Prairie Moon

"Prairie Moon" is a most unusual sort of Gene Autry film. While it has the standard bad guys who rustle cattle, it also features a trio of young punks which make this a one of a kind western.

When the story begins, a wanted criminal is killed in a shootout. Gene is there and witnesses his old friend-turned-bad as he dies. With his dying breaths, he asks Gene to be the godfather for his three boys back east. Gene agrees...not realizing these boys are little gangsters at heart!

In many ways, you can see that this film was influenced by earlier films like "Dead End" and the punk kid films were very popular in the late 30s and through the 40s....though I can't say I ever saw one that was a western! Fun and a great change of pace for Autry.