I guess I've been a subscriber to the Encore Western Chammel for a couple of years now, and whenever my schedule permits, I'll check out a Gene Autry film that's usually scheduled for high noon on Sundays. What's amazing to me is that whenever I tune in, I never run into a repeat film. That streak remained unbroken today with "Trail to San Antone"; surprisingly as well, neither Smiley Burnette OR Pat Buttram was along for the ride in this one. The comic relief duties, if you can call it that, were handled by Sterling Holloway, who popped up now and again in Gene's pictures. Holloway's an acquired taste, but I do enjoy seeing him turn up from time to time.
I found it interesting in an early scene when Gene references that he recently got back from the War. It puts things in perspective, as a lot of his films took place in that strange chronological confluence that melded modern times with the Old West. Automobiles and airplanes didn't seem out of place in this picture, in fact one of the main plot points had Gene's neighboring rancher Kit Barlow (Peggy Stewart) fly over the local spreads in search of a missing stallion. Stewart had a more professional looking appearance than a lot of Gene's leading ladies, and perhaps for that reason did not get written into a personal relationship with him in the story.
The story involves Gene putting his trust in a former jockey who's been injured in a horse race, presumably engineered by Kit Barlow's business manager Cal Young (Tris Coffin). Of course, the jockey (Johnny Duncan) finds his self confidence and goes on to place second in a big money race at the finale, one of the few times in these flicks where the underdog doesn't come out on top. But it was good enough to give the youngster a fresh start, and give the film the happy ending it needed.
The musical duties in 'Trail' are handled by the Cass County Boys, with the title song book-ending the picture. I got a kick out of their rendition of 'Cowboy Blues' in which each member sings and plays their respective instrument while flat on their backs. Later on, the boys get into a pretty lively bunkhouse brawl with Sterling Holloway's character and his partner Rick Malloy (William Henry), before ironing out their differences and bringing home the bacon for Miss Barlow and her new jockey.
I found it interesting in an early scene when Gene references that he recently got back from the War. It puts things in perspective, as a lot of his films took place in that strange chronological confluence that melded modern times with the Old West. Automobiles and airplanes didn't seem out of place in this picture, in fact one of the main plot points had Gene's neighboring rancher Kit Barlow (Peggy Stewart) fly over the local spreads in search of a missing stallion. Stewart had a more professional looking appearance than a lot of Gene's leading ladies, and perhaps for that reason did not get written into a personal relationship with him in the story.
The story involves Gene putting his trust in a former jockey who's been injured in a horse race, presumably engineered by Kit Barlow's business manager Cal Young (Tris Coffin). Of course, the jockey (Johnny Duncan) finds his self confidence and goes on to place second in a big money race at the finale, one of the few times in these flicks where the underdog doesn't come out on top. But it was good enough to give the youngster a fresh start, and give the film the happy ending it needed.
The musical duties in 'Trail' are handled by the Cass County Boys, with the title song book-ending the picture. I got a kick out of their rendition of 'Cowboy Blues' in which each member sings and plays their respective instrument while flat on their backs. Later on, the boys get into a pretty lively bunkhouse brawl with Sterling Holloway's character and his partner Rick Malloy (William Henry), before ironing out their differences and bringing home the bacon for Miss Barlow and her new jockey.