Many of the old B-westerns of the 1930s-50s were trimmed back in the early days of television in order to squeeze these films into one-hour time slots. With some, it wasn't all that noticeable...with only a minute or two trimmed. In others, however, as much as 15 or more minutes were removed...and these abbreviated films are often confusing as a result of over-trimming. In the case of the Gene Autry and Roy Rogers, often the heavily trimmed versions are the only ones you can find. Fortunately, the copy of "Call of the Canyon" posted on YouTube is the original full version.
This film is a bit unusual for a Gene Autry film in that it features him with the Sons of the Pioneers...a singing group founded by Roy Rogers and which appeared mostly in Rogers' pictures.
When the story begins, Gene is trying to meet with Mr. Johnson, a guy who owns a radio station AND is a cattle buyer. Gene wants to see him about cattle, as Johnson's agent is offering cattlemen ridiculously low prices for their beef...so low that they cannot possibly hope to stay in business. But Johnson is a tough guy to meet and when Gene storms into his office, Johnson (Thruston Hall) sneaks out the back!
In the meantime, a spunky lady, 'Kit' Carson (Ruth Terry) has met with Johnson....and he is impressed when he thinks she's a cowgirl. But she's not...and she knows nothing about the west. To make it worse, Johnson insists on going to visit Kit at her ranch....and she doesn't even have one. In desperation, she travels west and rents a ranch from Frog. But the ranch is not his, but Gene's!
When Johnson arrives, he pretends to be someone else because he doesn't want to let Gene know he's Johnson. Why? Because he's learned that Gene and the other ranchers hate Johnson since he's so difficult to see and his agent is such a jerk. But Johnson had no idea his man was offering such ridiculously low prices, as McCoy is underpaying everyone in order to pay off his gambling debts! What's next? See the film, as there's much more to it.
This film is a welcome change of pace, with a plot very much unlike most B-westerns. In fact, most B-westerns have one of only about three different plots! But this one is unique, clever and even a bit funny....and much of it is because Hall was wonderful as Mr. Johnson. My only disappointment is that the songs in the film aren't exactly Autry's most memorable ones...though they are, as usual, pleasant.
This film is a bit unusual for a Gene Autry film in that it features him with the Sons of the Pioneers...a singing group founded by Roy Rogers and which appeared mostly in Rogers' pictures.
When the story begins, Gene is trying to meet with Mr. Johnson, a guy who owns a radio station AND is a cattle buyer. Gene wants to see him about cattle, as Johnson's agent is offering cattlemen ridiculously low prices for their beef...so low that they cannot possibly hope to stay in business. But Johnson is a tough guy to meet and when Gene storms into his office, Johnson (Thruston Hall) sneaks out the back!
In the meantime, a spunky lady, 'Kit' Carson (Ruth Terry) has met with Johnson....and he is impressed when he thinks she's a cowgirl. But she's not...and she knows nothing about the west. To make it worse, Johnson insists on going to visit Kit at her ranch....and she doesn't even have one. In desperation, she travels west and rents a ranch from Frog. But the ranch is not his, but Gene's!
When Johnson arrives, he pretends to be someone else because he doesn't want to let Gene know he's Johnson. Why? Because he's learned that Gene and the other ranchers hate Johnson since he's so difficult to see and his agent is such a jerk. But Johnson had no idea his man was offering such ridiculously low prices, as McCoy is underpaying everyone in order to pay off his gambling debts! What's next? See the film, as there's much more to it.
This film is a welcome change of pace, with a plot very much unlike most B-westerns. In fact, most B-westerns have one of only about three different plots! But this one is unique, clever and even a bit funny....and much of it is because Hall was wonderful as Mr. Johnson. My only disappointment is that the songs in the film aren't exactly Autry's most memorable ones...though they are, as usual, pleasant.