Whirlwind

For a movie that would have been seen only at the drive-in, this is a first-rate production. Gene is "Gene," and that is a good thing, but Smiley Burnette never looked or sounded better, and the lovely Gail Davis gives a hint of the luminescent "Annie Oakley" whom we (those of us old enough to remember) would come to love in just 5 years. The story is believable, the dialog is snappy, and the film moves along at a good pace. The bad guys are not just slugs; they are interesting in their own right. The scene where Smiley comes to the rescue of Gene is priceless. The songs are not exceptional, but it is easy to see why Gene was the star that he was. It's a winner.