Gene Autry filmography

Last updated

Gene Autry and Smiley Burnette in their first film appearance together in the 1934 film In Old Santa Fe Gene Autry and Smiley Burnette singing in In Old Santa Fe film, 1934.png
Gene Autry and Smiley Burnette in their first film appearance together in the 1934 film In Old Santa Fe

This Gene Autry filmography lists the films and television episodes starring the American singing cowboy Gene Autry.

Contents

Overview

From 1934 to 1953, Autry appeared in 93 films. [1] Discovered by film producer Nat Levine in 1934, Autry and his sidekick Smiley Burnette made their film debut for Mascot Pictures in In Old Santa Fe as part of a singing cowboy quartet. In 1935, Levine gave him the starring role in the 12-part serial The Phantom Empire . When Mascot was absorbed by the newly formed Republic Pictures, Autry went along to make 57 B Westerns in which he played under his own name, rode his own horse, Champion, had Burnette as his sidekick, and sang several songs in each film—including some that would become his most popular hits. In 1947, with his Republic contract fulfilled, Autry began producing his own films which were distributed by Columbia Pictures. [1] For his Columbia films, Autry chose Sterling Holloway as his sidekick for five films, and then Pat Buttram for sixteen films. Burnette returned for the last six films released in 1953. [2] From 1950 to 1955, Autry appeared in 91 episodes of The Gene Autry Show television series. [3] [4] Buttram played his sidekick in 83 of the 91 episodes. [5]

While his films never achieved the critical recognition given to the films by John Ford, Henry Hathaway, and others, Autry was more popular than John Wayne for nearly a decade. [6] He was voted the top Western movie star for six years in a row, and was named the fourth most popular of all box-office stars in America by film exhibitors in 1940. [6] In the Motion Picture Herald Top Ten Money-Making Western Stars poll, Autry was listed every year from 1936 to 1942 and 1946 to 1954 (he served in the AAF 1943–45), holding first place from 1937 to 1942, and second place from 1947 to 1954. [7] He appeared in the Box Office poll from 1936 to 1955, holding first place from 1936 to 1942, and second place from 1943 to 1952. [8] His popularity with audiences was reflected in his box office drawing power, appeared in the Top Ten Money Makers Poll of all films from 1940 to 1942. [9]

While Autry worked with many directors, screenwriters, and actresses throughout his career, some played especially important roles in the development of Autry's screen persona and style. Joe Kane directed 17 Autry films, Frank McDonald directed 9 films and 16 television episodes, George Sherman directed 5 films, William Morgan directed 7 films, John English directed 19 films and 2 television episodes, and George Archainbaud directed 12 films and 47 television episodes. [10] Some writers were equally important in providing stories that Autry felt comfortable dramatizing. Oliver Drake wrote 7 screenplays, Dorrell and Stuart McGowen wrote 15, Betty Burbridge wrote 14, Gerald Geraghty wrote 19, Norman S. Hall wrote 10, and Olive Cooper wrote 6. [11] Of the many leading ladies who played opposite Autry in his films and television series, a few stand out, including Ann Rutherford in 4 films, Carol Hughs in 3 films, June Storey in 10 films, Fay McKenzie in 5 films, ad Gail Davis in 14 films and 15 television episodes. [12] One of the most important components of Autry's films was the comic relief provided by his sidekicks. Smiley Burnette co-starred in 60 Autry films, Sterling Holloway in 5 films, and Pat Buttramin in 16 films and 83 television episodes. [2]

In his book Singing in the Saddle, author Douglas B. Green wrote that Autry had a profound impact on the western genre film, and that his early "pioneering films" heralded the musical western genre, which from that point on made up a high percentage of B-westerns. Other western stars began to make room in their films for musical numbers by popular western singing groups like the Sons of the Pioneers. Green continued:

Autry's early films broke ground in a number of other ways. Comedy (usually in the person of Smiley "Frog Millhouse" Burnette) was featured to a degree rarely if ever seen before in westerns; women were usually not portrayed as helpless prairie flowers in need of a good rescuing, but instead as independent, sassy, and intelligent; and, with a few exceptions, the time period was the present. Once the viewer could accept a West where six-guns and saddles coincided with radios, telephones, and Lincoln convertibles, scripts could touch on a number of contemporary social issues, such as the Dust Bowl and the treatment of Native Americans. The films often reflected the populist sentiment of the day: Gene Autry portrayed an Everyman, championing the rights of the small ranchers, farmers, and townspeople against heartless business conglomerates, corrupt politicians, or the injustices of "the system". [13]

As of 2014, a large number of these films and television episodes remain available via the Gene Autry Foundation on the Western Channel (a cable television station), the latter having collaborated with the Foundation to restore the Republic titles, which had been cut to a uniform 54 minutes for television release in the 1950s, to full length and to provide clean negative-based source prints for all the titles in the 1990s. Autry is the only person to have five stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, one in each of the five categories maintained by the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce—motion pictures, radio, recording, television, and live theater. His motion picture star is located at 6644 Hollywood Boulevard, and his television star is located at 6667 Hollywood Boulevard [14]

Films

YearTitleRoleDirectorLeading ladySidekickStudioNotes
1934 In Old Santa Fe Himself David Howard Evalyn Knapp Smiley Burnette Mascot Pictures
1934 Mystery Mountain Thomas - Teamster Otto Brower,
B. Reeves Eason
Verna Hillie Smiley BurnetteMascot PicturesSerial, [Ch. 6, 7] Uncredited
1935 The Phantom Empire HimselfOtto Brower,
B. Reeves Eason
Betsy King Ross Smiley BurnetteMascot Pictures
1935 Tumbling Tumbleweeds Himself Joseph Kane Lucile Browne Smiley Burnette Republic Pictures
1935 Melody Trail HimselfJoseph Kane Ann Rutherford Smiley BurnetteRepublic Pictures
1935 The Sagebrush Troubadour Gene AutryJoseph Kane Barbara Pepper Smiley BurnetteRepublic Pictures
1935 The Singing Vagabond Captain Tex AutryCarl PiersonAnn RutherfordSmiley BurnetteRepublic Pictures
1936 Red River Valley HimselfB. Reeves EasonFrances GrantSmiley BurnetteRepublic Pictures
1936 Comin' Round the Mountain Himself Mack V. Wright Ann RutherfordSmiley BurnetteRepublic Pictures
1936 The Singing Cowboy HimselfMack V. Wright Lois Wilde Smiley BurnetteRepublic Pictures
1936 Guns and Guitars HimselfJoseph KaneDorothy DixSmiley BurnetteRepublic Pictures
1936 Oh, Susanna! HimselfJoseph KaneFrances GrantSmiley BurnetteRepublic Pictures
1936 Ride Ranger Ride HimselfJoseph Kane Kay Hughes Smiley BurnetteRepublic Pictures
1936 The Big Show Himself / Tom FordMack V. Wright Kay Hughes Smiley BurnetteRepublic Pictures
1936 The Old Corral HimselfJoseph Kane Irene Manning Smiley BurnetteRepublic Pictures
1937 Round-Up Time in Texas HimselfJoseph Kane Maxine Doyle Smiley BurnetteRepublic Pictures
1937 Git Along Little Dogies HimselfJoseph KaneJudith AllenSmiley BurnetteRepublic Pictures
1937 Rootin' Tootin' Rhythm HimselfMack V. Wright Armida Smiley BurnetteRepublic Pictures
1937 Yodelin' Kid from Pine Ridge HimselfJoseph Kane Betty Bronson Smiley BurnetteRepublic Pictures
1937 Public Cowboy No. 1 HimselfJoseph KaneAnn RutherfordSmiley BurnetteRepublic Pictures
1937 Boots and Saddles HimselfJoseph KaneJudith AllenSmiley BurnetteRepublic Pictures
1937 Springtime in the Rockies HimselfJoseph KanePolly RowlesSmiley BurnetteRepublic Pictures
1937 Manhattan Merry-Go-Round HimselfCharles ReisnerAnn DvorakRepublic Pictures
1938 The Old Barn Dance HimselfJoseph Kane Joan Valerie Smiley BurnetteRepublic Pictures
1938 Gold Mine in the Sky HimselfJoseph KaneCarol HughesSmiley BurnetteRepublic Pictures
1938 Man from Music Mountain HimselfJoseph KaneCarol HughesSmiley BurnetteRepublic Pictures
1938 Prairie Moon Himself Ralph Staub Shirley DeaneSmiley BurnetteRepublic Pictures
1938 Rhythm of the Saddle Himself George Sherman Peggy Moran Smiley BurnetteRepublic Pictures
1938 Western Jamboree HimselfRalph Staub Jean Rouverol Smiley BurnetteRepublic Pictures
1939 Home on the Prairie Himself Jack Townley June Storey Smiley BurnetteRepublic Pictures
1939 Mexicali Rose HimselfGeorge Sherman Luana Walters Smiley BurnetteRepublic Pictures
1939 Blue Montana Skies HimselfB. Reeves EasonJune StoreySmiley BurnetteRepublic Pictures
1939 Mountain Rhythm HimselfB. Reeves EasonJune StoreySmiley BurnetteRepublic Pictures
1939 Colorado Sunset HimselfGeorge ShermanJune StoreySmiley BurnetteRepublic Pictures
1939 In Old Monterey HimselfJoseph KaneJune StoreySmiley BurnetteRepublic Pictures
1939 Rovin' Tumbleweeds HimselfGeorge Sherman Mary Carlisle Smiley BurnetteRepublic Pictures
1939 South of the Border HimselfGeorge ShermanJune StoreySmiley BurnetteRepublic Pictures
1940 Rancho Grande Himself Frank McDonald June StoreySmiley BurnetteRepublic Pictures
1940 Shooting High Will Carson Alfred E. Green Marjorie Weaver 20th Century Fox
1940 Gaucho Serenade HimselfFrank McDonaldJune StoreySmiley BurnetteRepublic Pictures
1940 Carolina Moon HimselfFrank McDonaldJune StoreySmiley BurnetteRepublic Pictures
1940 Ride, Tenderfoot, Ride HimselfFrank McDonaldJune StoreySmiley BurnetteRepublic Pictures
1940 Melody Ranch HimselfJoseph Santley Ann Miller Jimmy Durante Republic Pictures
1941 Ridin' on a Rainbow Himself Lew Landers Carol AdamsSmiley BurnetteRepublic Pictures
1941 Back in the Saddle HimselfLew Landers Julie Bishop Smiley BurnetteRepublic Pictures
1941 The Singing Hill HimselfLew Landers Virginia Dale Smiley BurnetteRepublic Pictures
1941 Sunset in Wyoming HimselfWilliam Morgan Maris Wrixon Smiley BurnetteRepublic Pictures
1941 Under Fiesta Stars HimselfFrank McDonaldCarol HughesSmiley BurnetteRepublic Pictures
1941 Down Mexico Way Himself Joseph Santley Fay McKenzie Smiley BurnetteRepublic Pictures
1941 Sierra Sue HimselfWilliam MorganFay McKenzieSmiley BurnetteRepublic Pictures
1942 Cowboy Serenade HimselfWilliam MorganFay McKenzieSmiley BurnetteRepublic Pictures
1942 Heart of the Rio Grande HimselfWilliam MorganFay McKenzieSmiley BurnetteRepublic Pictures
1942 Home in Wyomin' HimselfWilliam MorganFay McKenzieSmiley BurnetteRepublic Pictures
1942 Stardust on the Sage HimselfWilliam Morgan Louise Currie Smiley BurnetteRepublic Pictures
1942 Call of the Canyon HimselfJoseph Santley Ruth Terry Smiley BurnetteRepublic Pictures
1942 Bells of Capistrano HimselfWilliam Morgan Virginia Grey Smiley BurnetteRepublic Pictures
1946 Sioux City Sue HimselfFrank McDonald Lynne Roberts Sterling Holloway Republic Pictures
1947 Trail to San Antone HimselfJohn English Peggy Stewart Sterling HollowayRepublic Pictures
1947 Twilight on the Rio Grande HimselfFrank McDonald Adele Mara Sterling HollowayRepublic Pictures
1947 Saddle Pals Himself Lesley Selander Lynne RobertsSterling HollowayRepublic Pictures
1947 Robin Hood of Texas HimselfLesley SelanderLynne RobertsSterling HollowayRepublic Pictures
1947 The Last Round-Up Himself John English Jean Heather Shug Fisher Columbia Pictures
1948 The Strawberry Roan HimselfJohn English Gloria Henry Pat Buttram / Rufe Davis Columbia Pictures
1948 Loaded Pistols HimselfJohn English Barbara Britton Chill Wills Columbia Pictures
1949 The Big Sombrero HimselfFrank McDonald Elena Verdugo noneColumbia Pictures
1949 Riders of the Whistling Pines HimselfJohn English Patricia White noneColumbia Pictures
1949 Rim of the Canyon HimselfJohn English Nan Leslie Clem Bevans Columbia Pictures
1949 The Cowboy and the Indians HimselfJohn English Sheila Ryan Hank Patterson Columbia Pictures
1949 Riders in the Sky HimselfJohn EnglishGloria HenryPat ButtramColumbia Pictures
1949 Sons of New Mexico HimselfJohn English Gail Davis Pat ButtramColumbia Pictures
1950 Mule Train HimselfJohn EnglishSheila RyanPat ButtramColumbia Pictures
1950 Cow Town HimselfJohn EnglishGail DavisPat ButtramColumbia Pictures
1950 Hoedown HimselfRay NazarroJeff DonnellColumbia Pictures
1950 Beyond the Purple Hills HimselfJohn EnglishJo DennisonPat ButtramColumbia Pictures
1950 Indian Territory HimselfJohn EnglishGail DavisPat ButtramColumbia Pictures
1950 The Blazing Sun HimselfJohn EnglishLynn RobertsPat ButtramColumbia Pictures
1951 Gene Autry and the Mounties HimselfJohn EnglishElena VerdugoPat ButtramColumbia Pictures
1951 Texans Never Cry HimselfFrank McDonaldGail DavisPat ButtramColumbia Pictures
1951 Whirlwind HimselfJohn EnglishGail DavisSmiley BurnetteColumbia Pictures
1951 Silver Canyon HimselfJohn EnglishGail DavisPat ButtramColumbia Pictures
1951 The Hills of Utah HimselfJohn English Elaine Riley Pat ButtramColumbia Pictures
1951 Valley of Fire HimselfJohn EnglishGail DavisPat ButtramColumbia Pictures
1952 The Old West Himself George Archainbaud Gail DavisPat ButtramColumbia Pictures
1952 Night Stage to Galveston HimselfGeorge Archainbaud Virginia Huston Pat ButtramColumbia Pictures
1952 Apache Country HimselfGeorge Archainbaud Carolina Cotton Pat ButtramColumbia Pictures
1952 Barbed Wire HimselfGeorge ArchainbaudAnne JamesPat ButtramColumbia Pictures
1952 Wagon Team HimselfGeorge ArchainbaudGail DavisPat ButtramColumbia Pictures
1952 Rainbow 'Round My Shoulder HimselfRichard Quine Charlotte Austin Columbia Pictures
1952 Blue Canadian Rockies HimselfGeorge ArchainbaudGail DavisPat ButtramColumbia Pictures
1953 Winning of the West HimselfGeorge ArchainbaudGail DavisSmiley BurnetteColumbia Pictures
1953 On Top of Old Smoky HimselfGeorge ArchainbaudGail DavisSmiley BurnetteColumbia Pictures
1953 Goldtown Ghost Riders HimselfGeorge ArchainbaudGail DavisSmiley BurnetteColumbia Pictures
1953 Pack Train HimselfGeorge ArchainbaudGail DavisSmiley BurnetteColumbia Pictures
1953 Saginaw Trail HimselfGeorge ArchainbaudConnie MarshallSmiley BurnetteColumbia Pictures
1953 Last of the Pony Riders HimselfGeorge ArchainbaudKathleen CaseSmiley BurnetteColumbia Pictures
1959 Alias Jesse James HimselfNorman Z. McLeodRhonda FlemingUnited Artists(scenes deleted)

Television

The Gene Autry Show first aired on the CBS television network on Sunday July 23, 1950 and ran for five years for a total of 91 episodes, with the last show airing on December 17, 1955. All the shows were produced by Autry's Flying A Pictures production company and were 30 minutes in length. Fifteen episodes were filmed in color. The Gene Autry Show continued to be broadcast in syndication well into the 1970s. [3] [5]

YearTitleDirectorLeading ladySidekickAirdate
1950Head for TexasFrank McDonaldBarbara StanleyPat ButtramJuly 23, 1950
1950Gold Dust CharlieFrank McDonaldSheila RyanPat ButtramJuly 30, 1950
1950The Silver ArrowFrank McDonaldSandy SandersPat ButtramAugust 6, 1950
1950The Doodle BugFrank McDonaldSheila RyanPat ButtramAugust 13, 1950
1950The Star ToterFrank McDonaldBarbara StanleyPat ButtramAugust 20, 1950
1950The Double SwitchFrank McDonaldPat ButtramAugust 27, 1950
1950Blackwater Valley FeudGeorge ArchainbaudGail DavisPat ButtramSeptember 3, 1950
1950Doublecross ValleyGeorge ArchainbaudGail DavisPat ButtramSeptember 10, 1950
1950The PosseGeorge ArchainbaudWendy WaldronPat ButtramSeptember 17, 1950
1950The Devil's BrandGeorge ArchainbaudGail DavisPat ButtramSeptember 24, 1950
1950The Poinsoned WaterholeFrank McDonaldSheila RyanPat ButtramOctober 8, 1950
1950The Lost ChanceFrank McDonaldPat ButtramOctober 15, 1950
1950The Black RiderFrank McDonaldSheila RyanPat ButtramOctober 22, 1950
1950Gunpowder RangeGeorge ArchainbaudGail DavisPat ButtramOctober 29, 1950
1950The BreakupGeorge ArchainbaudLynne RobertsPat ButtramNovember 5, 1950
1950Twisted TrailsGeorge ArchainbaudLynne RobertsPat ButtramNovember 12, 1950
1950The Fight at Peaceful MesaGeorge ArchainbaudGail DavisPat ButtramNovember 19, 1950
1950Hot LeadGeorge ArchainbaudAlan Hale Jr.November 26, 1950
1950The Gray DudeFrank McDonaldChill WillsDecember 3, 1950
1950The Killer HorseGeorge ArchainbaudAlan Hale Jr.December 10, 1950
1950The PeacemakerFrank McDonaldPeggy StewartChill WillsDecember 17, 1950
1950The Sheriff of Santa RoseGeorge ArchainbaudNan LeslieFuzzy KnightDecember 24, 1950
1950T.N.T.George ArchainbaudEilene JanssenFuzzy KnightDecember 24, 1950
1951The RaidersJohn EnglishNan LeslieFuzzy KnightApril 14, 1951
1951Double-Barreled VengeanceJohn EnglishNan LeslieFuzzy KnightApril 21, 1951

References

Citations
  1. 1 2 Magers, pp. 21–336.
  2. 1 2 Magers, pp. 400–401.
  3. 1 2 Magers, pp. 342–344.
  4. George-Warren, pp. 382–385.
  5. 1 2 Magers, pp. 345–391.
  6. 1 2 George-Warren, p. 3.
  7. Hardy, Phil (1984). The Encyclopedia of Western Movies. Woodbury Press. ISBN   978-0830004058.
  8. "Quigley Publishing Top Ten MoneyMakers Poll". B Westerns. Retrieved April 7, 2014.
  9. "Top Ten Money Making Stars". Quigley Publishing. Archived from the original on December 21, 2014. Retrieved April 7, 2014.
  10. Magers, pp. 418–419.
  11. Magers, pp. 414–417.
  12. Magers, pp. 402–404.
  13. Green, pp. 132–133.
  14. "Gene Autry.com". Gene Autry Entertainment. Retrieved April 7, 2014.
Bibliography