Rhythm of the Saddle (1938)

58 mins | Western | 5 November 1938

Director:

George Sherman

Writer:

Paul Franklin

Cinematographer:

Jack Marta

Editor:

Lester Orlebeck

Production Company:

Republic Pictures Corp.
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HISTORY

A working title for the film was Rodeo Busters. Modern sources include the following additional cast members in the film: Horace B. Carpenter, Karl Hackett, Frankie Marvin, Douglas Wright, Kelsey Shelton, Lola Monte, Rudy Sooter, William Norton Bailey, Tom London, Roger Williams, Curley Dresden, Jim Mason, Jack Kirk and Emmett Vogan. ...

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A working title for the film was Rodeo Busters. Modern sources include the following additional cast members in the film: Horace B. Carpenter, Karl Hackett, Frankie Marvin, Douglas Wright, Kelsey Shelton, Lola Monte, Rudy Sooter, William Norton Bailey, Tom London, Roger Williams, Curley Dresden, Jim Mason, Jack Kirk and Emmett Vogan.

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SOURCE CITATIONS
SOURCE
DATE
PAGE
Box Office
26-Nov-38
---
Film Daily
8 Nov 1938
p. 4
Motion Picture Herald
12 Nov 1938
p. 38
Variety
9 Nov 1938
p. 17
CAST
PRODUCTION CREDITS
NAME
PARENT COMPANY
PRODUCTION COMPANY
DISTRIBUTION COMPANY
NAME
CREDITED AS
CREDIT
DIRECTORS
Asst dir
PRODUCER
Assoc prod
WRITER
Orig scr, Orig scr
PHOTOGRAPHY
Photog
FILM EDITOR
Film ed
MUSIC
Mus dir
PRODUCTION MISC
Prod mgr
SOURCES
SONGS
"The Old Trail," "Oh! Ladies" and "Merry-Go-Roundup," words and music by Johnny Marvin, Gene Autry and Fred Rose; "Let Me Call You Sweetheart," words and music by Beth Slater Whitson and Leo Friedman.
SONGWRITERS/COMPOSERS
+ −
DETAILS
Alternate Title:
Rodeo Busters
Release Date:
5 November 1938
Production Date:
late Sep--early Oct 1938
Copyright Info
Claimant
Date
Copyright Number
Republic Pictures Corp.
4 November 1938
LP8440
Physical Properties:
Sound
RCA "High Fidelity" Sound System
Black and White
Duration(in mins):
58
Length(in feet):
4,949
Length(in reels):
6
Country:
United States
Language:
English
PCA No:
4753
Passed by NBR:
Yes
SYNOPSIS

Maureen McClune, owner of the Silver Shadow ranch, runs the "Frontier Week" rodeo every year and needs the financial success of the event to support the ranch. Although the current rodeo is the most profitable in the event's history, Maureen is warned by the rodeo organizers that she must do even better if she wants to get her contract renewed. Her main competition for sponsoring the event is Jack Pomeroy, who owns a rival ranch, as well as a local nightclub and gambling house. When a series of "accidents," apparently caused by negligence, occur during the rodeo, one badly injuring a cowboy in a bronc-busting contest, Maureen's foreman, Gene Autry, must prove his contention that Pomeroy is responsible. That evening, Maureen's aunt Hattie wins some money at a fixed roulette table at Pomeroy's club, thanks to Gene's disabling of the crooked mechanisms. Returning home, they are ambushed by men who Gene knows are Pomeroy's cohorts. Later Gene breaks into Pomeroy's office to get additional proof of his guilt. On the last day of the rodeo, a stagecoach race is scheduled as the final event, with Gene riding against one of Pomeroy's men. Hoping to save the ranch, Aunt Hattie bets everything she has on the outcome. Meanwhile, when Gene discovers his friend, Frog Milhouse, making a recording of a proposal to Hattie, he realizes that Frog's recorder could entrap Pomeroy. He instructs Frog to place the device below Pomeroy's seats at the rodeo just before the start of the race. Although Pomeroy has arranged to have the sheriff think that Gene has committed a murder, Gene escapes, and with Frog's help, ...

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Maureen McClune, owner of the Silver Shadow ranch, runs the "Frontier Week" rodeo every year and needs the financial success of the event to support the ranch. Although the current rodeo is the most profitable in the event's history, Maureen is warned by the rodeo organizers that she must do even better if she wants to get her contract renewed. Her main competition for sponsoring the event is Jack Pomeroy, who owns a rival ranch, as well as a local nightclub and gambling house. When a series of "accidents," apparently caused by negligence, occur during the rodeo, one badly injuring a cowboy in a bronc-busting contest, Maureen's foreman, Gene Autry, must prove his contention that Pomeroy is responsible. That evening, Maureen's aunt Hattie wins some money at a fixed roulette table at Pomeroy's club, thanks to Gene's disabling of the crooked mechanisms. Returning home, they are ambushed by men who Gene knows are Pomeroy's cohorts. Later Gene breaks into Pomeroy's office to get additional proof of his guilt. On the last day of the rodeo, a stagecoach race is scheduled as the final event, with Gene riding against one of Pomeroy's men. Hoping to save the ranch, Aunt Hattie bets everything she has on the outcome. Meanwhile, when Gene discovers his friend, Frog Milhouse, making a recording of a proposal to Hattie, he realizes that Frog's recorder could entrap Pomeroy. He instructs Frog to place the device below Pomeroy's seats at the rodeo just before the start of the race. Although Pomeroy has arranged to have the sheriff think that Gene has committed a murder, Gene escapes, and with Frog's help, is able to make it on time to ride in the race. As Gene rides furiously, almost losing his life, Frog records Pomeroy and his men discussing their part in the disruptions of the rodeo. Finally, Gene wins the race, Hattie wins her bet and Pomeroy and his henchmen are arrested. Freed from their financial worries, Gene and Maureen are free to marry, as are Hattie and Frog.

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Legend
Viewed by AFI
Partially Viewed
Offscreen Credit
Name Occurs Before Title
AFI Life Achievement Award

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