Carolina Moon (1940)

Nice effects though.

Expected more

Admirable film.

It's entirely possible that sending the audience out feeling lousy was intentional

I don't like westerns in a contemporary setting. Smiley Burnette and Gene Autry have little opportunity to wear their six-guns. And Smiley's routines consist mainly of a very familiar and so-so running gag (daughter is pursuing him, accompanied by her dad who is threatening Smiley with a shot-gun). Even the climax — which in an Autry western can usually be relied upon to provide some excitement — is very tame indeed. The Autry formula also provides a sequence in which the star's double gallops after a runaway, but that too is most lethargically handled here.At its best, Frank McDonald's direction might merely be designated thoroughly routine. But in Carolina Moon, Mr. McDonald's efforts could occasionally be described as downright incompetent. Photography, as usual, looks flat and appears washed out. Production values stack up less than average. Fortunately, the tedium is relieved by a few songs (though not as many or as lively as we've come to expect).Long on talk, short on action. Long on stock footage, short on genuine excitement. Long on hammy acting, very short on personable performances. Long on static, one-dimensional, cardboard characterizations, pitifully short on solid plotting. Long on doomed-to-fail attempts at comedy relief, culpably short on production values. Carolina Moon (despite its attractive title song) is one Autry vehicle which even the star's most devoted fans will be thankful to miss.

This Autry-Republic entry is more plot-heavy than most. Basically, however, it's the standard matinée premise of baddies trying to swindle land from honest owners. Here, however, the conflict is transferred to southern plantation owners, plus a thoroughbred (Champion) whose ownership keeps changing hands. Nonetheless, Republic works in some good rodeo footage, plus a steeplechase race, of all things. No fast shooting or much hard riding for action fans. Still, there's the big fists and clubs battle at the end. Lots of good songs, especially the Stephen Foster "Old Folks at Home" sung traditional style by a Black folk chorus. Some good bits by Frog Burnette without being buffoonish, and I really like spunky little Mary Lee who's also something of a delightful songbird. All in all, it's excellent Autry entertainment, despite the Negro stereotypes of the time.A "7" on the matinée rating scale.

Whoa!!! - did I hear that line right? And Gene's on the receiving end to boot, from black Mammy Etta McDaniel when the Stanhope thoroughbred (that would be Valdina) goes on a tear. That's not the only racial embarrassment in the film when viewed from the vantage point of today's political correctness. There's also Smiley Burnette in black-face posing as said Mammy later in the story. Fortunately the film achieves some balance with an all black song troupe offering up a spiritual rendering of 'Swanee River' followed up by a livelier tune later on. Both were quite well done and enhanced the musical offerings usually left to Gene and one of his cowboy back-up bands.In a business deal at the center of the story, Gene bails out Southern plantation owner Grandad Stanhope (Eddy Waller) with some rodeo winnings of his after the old coot bets above his head and loses. As collateral, Gene takes possession of Valdina, but comes to realize that the Stanhopes and their neighbor plantation owners are all about to be taken advantage of by Henry Wheeler-dealer (Hardie Albright). The local landowners are unaware that the timber on their property has suddenly acquired market value, and Wheeler wants it all for himself.After getting off on the wrong foot with Miss Caroline Stanhope (June Storey), Gene begins his investigation to set things right for the locals. As usual, Frog has a sub-plot on the side trying to avoid a gun duel with Colonel Jefferson (Frank Dae) and marriage to his daughter Evangeline (Terry Nibert). There's a third female cast member, Mary Lee as Stanhope sister Patsy, who manages to offer up a couple of songs along the way herself.Keep an eye on that steeplechase race in which Gene goes up against villain Wheeler. I stopped counting at four over the different types of racetracks the event was taking place on. It started out on a grass field, hit a standard race track, and also managed to include a number of different barriers for the horses to jump. This all might have confused your average horse, which makes sense that Champion sat this one out.

Gene Autry travels to the deep south. Colonel Stanhope(Eddy Waller)enters his daughter Caroline's(June Storey)horse in a rodeo in hopes of winning enough money to satisfy the evil Henry Wheeler(Hardie Albright), who has big plans on cheating folks like Stanhope out of their plantations. Gene and his sidekick Frog Millhouse(Smiley Burnette)help convince the landowners into cutting and selling their once thought worthless timber to save their plantations. There is time for such tunes as "Dreaming Dreams That Won't Come True", "At The Rodeo" and "Carolina Moon". Other players include: Mary Lee, Robert Fiske, Paul White and Etta McDaniel.