Sierra Sue

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Sierra Sue

Theatrical release poster
Directed by William Morgan
Produced by Harry Grey
Screenplay by
  • Earl Felton
  • Julian Zimet
Starring
Music by Raoul Kraushaar (supervisor)
Cinematography Jack A. Marta
Editing by Lester Orlebeck
Studio Republic Pictures
Distributed by Republic Pictures
Release dates
  • November 12, 1941 (1941-11-12) (USA)
Running time 64 minutes[1]
Country United States
Language English
Budget $88,425[1]

Sierra Sue is a 1941 American Western film directed by William Morgan and starring Gene Autry, Smiley Burnette, and Fay McKenzie. Written by Earl Felton and Julian Zimet, the film is about a government inspector investigating a poisonous weed that is destroying the rangeland supporting the area's cattle. The inspector must persuade the ranchers to reject a plan to burn the land and support a new process of chemical spraying from an airplane.[1] The film features the popular Autry songs "Be Honest With Me", "Ridin' the Range", and the title track.[1]

Plot

In Sierra City, the president of the Western Stockman's Association, George Larrabee (Robert Homans), orders the ranchers of the area to burn their land in response to a poisonous weed that threatens to overgrow the rangeland and kill the cattle. Troubled by Larrabee's orders, local bank president Stacy Bromfield (Frank M. Thomas), a long-time supporter of the ranchers, tries to persuade Larrabee that the burning will not be effective. Concerned that the ranchers will all be ruined, Bromfield contacts the Department of Agriculture, requesting that a weed exterminator specialist investigate. Although suspicious of government intervention, Larrabee grudgingly agrees after Bromfield convinces the other ranchers to cooperate.

While riding to Sierra City, singing cowboy and government specialist Gene Autry (Gene Autry) meets Larrabee's daughter Sue (Fay McKenzie) who does not know he is from the Department of Agriculture. When she sees Gene and his sidekick Frog Millhouse (Smiley Burnette) rescue the wounded pilot of a crashed plane—a plane carrying a large loan to Bromfield—Sue mistakenly assumes that Gene and Frog have stolen the money and has them arrested. Gene's assistant, Jarvis (Kermit Maynard), arrives to identify them, and soon Gene and Frog are freed from jail.

Later in Sierra City, at a Western Stockman's Association meeting, Gene tells the ranchers that burning will not work—that in fact it will only cause regrowth—and that the only way to get rid of the weed is through chemical spraying. The ranchers agree to follow Gene's recommendations, but Larrabee still resists. Soon after, Gene has a confrontation with Larrabee's foreman, Brandywine (Earle Hodgins), after he attempts to burn the Larrabee land. Gene is able to convince Sue and her father to keep an open mind, and that for the chemical spraying to work, all the ranchers must cooperate. Meanwhile, Gene and Frog compete for Sue's attention. When Gene escorts her to a carnival, he pays palmist Verebel Featherstone (Dorothy Christy) to distract Frog while he spends time alone with Sue.

The next day, Gene instructs the ranchers to move their cattle to a nearby canyon and keep them there until the next rainfall so they will not be harmed by the pesticide. Once again, Larrabee is the only one who opposes the plan and indicates that he will not comply. In an effort to protect Larrabee's cattle from the spraying, Bromfield steals his cattle and moves them to safety with the other herds. As Larrabee and his men prepare for a showdown, Gene devises a plan to thwart Larrabee's opposition without violence. Gene orders an airplane to spray the rangeland.

Sue acknowledges that Gene handled the situation well and avoided a violent confrontation. Even Larrabee agrees that maybe now the problem will be resolved. Brandywine, however, refuses to accept Gene's solution, and as the plane flies over the rangeland, he shoots the plane, disabling it. Although the pilot is able to bail out safely, the plane crashes near the herds and starts a stampede. As the cattle head toward the sprayed land, Gene creates a firebreak just in time to keep the cattle safely inside the canyon.

Afterwards, Larrabee apologizes to Gene for his stubborn opposition, Verebel finally wins Frog's affection, and Gene and Sue sing a romantic song together.[2]

Cast

Production

Casting

Sierra Sue was Fay McKenzie's second film as Gene Autry's leading lady, following Down Mexico Way (1941). She would go on to appear in three additional films with Autry, Cowboy Serenade (1942), Heart of the Rio Grande (1942), and Home in Wyomin' (1942).[3] Only two women appeared in more films opposite Gene Autry as his leading lady: June Storey (10) and Gail Davis (14).[4]

Filming and budget

Sierra Sue was filmed September 16 to October 1, 1941. The film had an operating budget of $88,425 (equal to $1,403,397 today), and a negative cost of $89,897.[1]

Stuntwork

  • Bruce Cameron (Smiley Burnette's stunt double in acrobatic jumps)
  • Kermit Maynard
  • Eddie Parker
  • Tex Terry (Smiley Burnette's stunt double)
  • Nellie Walker (Fay McKenzie's stunt double)
  • Joe Yrigoyen (Gene Autry's stunt double)[1]

Filming locations

Soundtrack

  • "Be Honest With Me" (Fred Rose, Gene Autry) by Gene Autry
  • "Heebie Jeebie Blues" (Oliver Drake, Harry Grey) by Smiley Burnette
  • "I'll Be True While You're Gone" (Fred Rose, Gene Autry) by Gene Autry, arranged by Carl Hoefle
  • "Sierra Sue" (J.B. Carey) by Gene Autry
  • "Ridin' the Range" (Fleming Allen, Gene Autry, Nelson Shawn) by Gene Autry and others[1]

References

Citations
  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8 Magers 2007, p. 200.
  2. ↑ Magers 2007, pp. 200–201.
  3. ↑ Magers 2007, p. 403.
  4. ↑ Magers 2007, pp. 402–403.
Bibliography
  • George-Warren, Holly (2007). Public Cowboy no. 1: The Life and Times of Gene Autry. New York: Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0195177466. 
  • Green, Douglas B. (2002). Singing in the Saddle: The History of the Singing Cowboy. Nashville: Vanderbilt University Press. ISBN 978-0826514127. 
  • Magers, Boyd (2007). Gene Autry Westerns. Madison, NC: Empire Publishing, Inc. ISBN 978-0944019498. 

External links

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