In Old Monterey (1939) User Reviews (10)

Gabby Hayes as a survivalist

[krorie · 6/10 · 26 March 2006]

This somewhat routine Gene Autry oater is worthwhile for several reasons. One, the fans get not only Smiley Burnette (Frog Millhouse) and his rather sophomoric humor but Gabby Hayes and his tall tales as well. Gabby starts out as a survivalist against the government, even firing his pistol at a passing US plane, but ends up a patriot thanks to Gene's intervention. Gabby tells those who will listen that he's fought in seven wars and explains several different times, each one involving a different legend of the Old West, how he won the medal he wears on his chest.

Second, the fabulous Hoosier Hot Shots are part of the action and get to showcase their musical talents, with Frog joining in. The Hoosier Hot Shots were exceptional musicians who let music making become a fun activity. They were sort of a hillbilly version of Spike Jones' City Slickers, and had several hit records to their credit. Their leader, Hezzie (Paul Trietsch), played a souped-up washboard the likes of which you've never seen. There's one scene in particular where their antics foreshadow those of Jerry Lee Lewis. While performing on stage, they proceed to destroy their musical instruments. Frog even rips the keys from the piano and Hezzie gets hit over the head with the guitar.

Third, there are several rousing action sequences including Gene atop Champion chasing down a speeding locomotive, Frog attempting to maneuver a runaway tank, and Gene shooting down an airplane with a rifle. The stunt work is marvelous. Even the few musical interludes fail to impede the excitement of the chases and fisticuffs.

On the minus side, two hillbilly ladies from the Grand Ole Opry, Sarie and Sallie, make a lame attempt to be funny. Where is Minnie Pearl when we need her? Thankfully, this was their only film role.

Another weakness is the length of the film, way too long. Even big budget B westerns worked better in a 50 to 60 minute time slot. Several subplots such as the one involving the boy Jimmy Whittaker could have been eliminated.

Hitler's war had begun in Europe with his invasion of Poland, so much of the patriotism, including the singing of "Columbia, the Gem of the Ocean," was topical and relevant. But today this part of the film seems quaint and distant, though still important from a historical perspective.

Gene Autry Pre WWII Pep Rally

[Bill-16 · 7/10 · 29 August 2010]

Lots of slapstick and Pre WWII military machinery.

High patriotism even had me signing along and waving the Stars and Stripes at times. I almost enlisted before I remembered I was too old for service.

I was particularly interested in the pre war aircraft and even a mini tank that provided some humor with Smiley Burnette at the helm. Planes, a tank and even a calvary charge. Some Three Stooges slapstick along with the usual fight scenes made this a cut above the usual Autry Oater of the time.

I'd go to war with Sgt. Autry anytime. Shooting a plane down with his trusty Winchester, Yee Ha!

"It'll take more than a few bombs to move us out!"

[classicsoncall · 5/10 · 8 August 2009]

With all due respect to the memory of Gene Autry, this might be the dumbest movie he ever made, at least among the dozen plus or so I've been able to watch and review over the past year on the Encore Western Channel. Gene is alternately cast as a hero and a villain as he attempts to persuade the ranchers of Colby Basin to sell their land to the government for military maneuvers. The most intriguing part of the movie was Gene's rousing speech to the town hall gathering where he described the scenes of destruction of World War II in the Far East and Europe, already under way in 1939. A majority of the country felt isolationist at the time, and I found it interesting that Republic Pictures in their own way were preparing the audience for America's eventual involvement in the War. In fact, by the end of Gene's speech, it seemed almost inevitable.

Patriotism aside though, the story itself is a bit of a mess. It probably would have been enough to keep the story focused on the Army versus the ranchers, but another element was added with the crooked owner of the Atlas Borax Company. He kept the ranchers riled up so the Army would feel compelled to offer a higher price for their properties, just so he could profit as well. I was surprised actually, that his sabotage wound up killing Gene's young pal Jimmy (Billy Lee), for which Gene had to bear the brunt of the blame at the time. That seemed to go a bit far in pursuit of the story.

As in most of Gene Autry's pictures, Smiley Burnette's on hand as Frog Millhouse, but the added bonus here was the presence of Gabby Hayes as the leader of the ranchers. Gabby's speech is punctuated with all the 'consarns' and 'galdurns' you'd expect, as he manufactures a personal record of military service covering seven wars and associated heroics.

If all of that weren't enough, the picture packs enough songs into it's hour plus run time to almost be considered a musical. Gene is alternately joined or replaced by Smiley, the Hoosier Hot Shots and The Ranch Boys in a whole host of musical interludes. Gene himself chimes in with 'Tumbling Tumbleweeds', along with the title song, 'In Old Monterey'. That one had me scratching my head actually, since there was no connection to the film's title beyond that opening number; all the action took place in the town of Colby and Colby Basin.

A "B" western that is actually an "A"!

[JohnHowardReid · 7/10 · 11 April 2018]

Copyright 14 August 1939 by Republic Pictures Corp. No recorded New York opening. U.S. release: 14 August 1939. U.K. release through British Lion. Australian release through British Empire Films: 11 April 1940. 8 reels. 6,553 feet. 73 minutes.

SYNOPSIS: Gene, as an army man, is assigned to try and straighten out the difficulties with the ranchers who occupy a section the government wants to use a proving grounds for bombing planes. With a bunch of army buddies Gene joins the ranchers using his experience as a former cowhand to win them over to the government's point of view. But the owner of a large and profitable borax works does not want the army to come in. With his henchman he tries to make it appear that the army fliers are using ruthless tactics to frighten the ranchers. The latter determine to offer armed resistance to the take over. They throw up a barricade in the town but Gene comes up with proof that the borax owner and his gang are responsible for the dirty work.

NOTES: Autry's 35th of his 94 movies.

COMMENT: An unusual Autry vehicle in a number of ways. The plot is used as a peg on which to hang a great deal of patriotic talk and a defence of the superior fighting force concept that still figures strongly even in present-day politics. The villains kill the heroine's kid brother. There are no less than seven songs (we enjoyed all of them) plus a zingy musical interlude by the Hoosier Hot Shots. Comic relief is cut to a minimum once the plot gets into stride and Burnette's part virtually disappears (he has no songs either).

There is nonetheless a fair amount of action topped by one of the most large-scale climactic action sequences ever filmed for a B-western - a shoot-out involving hundreds of extras and considerable location filming. The locations are quite strikingly used in a few shots too. Some of the earlier action pieces use stock footage but the climax is all-new material.

Autry is in good voice and even does one of his own stunts though a stand-in is rather obviously used in an early bronco-busting sequence. Burnette and Hayes turn in their usual characterizations. Miss Storey makes a pretty heroine, though her part is small. Hale does a much more convincing job here as the villain than he does as Mr Dithers in the Blondie films. The direction is fast-paced and other credits are equally smooth.

Singing cowboy rides the range for the Army.

[michaelRokeefe · 3/10 · 30 June 2003]

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.

Middle of the road Autry war preparation film

[funkyfry · 5/10 · 5 December 2002]

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.

Autry, Hero Or Villain?

[frank4122 · 10/10 · 10 June 2020]

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.

Talk about a town full of dumb and fickle people!

[planktonrules · 3/10 · 31 August 2020]

"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.

Sheer audacity

[bkoganbing · 3/10 · 26 July 2013]

Talk about dated, if a picture like In Old Monterey ever were made today with the plot premise it had it would be picketed and hooted off the screen. It was only in 1939 with war clouds gathering over Europe that the ideas put forth here could be advanced.

Gene Autry plays an army sergeant who goes on detached duty to do of all things persuade several ranchers to give up their lands held as Gabby Hayes says by several generations over to the army for their military war games, specifically those of the Army Air Corps. Of course in this mix are a pair of villains looking to exploit the situation for their own nefarious ends.

We are told that there are no other suitable lands available to which I say that is so much cattle waste product.

And in a burst of patriotic fervor Gene actually talks these people into it. I was staggered to say the least.

In the true tradition of B westerns the film has absolutely nothing to do with Monterey or old Mexico other It Happened In Monterey is among the songs that Autry sings in the film.

The audacity of this message for today's audience is unbelievable.

Why Are They Trying To Stir Up Trouble?

[boblipton · 5/10 · 17 August 2023]

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.