Dude Ranch (1931) User Reviews (3)

the luminous beauty of June Collyer

[kidboots · 7/10 · 6 May 2009]

With the success of George Gershwins' "Girl Crazy", dude ranches were suddenly popular. They were ranches where city slickers and college boys were sent by their fathers, to toughen them up. "Dude Ranch" was a Paramount comedy which starred Stuart Erwin as Chester Carr, a manager of a dude ranch in the Rockies that is falling on hard times. Guests are leaving because it is too tame. When a traveling troupe of ham actors arrive, having fallen on hard times, Carr hatches a plan (in exchange for food and lodging) for the troupe to rustle up some thrills and excitement so that irritated guest, Spruce Meadows (Charles Sellon) will be entertained enough to stay on.

The troupe put on an old fashioned melodrama, complete with a dastardly villain, Black Jeb (Eugene Palette), hero Mr. Kilroy (Jack Oakie) and defenseless child (Mitzi Green). Their play is instantly believed and Kilroy is praised as a hero - he later spies Sue Meadows (the lovely June Collyer) and is completely smitten. Meanwhile a group of robbers pay the dude ranch a visit and the leader also falls for Sue. The troupe stage a mock fight and when the gangster leader draws a gun on Kilroy, and Kilroy stands up to him, Sue realises Kilroy is the man for her.

The gangsters hold up the local bank but when people offer up descriptions, it also fits Kilroy (white ten gallon hat, white chaps etc)!!! When Alice (Mitzi Green) is told to get the make up case from the barn she accidentally picks up the wrong case - it is the one with cash that the robbers have stored there. When the sheriff arrests Kilroy the robbers kidnap Sue and it is up to Alice to round up the troupe and save the day. Kilroy, who has been branded a coward gets to show all his wild west skills as he captures the caravan and saves the girl.

One extraordinary thing is that "Out of Nowhere" became an instant hit and is now a standard. Bing Crosby recorded it and also sang it in "Confessions of a Co-ed" released the same year (1931). "Dude Ranch" was the film that introduced it, along with "Consolation" but both were only used as background music while guests danced.

Mitzi Green, who excelled in "bratty" type children's roles was excellent here as Alice the "hammy" child actor. She made 11 films for Paramount and they certainly knew how to display her talents. The female lead was the beautiful June Collyer, who found her own romantic fairy tale in this film when she met Stuart Erwin. They were married soon after and had one of the happiest and most long lasting marriages in Hollywood.

Highly Recommended.

Tries Too Hard

[GManfred · 14 August 2016]

Stu Erwin is the manager of a financially strapped Dude Ranch. Jack Oakie's acting troupe happens by, and they are in the same predicament. They agree to work for food, and stage a drama which is meant to be a real life drama for the clientele, who are bored due to lack of excitement. As the phony drama unfolds, the guests are spellbound and decide to stay for a while longer. At the same time a group of gangsters checks in. They are planning to rob a local bank but try to blend in with the guests.

Predictable hi-jinks ensue, all too tiresome to recount. The movie tries too hard to please, and so does Jack Oakie. The result is a painful comedy which is mercifully short at 71 minutes - but seems longer. It is staggering to see both Mankeiwicz brothers listed as writers for this picture. At best it is a harmless way to spend one's time, and it has its moments. A young June Collyer is the female lead and resembles Mary Astor. Played at Capitolfest, Rome, N.Y., 8/12/16.

An Unfunny Comedy

[boblipton · 4/10 · 20 May 2022]

Stu Erwin's dude ranch is going broke. Now Charles Sellon -- who reminds me here of Ned Sparks, but without the warmth -- is about to leave with his daughter, June Collyer. Starving thespians Jak Oakie, Eugene Pallette, Mitzi Green, and Cecil Weston agree to spice things up for digs and doughnuts.

Unfortunately, it soon becomes clear why they're starving: they're awful actors. Of course the idea is to play that for laughs, but even the usually dependable Frank Tuttle can't draw a laugh out of this bunch. There's a sock-o finish with Oakie trying to prove he's brave, but overall, this movie is an example of why some movies are forgotten, and proof that being old doesn't make something a classic.