In Old Monterey

Gene is sent by the army to do some undercover work. The town folk led by Gabby Hayes refuse to let the army bomb their town for much needed war training.

Talk about dated, if a picture like In Old Monterey ever were made today with the plot premise it had it would be picketed and hooted off the screen. It was only in 1939 with war clouds gathering over Europe that the ideas put forth here could be advanced.

"In Old Monterey" (which, by the way, is not close at all to where the story actually supposedly took place), the US Army Air Corps apparently 'needs' a small western town to vacate in order to use the land for maneuvers. But, at the same time, the local borax mining company is stirring up the locals against selling their land to the government because the miners don't want to relocate either.

Lots of slapstick and Pre WWII military machinery.High patriotism even had me signing along and waving the Stars and Stripes at times.

Copyright 14 August 1939 by Republic Pictures Corp. No recorded New York opening.

Fun, forgettable comedy actioner with Frog and Autry and the added bonus of the legendary Gabby Hayes to round off the comedy talent. Autry's sent on a special mission by the army to convince a town to give up its land so the army can run drills there.

This somewhat routine Gene Autry oater is worthwhile for several reasons. One, the fans get not only Smiley Burnette (Frog Millhouse) and his rather sophomoric humor but Gabby Hayes and his tall tales as well.

With all due respect to the memory of Gene Autry, this might be the dumbest movie he ever made, at least among the dozen plus or so I've been able to watch and review over the past year on the Encore Western Channel. Gene is alternately cast as a hero and a villain as he attempts to persuade the ranchers of Colby Basin to sell their land to the government for military maneuvers.