Watch Oh, Susanna For Free

The film makes a home in your brain and the only cure is to see it again.

A movie that not only functions as a solid scarefest but a razor-sharp satire.

There is, somehow, an interesting story here, as well as some good acting. There are also some good scenes

By the time the dramatic fireworks start popping off, each one feels earned.

Oh, Susanna! (1936). In this unusual but even more ridiculously far-fetched plot, Gene Autry, would you believe, is wanted for murder? Perhaps Republic boss, Herb Yates, firmly believed that Texas lawmen were not only corrupt but incredibly stupid? Never mind, just sit back and enjoy the fast action. Director Joe Kane even has a couple of speeding cars run over the camera! This time, Smiley Burnette teams up with Earle Hodgins to provide not only comedy relief but acting support for Autry's rather stoic hunted man. And railroad buffs will have a ball at the beginning of the movie when the villain's very obvious double boards a moving train from horseback!

Uh Oh, it's Gene who gets thrown from a train, not the bad guy. In fact it's bad guy Wolf who's done it to escape the law and assume Gene's identity. So, our hero spends the rest of the movie getting back his real name and putting Wolf where he belongs.Good Autry mix, with songs, scenery, and flying fists. Some good touches as well, like Gene's scattering walk down Main Street where everybody thinks he's the bad guy. And how about that chase where Gene and the bad guy use roadsters instead of horses. The process photography may be fuzzy but the results are still a hoot. Also, pairing big talker Hodgins with portly Burnette is good for some laughs, but note that neither is mocked in his comedic role. And, wow, I don't think I've seen faster fingers than the '...Crust Boys jamming away on one of their numbers. I guess my only gripe is not seeing more of the Alabama Hills and their rocky spires; only nature's hand can carve such mighty sculptures. Anyway, the hour's a fun slice of old time matinees for us front row geezers, thanks to a rather hefty Gene Autry.

Gene Autry films are often rather strange westerns. That's because in many cases, the film were set in modern times with an odd mixture of the past. So, you might see Gene chasing a pickup truck while on horseback or someone calling the sheriff on the telephone! In this case it's even weirder because Autry plays himself! While no mention is made of his movies, Autry plays a radio and recording star named Gene Autry! Now considering that he had a great voice (better than Roy Rogers' in my opinion) and sang many classics such as "Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer", making him a famous singer was a case of art imitating life!The film begins with a guy from death row escaping and sneaking onto the train where Autry is traveling for a radio broadcast. The crook bashes Autry over the head, trades clothes and tosses him out the window! Soon, folks recognize the clothes and think Autry is the escaped con and lock him up--and are planning on hanging him! It's only with the help of his two new friends (one includes the old familiar Smiley Burnett) does he escape. However, in the meantime, the crook is posing as Gene and kills a man--so the authorities are looking for both of them! Can Gene manage to prove his innocence? Can he be persuaded to sing a few songs (what do you think?!)? The film is a bit surreal but fun. And, while I never thought I'd say this, but I liked the music a lot. Overall, while not a great B-western, it is unusual and likable...and a bit weird! By the way, Fred Toones is billed as 'Snowflake'. It's a sad and derogatory thing that because he was black he didn't even merit having his name in the credits--just this awful nickname.

According to the records this was Gene's 12th film - with June Storey nowhere in sight yet but with the formula of chasing baddies with a few songs and a tiny romance that wouldn't bother the kids well in place.It starts with a baddie being chased by the law, jumping onto a moving train, immediately coshing the unsuspecting Autry, thieving his identity and dumping him overboard to his supposed death. All in a minute's work! However, the dazed Gene gets picked up by two travelling entertainers, one of them Frog, and the hunt is on to track the baddie and his gang down who are using his name and not in vain. Favorite songs: Dear Old Western Skies and Water Wheel, while the Light Crust Doughboys got to do a breakneck Tiger Rag and As Our Pals Ride By that put me in mind of La Golondrina from The Wild Bunch. Gene has his usual whirlwind romance, this time with Frances Grant for their 2nd time.At only 53 minutes long a lot gets packed in here, whether you think it was worth it is up to you, but personally I've always enjoyed Autry's films - nothing heavy to ponder about during or afterwards. I have no problem enjoying things meant to be pleasant. It's freely available as public domain on the internet too, the only cost to really consider being your time.