Film Info
Melody Trail
1935
Republic Pictures
Production #: 401 or MT-78
60 minutes
Synopsis:
Nationally known radio and recording star Gene Autry wins the thousand-dollar purse in the bronco-riding event at a large rodeo. That night, while Gene and his pal Frog Millhouse are peacefully sleeping, gypsy Black Frantz steals the money. They accept jobs as cook and bull cook at the Triple T Ranch, even though they know nothing about cooking, because Gene is attracted to the lovely Millicent Thomas, the owner's daughter. At the ranch, cowgirls have replaced the cowboys, who are suspected of stealing cattle. Souvenir, Millicent's kleptomaniac St. Bernard, wanders off and steals the sleeping baby of Frantz and Perdita and carries it home. Millicent decides to take care of the child until its parents can be located, giving the impression that the baby is hers. Frantz, looking for his baby, appears at the ranch, and Millicent is only too glad to return his child. Certain that Frantz is a kidnapper, Gene and Frog track him down. Frog returns the baby to the ranch, and Frantz, burdened by a guilty conscience, returns the stolen money to Gene. Meanwhile, Gene helps the cowgirls when he captures the entire band of rustlers, using a car instead of his horse. Once home, Gene is astounded to learn the baby is not Millicent's. He suggests the cowboys be reinstated, but Millicent decides they should discuss the matter with the cowgirls. The solution proves to be a communal wedding between the cowboys and cowgirls. When it comes time to place the rings on the fingers of the girls, they find that Souvenir has stolen the wedding rings.
Cast:
| Character: | Performer: |
| Gene Autry | Gene Autry |
| Frog Millhouse | Smiley Burnette |
| Millicent Thomas | Ann Rutherford |
| Timothy Thomas | Wade Boteler |
| Black Frantz | Willy Castello |
| Matt Kirby | Al Bridge |
| Nell | Fern Emmett |
| Perdita | Marie Quillen |
| Cuddles | Gertrude Messinger |
| Slim | Tracy Layne |
| Rodeo Announcer | Abe Lefton (World Famous Rodeo Announcer) |
| Souvenir | Buck (St. Bernard dog) |
| Champion | Champion |
Songs:
| HOLD ON LITTLE DOGIES HOLD ON | Gene Autry |
| ON THE MELODY TRAIL | Gene Autry |
| WHISTLING IMPROVISATION | Smiley Burnette |
| POLKA IN F | Instrumental |
| WAY DOWN ON THE BOTTOM | Smiley Burnette |
| A LONE COWBOY ON THE LONE PRAIRIE | Gene Autry, Cowgirls |
| WESTERN LULLABY | Gene Autry, Smiley Burnette, Extras |
| MY NEIGHBOR HATES MUSIC | Smiley Burnette |
| WHERE WILL THE WEDDING SUPPER BE? | Gene Autry, Extra |
Crew:
| Producer | Nat Levine |
| Director | Joseph Kane |
| Armand Schaefer | |
| Story by | Sherman Lowe, Betty Burbridge |
| Screenplay | Sherman Lowe |
| Supervising Editor | Joseph H. Lewis |
| Photography | Ernest Miller |
| Sound Engineer | Terry Kellum |
| Sound Effects | Roy Granville |
| Film Editor | Lester Orlebeck |
| Songs | Gene Autry, Smiley Burnette |
