OH, SUSANNA! (1936) Gene Autry, Smiley Burnette & Frances Grant | Drama, Western | B&W

Oh, Susanna! is a 1936 American Western film directed by Joseph Kane and starring Gene Autry, Smiley Burnette, and Frances Grant. Written by Oliver Drake, the film is about a cowboy who is robbed and then thrown from a train by an escaped murderer who then takes on the cowboy's identity.

SYNOPSIS
While riding to Mineral Springs Autry is robbed by thieves and then tossed off the train.

Singing cowboy Gene Autry (Gene Autry) is traveling to Mineral Springs Ranch to visit an old friend, Jefferson Lee (Carl Stockdale), whom he hasn't seen in fifteen years. On the train, he is robbed and then thrown from the train by escaped murderer Wolf Benson (Boothe Howard). Believing Gene to be dead, Wolf plans to travel to Mineral Springs Ranch and pose as the radio celebrity in order to collect the $10,000 that Lee owes Gene.

Meanwhile, Gene is rescued by traveling actors Frog Millhouse (Smiley Burnette) and Professor Ezekial Daniels (Earle Hodgins). Together they travel to Sage City, where Gene gets into a fight with Sheriff Briggs (Walter James), who believes he is Wolf, and chokes the singing cowboy. Arrested for Wolf's crimes, Gene is unable to sing in order to prove his identity. At the trial, Gene mouths the words to his songs while a phonograph plays, and after the jury listens, Gene is set free.

Wolf arrives at Lee's Mineral Springs Ranch pretending to be Gene and asks for his money back. Knowing he is an impostor, Lee refuses to give him the money and Wolf shoots him and robs his safe. On his way to Mineral Springs, Gene comes across a posted reward for "Gene Autry", the murderer of Jefferson Lee. Gene meets Lee's niece Mary Ann (Frances Grant), who is riding with Flash Baldwin (Donald Kirke), Wolf's accomplice. Gene notices that Baldwin is wearing his own suit, and decides to pose as Tex Smith, offering to perform at the Lee ranch in place of Gene Autry. After finding his suitcase in Baldwin's room, Gene overhears Wolf's scheme to rob the ranch safe, but Baldwin recognizes Gene's voice by playing his record while he sings.

CAST & CREW
Gene Autry as Gene Autry / Tex Smith
Smiley Burnette as Frog Millhouse
Frances Grant as Mary Ann Lee
Earle Hodgins as Professor Ezekial Daniels
Donald Kirke as Flash Baldwin
Boothe Howard as Wolf Benson
The Light Crust Doughboys as Western Band
Champion as Champion, Autry's Horse
Clara Kimball Young as Aunt Peggy Lee
Edward Peil Sr. as Mineral Springs Sheriff
Frankie Marvin as Henchman Hank
Carl Stockdale as Jefferson Lee
Roscoe Gerald as Irate Farmer
Roger Gray as Sage City Judge
Fred Burns as Cottonwood Sheriff Jones
Walter James as Sage City Sheriff Briggs
Lew Meehan as Henchman Pete
Fred Snowflake Toones as Train Porter

Directed by Joseph Kane
Written by Oliver Drake
Produced by Nat Levine
Cinematography William Nobles
Edited by Lester Orlebeck
Music by Harry Grey (supervisor)
Production company Republic Pictures
Distributed by Republic Pictures
Release date August 19, 1936 (U.S.)
Running time 54 minutes
Country United States
Language English