a5c7b9f00b Gene Autry (Gene Autry) opposes the drilling of a nearby oil well, fearing it will endanger the cattle's drinking water. Doris Maxwell (Judith Allen), daughter of the town banker, is his greatest opponent, and she is waging a stock-selling campaign over her radio station, seeking backing for the oil-drilling promotion. Her father , (Mr. Maxwell (William Farnum), has invested the bank's funds in the oil company. However, she and Gene become friends when he prevents a holdup of the oil company payroll. George Wilkins (Weldon Heyburn), in charge of production at the well, engineered the holdup as he knows that unless the well comes in, the company will lose the lease and he can secure it for himself. Gene and Doris return to town and arrive at the bank just as her father shoots himself. Gene, covering up the fact the Maxwell has misappropriated the bank's funds, makes it appear he was shot in a bank robbery. Learning that the railroad will run a branch line into the valley is oil is found, Gene withdraws his opposition to the project, and convinces the ranchers of the value of a railhead , and sells many shares of stock. Wilkins spreads word that the well is dry and that Gene has taken advantage of the ranchers. Gene escapes from a posse and leads then to the drilling site where Wilkins and his henchmen have persuaded the workers to stop drilling. Just as Gene is ready to blow in the well with dynamite, Wilkins arrives with the posse, which is convinced that Gene shot Maxwell and stole the bank's money. Doris proves otherwise and Wilkins attempts a get-away.
When war breaks out between oilmen and cattle ranchers, Gene sides with the ranchers until he learns that oil will bring a railroad to town.
I love the Maple City Four and their jug band number. Amazing how rhythms can captivate regardless how primitive the instruments. Gene's out to keep an oil well out of the hands of selfish no-goodnik George Wilkins. But first he's got to convince the townfolk that he's not the one trying to cheat them. Catch how that new-fangled gizmo, radio, is worked into the plot. Seems like the broadcasting studio can be anywhere. No formalities here. And what a personality Judy Allen is, with a smile to light up a whole room. Good thing she and Gene finally bury the hatchet. But does Frog finally net the butterfly. He's been after it for an hour. A couple of good touches. Note how baddie George keeps his black eye for several consecutive scenes. Most oaters would not bother with such detail. Also, the oil rig collapse looks like the real thing, and without stock footage or miniatures. So did they actually build one for the movie —see what you think. Anyway, it's the usual fine Autry mix with more than average number of songs, including an offbeat lariat duo. All in all, it's a solid production from Gene's Republic period.<br/><br/>A "7" on the matinée scale.
From a dedicated conservationist Gene Autry becomes a champion of the oil interests in this early western of his for Republic. One Judith Allen who's the banker's daughter and runs the local radio station which is mostly sponsored by the oil company which has a local drilling operation. <br/><br/>Said operation is what Gene's against. He takes the reasonable position that the oil when it comes up will poison the watering holes where the cattle drink. Then however when he finds out that the railroad is going to build a spur line for the oil company, then it will also be used by the ranches to ship their steaks on a hoof to the stockyards, that's different. I guess the cattle and the people can drink a little poison then. Sounds like a confirmed hyrdrofracker of today.<br/><br/>The villain here is Weldon Heyburn who's working his own agenda. He's an agent of the oil company, but he's wanting more than a salary and he gets it.<br/><br/>I saw a much abbreviated version, no doubt butchered for early television. Still I doubt the director's cut would be any better. And seeing our cowboy hero sell out to big oil today would not make this film popular in the circles I hang out in.
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