Yodelin' Kid from Pine Ridge

Although in the film Gene Autry is from the town of Pine Ridge and gets to sing quite a few numbers, I don't believe I heard a single yodel come from him in the Yodelin' Kid From Pine Ridge. He was not a yodeler, unlike his main singing cowboy rival who would soon be making his first starring western Roy Rogers. Now he yodeled in just about every film he made.

In Yodelin' Kid From Pine Ridge, Gene is cast as Gene Autry Jr., a sensitive young man who is devoted to the cattle business, but does not like to see the violence developing between the cattlemen and a group of turpentiners who are from the hills. These transplanted hillbillies headed by Russell Simpson like the pine forests because they strip the bark off the pine trees and make turpentine to sell.

The cattlemen however want more grass acreage for the cattle to graze and want to burn down the forest. And they don't like the hillbillies just taking cattle whenever they need a meal. Cattlemen LeRoy Mason and Charles Middleton want to lead the effort to burn the forest. And Middleton is Gene Autry, Sr. Talk about exotic casting, Gene Autry as the son of Ming The Merciless.

Anyway Gene is banished from the councils of the cattlemen and joins a Wild West show and many years go by before he returns to Pine Ridge and only as part of the Wild West show. But he's back involved as soon as he returns. Part of the reason of his involvement is Russell Simpson's stepdaughter, former silent screen star Betty Bronson.

In the 54 minute running time a lot of singing and riding gets mixed in with a lot of gunplay as Gene finally gets to the bottom of the feud between the cattlemen and turpentiners. Not much suspense as it is revealed pretty early in the film, but I won't reveal it.

Smiley Burnette plays the head of the Wild West Show, not the usual sidekick part with Gene. He's still getting a lot of laughs, but you will not hear one frog croak which was part of his screen persona.

For fans of the great singing cowboy tycoon, Yodelin' Kid From Pine Ridge should please them.

Gene Autry and Ol' Frog put on another great extravaganza which is well directed by Joseph Kane. Betty Bronson always gives a fine performance as the Juliet to Autry's Romeo. Her dad, Russell Simpson is the west's favorite curmudgeon. You can't have a hero without a villain well played by favorite western heavy, Leroy Mason. Great to see a cameo by Fred 'Snowflake' Toones who was a staple in these early westerns.

This entry is on everyone's must-see list because it co-stars the legendary Betty Bronson. Betty had actually retired from movie-making in 1932, and after this "comeback", she didn't make another movie until A Pocketful of Miracles in 1961. Betty is absolutely lovely here and it's a thrill to see what a fine pair Gene and Betty make in this really top-notch script that helps to make it (as far as I'm concerned) one of Gene's top five pictures. Other assets include a fine support cast led by Smiley Burnette (who excels in what amounts to a character role), LeRoy Mason (a well-spoken heavy), Charles Middleton (Gene's dull-witted dad), and Russell Simpson (a delight as a really nasty piece of work). Good slots are also provided by Jack Dougherty (the heavy's partner in crime), Henry Hall (the sheriff), Jack Ingram and even Art Mix. Mr Toones, on the other hand, has – thankfully! – but one brief moment.

Despite its somewhat off-putting title, this entry shapes up as one of Gene's most vibrant and exciting. Even Joseph Kane, normally a rather humdrum director, seems to have realized the movie's potential and pulled out all stops to make it as thrilling as possible. Production values are great. (If you're quick, you can plainly spot Kane in a rare on screen appearance as one of the turpentiners. As far as I know he actually faced the camera only five times in his lengthy directorial and editing career).

Please note that while the Platinum Disc print is of good quality, it's mastered from the TV cut-down that's missing six minutes of essential footage, including the opening scenes of the street parade, other bits and pieces here and there, and the entire episode where Gene rides away from his home ranch after being dismissed by his dad, encounters Betty who asks him when he's coming back. Gene tells her that he doesn't know. A tearful Betty promises to wait for his return.

This Autry film is one of a hand full of his films that for years has been available to the public only in the 53 or 57 minute cut versions. Recently I had the opportunity to see the restored and uncut version on the Starz Westerns channel a few weeks back and what a difference the added 6 or 7 minutes make. The restored version includes a scene of Gene saddling up and singing a nice trail song as he leaves his ranch following his banishment by his father for warning the rival group. Along the way he meets Millie Branum ( Betty Bronson), a young starving girl he befriended earlier by giving her a calf. Millie gives him his rope back and asks him if he will ever return. Gene replies that he doesn't know and Millie blurts out that she will be waiting for him. As Gene rides away continuing his song you see Millie watching him leave as tears stream from her eyes. Also restored are scenes of newspaper headlines superimposed over rodeo footage of Autry's success on the rodeo circuit. Finally an announcement that he is coming back to Pine Ridge with a traveling show. There is more nice restored footage of the show's parade into town with Champion prancing and marching to the music. (The Champion shown in these scenes is not the original screen Champ since he had only three white stockings . The horse used in these scenes has four white stockings.)However, Gene spots his Dad from the parade route and rides over to him, sticks out his had and says " hello Dad". His father turns and walks away. This movie also contains some of Autry's best riding of all his movies. Many closeup chase scenes and running stirrup mounts that clearly show that it is in deed Gene performing these feats. In all a much more enjoyable movie in the restored version.

Excellent storyline. Beautifully upscale sets. Nice direction and marvelous character actors. Plus Autry gets the most interesting girl he's been paired with in his movies! Thank goodness we didn't have to see him in Africa again!!!!