellent level, thanks to actual location shooting and plenty of extras milling about.
This isn't exactly the smartest town in the west...though the film is enjoyable.
planktonrules6 March 2023
When the story begins, a group of thugs are trying to sneak a herd of cattle from Texas into the territory. This is a problem because there's been an outbreak of Texas Cattle Fever (caused by ticks on the cows). The sheriff's sister catches them...and they disarm her and take her prisoner. It's a good thing Gene and his friends are nearby, as they come to her rescue and hold the crooks for the sheriff. So far, the story is interesting...but then the dopey sheriff just lets the crooks go and tells them they'll have to pay a fine! Now remember....they took the sheriff's sister hostage...yet he just lets them go. No, he's not a crooked lawman...just a dumb one!
Later, the evil man who is OBVIOUSLY behind all this has the sheriff killed. Soon the guy is running a crooked campaign and he drives off the candidate running for sheriff. What's next? See the film.
This is a modestly enjoyable B-western. It doesn't always make sense but it's well made and the story involving. Not among Gene Autry's best...but still pretty good.
Later, the evil man who is OBVIOUSLY behind all this has the sheriff killed. Soon the guy is running a crooked campaign and he drives off the candidate running for sheriff. What's next? See the film.
This is a modestly enjoyable B-western. It doesn't always make sense but it's well made and the story involving. Not among Gene Autry's best...but still pretty good.
Guns and Guitars, and great Western action
corporalko9 October 2017
Warning: Spoilers
This was one of Gene Autry's earliest movies, less than one year into his series that he filmed, almost without pause, between 1935 and his entry into the U.S. Army Air Corps in 1942. But his riding, and his acting, already are looking more natural, and he's looking more comfortable doing them.
His best acting probably comes when one of the bad guys, Tom London, emerges from the saloon through a window he and henchman Charlie King have shot out, to confront Gene over the fact that London's warned him to be "out of town by 5 o'clock," and Autry has failed to comply. Gene is presiding at that moment over the sales of Dr. Parker's (Earle Hodgins) "magic tonic" at the medicine show that Parker operates. Instead of running scared of London, or trying to "out-draw" him, Gene begins an advertising spiel for the tonic -- available for one dollar a bottle. Speaking directly to London, Autry finally tosses him a bottle of the stuff. "One dollar, please." London glares at Gene, and his hand moves slowly -- toward his gun? Gene's right hand slowly makes the same move. But finally London reaches into his pants pocket instead, pulls out a silver dollar, and tosses it to Gene, who catches it effortlessly (don't forget, Autry once got a chance to sign with a minor league baseball team, but decided to turn it down), gives London a grin and a nod, and the tense moment passes.
London and King's boss is a local big shot who expects to "make $100,000" using illegal ways to move a big cattle herd. J.P. McGowan plays that "biggest bad guy," and his sons Dorrel and Stuart McGowan wrote the screenplay. The McGowan brothers wrote some of the best of Autry's early screenplays.
All ends well -- as usual -- with the bad guys in jail, and Gene and the leading lady, Dorothy Dix, driving the medicine show wagon off into the sunset. And if you want to see a funny ending, watch Smiley Burnette take a big swig of Dr. Parker's Painless Panacea -- and then see what happens within seconds. All in all, an excellent Autry B-Western of the early sound era.
His best acting probably comes when one of the bad guys, Tom London, emerges from the saloon through a window he and henchman Charlie King have shot out, to confront Gene over the fact that London's warned him to be "out of town by 5 o'clock," and Autry has failed to comply. Gene is presiding at that moment over the sales of Dr. Parker's (Earle Hodgins) "magic tonic" at the medicine show that Parker operates. Instead of running scared of London, or trying to "out-draw" him, Gene begins an advertising spiel for the tonic -- available for one dollar a bottle. Speaking directly to London, Autry finally tosses him a bottle of the stuff. "One dollar, please." London glares at Gene, and his hand moves slowly -- toward his gun? Gene's right hand slowly makes the same move. But finally London reaches into his pants pocket instead, pulls out a silver dollar, and tosses it to Gene, who catches it effortlessly (don't forget, Autry once got a chance to sign with a minor league baseball team, but decided to turn it down), gives London a grin and a nod, and the tense moment passes.
London and King's boss is a local big shot who expects to "make $100,000" using illegal ways to move a big cattle herd. J.P. McGowan plays that "biggest bad guy," and his sons Dorrel and Stuart McGowan wrote the screenplay. The McGowan brothers wrote some of the best of Autry's early screenplays.
All ends well -- as usual -- with the bad guys in jail, and Gene and the leading lady, Dorothy Dix, driving the medicine show wagon off into the sunset. And if you want to see a funny ending, watch Smiley Burnette take a big swig of Dr. Parker's Painless Panacea -- and then see what happens within seconds. All in all, an excellent Autry B-Western of the early sound era.
See also
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