In Old Monterey

Fun, forgettable comedy actioner with Frog and Autry and the added bonus of the legendary Gabby Hayes to round off the comedy talent. Autry's sent on a special mission by the army to convince a town to give up its land so the army can run drills there. Yes, it's a war preparedness western, in which the ego-centered ethic of the West is turned on its head by Autry convincing Hayes and the other townsfolk to abandon their homes and livelihoods for the greater good. A few songs are sun (no outstanding material from Burnette).

Not especially entertaining, but not particularly unpleasant.

Sergeant Gene Autry, Smiley Burnette, and the Ranch Boys have served out their enlistment, but Gene convinces them to re-up by singing "My Buddy." Before he can sign his reenlistment papers, Autry is sent by Major Robert Warwick to talk to a ranch town near the camp; the army needs the land for a practice range, but they don't want to give up their land. Autry goes in as having bought one of the ranches, and Burnette and the boys desert to go with him. He just about convinces them, but there's someone using a biplane with Army markings to wreak havoc, which gets everyone's freedom-loving blood up.

There are plenty of loose threads left hanging in this singing western, but if you want to see a US Cavalry charge in 1939, Burnette destroying everything in sight as he instantly figures out how to maneuver a tank, and hear favorites like "Tumbling Tumbleweeds" and "Born In The Saddle", this is the mildly incoherent but very patriotic movie for you. With June Storey, Gabby Hayes, and Jonathan Hale.

"In Old Monterey" (which, by the way, is not close at all to where the story actually supposedly took place), the US Army Air Corps apparently 'needs' a small western town to vacate in order to use the land for maneuvers. But, at the same time, the local borax mining company is stirring up the locals against selling their land to the government because the miners don't want to relocate either. The company keeps stirring up the locals with various atrocities that they blame on the government....and the incredibly dumb and fickle locals are led by a complete idiot, Gabby (Gabby Hayes). I may sound harsh...but one minute, Gabby is ready to take on the entire US Army...the next, literally, he's 100% in favor of selling out to them! And, amazingly enough, just a moment later he's once again ready to take up arms against the army!! To try to work with the Army AND locals, Sgt. Autry goes undercover....along with his posse of army buddies.

The plot here is pretty nonsensical and Gabby and the town being THIS fickle is just bad writing. I love Autry films....but not this one. The only major plus is Gene singing his best rendition of "Tumbling Tumbleweeds" because of backup he received from The Hoosier Hotshots....it really is lovely. But otherwise, it's yet another pre-WWII propaganda film (like "Buck Privates" and "Caught in the Draft") designed to prepare the US public to get behind the cause if there is war.

Gene is sent by the army to do some undercover work. The town folk led by Gabby Hayes refuse to let the army bomb their town for much needed war training. Western festival favorite, June Storey has Autry totally distracted as do the villains, well played by Jonathan Hale and William Hall. Silent film star, Robert Warwick is leading a fierce charge for the army whilst multi-talented Billy Lee befriends Gene. Ol' Frog drives a mean mini tank and Paul Trietsch plays a mean washboard with the great Hoosier Hotshots. It's classic Gabby with his many war stories and a great cast loaded with great stunt work.

The sixth of seven movies made by Gene Autry in 1939. A western movie with cars, airplanes and military tanks. Sgt.Gene Autry is an Army attache assigned to purchase ranch land for an Army training ground and bombing range. Autry crosses ways with a greedy group of ranchers who are holding out for an unreasonably steep price for their land. Of course Autry always finds time to sing...a few of the songs featured are "My Buddy", "Little Pardner" and the classic "Tumbling Tumble Weeds". Also in the cast are:Smiley Burnette, June Storey, 'Gabby' Hayes, William Hall and Johnathan Hale. Falls a little short of your typical shoot 'em up. This original Republic Pictures film has recently been refurbished.