THE OLD CORRAL (1936) Gene Autry, Smiley Burnette & Irene Manning | Drama, Western | B&W

The Old Corral is a 1936 American Western film directed by Joseph Kane and starring Gene Autry, Smiley Burnette, and Irene Manning. Based on a story by Bernard McConville, the film is about a sheriff of a small western town who sings his way into a relationship with a singer from a Chicago nightclub who earlier witnessed a murder. The supporting cast features Lon Chaney Jr. and Roy Rogers.

SYNOPSIS
As the sheriff of a small Western town, Autry sings his way into a relationship with Eleanor, a singer from a Chicago nightclub who earlier witnessed a murder.

After witnessing nightclub owner Tony Pearl murdered by gangster Mike Scarlotti (John Bradford), blues singer Eleanor Spenser (Irene Manning) flees Chicago and heads West on a bus. Soon her picture appears in newspapers across the country. The bus makes a stop in Turquoise City, New Mexico, where Martin Simms (Cornelius Keefe), the crooked owner of the Blue Moon saloon, befriends Eleanor. After seeing her picture in the newspapers, Simms, who is hoping to collect a reward from Scarlotti, sends the gangster a telegram revealing Eleanor's whereabouts.

The bus is held up by the O'Keefe Brothers (Sons of the Pioneers), a local aspiring singing troupe seeking publicity. Sheriff Gene Autry (Gene Autry) arrests all of the O'Keefe Brothers, except Buck and Tom who escape. Meanwhile, Simms sees Eleanor preparing to leave town and is able to convince her to stay. Gene arrives on the scene and recognizes Eleanor from the bus. She introduces herself as Jane Edwards, the new entertainer at his Blue Moon saloon. Sometime later Gene sees Eleanor's picture in a newspaper and goes to the Blue Moon saloon to protect her against Simms. Gene and Eleanor end up singing a song together.

Gene discovers Buck and Tom in their hideout at the old corral and hires the O'Keefes to perform at the town plaza for Turquoise City's celebration of its new dam. During the concert, Scarlotti arrives and threatens Simms, trying to force him to reveal Eleanor's whereabouts. Deputy Frog (Smiley Burnette) is able to warn Eleanor about Scarlotti's arrival and takes her to the old corral to hide.

CAST & CREW
Gene Autry as Sheriff Gene Autry
Smiley Burnette as Deputy Frog
Irene Manning as Eleanor Spencer, aka Jane Edwards
Sons of the Pioneers as O'Keefe Brothers
Champion as Champ, Gene's Horse
Cornelius Keefe as Martin Simms
Lon Chaney Jr. as Garland
John Bradford as Mike Scarlotti
Milburn Morante as Clem Snodgrass
Abe Lefton as Abe
Merrill McCormick as Joe
Charles Sullivan as Frank
Buddy Roosevelt as Tony
Lynton Brent as Dunn
Frankie Marvin as Wife-beating Prisoner
Ed 'Oscar' Platt as Oscar
Lou Fulton as Elmer

Directed by Joseph Kane
Screenplay by Sherman L. Lowe, Joseph F. Poland
Story by Bernard McConville
Produced by Nat Levine
Cinematography Edgar Lyons
Edited by Lester Orlebeck
Production company Republic Pictures
Distributed by Republic Pictures
Release date December 21, 1936 (U.S.)
Running time 54 minutes
Country United States
Language English

NOTES
The film features an unshaven Roy Rogers in his second Gene Autry film, then identified under his actual birth name, Leonard Slye, as the leader of the O'Keefe Brothers, played by the singing Sons of the Pioneers, a troupe of western singers trying to break into radio. Rogers' first appearance, in which he and his group rob a busload of people to garner publicity, ends with Autry threatening to arrest Rogers as soon as he's back on a horse. Sixteen months after The Old Corral was released, in the wake of a walkout from the studio by Gene Autry, newly renamed "Roy Rogers" starred in his first feature film, Under Western Stars. The Old Corral would remain Autry's and Rogers' only film together however Roy Rogers appeared in the Gene Autry film The Big Show (released 16 November 1936) with the Sons of the Pioneers as one of several musical acts appearing the film with no interaction with Autry.