Public Cowboy No. 1 (1937) “Where six-guns meet switchboards and rustlers ride radios!” Directed by: Joseph Kane Starring: Gene Autry, Smiley Burnette, Ann Rutherford, William Farnum Runtime: 62 minutes Country: United States Language: English Format: Black & White Genres: Western, Musical, Action, Crime --- 🧾 Synopsis Gene Autry plays a modern cowboy facing an unlikely menace: a gang of rustlers using cutting-edge technology—trucks, airplanes, and shortwave radios—to steal cattle in the Old West. When Gene and his sidekick Frog Millhouse ride into action, they must prove that old-fashioned grit and six-shooters can still outmatch modern gadgets. With the sheriff deemed too old to stop them, Gene becomes the law—and the legend. --- Key Themes & Highlights Tech vs Tradition: A cowboy showdown between frontier justice and new-age criminal innovation. Gene Autry Classic: Autry sings and shoots his way through one of his most famous Republic Pictures roles. Genre-Bending Western: Part musical, part crime film, part modern cowboy adventure. Satirical Edge: Pokes fun at bureaucracy and the over-reliance on technology while honoring old-school heroism. Sidekick Gold: Smiley Burnette delivers slapstick and musical numbers that became fan favorites. --- 🧠 Trivia The film was a tongue-in-cheek commentary on the modernization of law enforcement in rural America. Ann Rutherford, known for Gone with the Wind and the Andy Hardy series, plays the sheriff’s daughter. “Public Cowboy No. 1” was a nickname used in real life for Gene Autry due to his patriotic public persona. Featured several musical interludes, including Autry’s performances of “The Old Trail” and “Ride, Ranger, Ride.” The film’s theme of old vs. new technology was highly topical in the 1930s, especially during the rise of radio. --- #Hashtags #PublicCowboyNo1 #GeneAutry #WesternClassic #OldMeetsNew #SmileyBurnette #TechVsTradition #1930sWestern #BlackAndWhiteFilm #CountryHero #MusicalWestern #RadioRustlers #CowboyLegend #AnnRutherford #RepublicPictures #ClassicCinema