The Man from Music Mountain (1938) Director: Joseph Kane Studio: Republic Pictures Starring: Gene Autry (Himself), Smiley Burnette (Prof. Jeremiah T. Ezra), Carol Hughes (Helen Foster), Sally Payne, Ivan Miller Release Date: April 18, 1938 Runtime: 58 minutes Format: Black & White | Mono | Sound | Live Action Country: United States Language: English Genres: Western | Musical | Romance | Singing Cowboy | Action --- Summary: The Man from Music Mountain stars Gene Autry as a singing cowboy who rides into a small town to help a group of honest ranchers resist a crooked real estate scheme. Posing as a land developer, the villain attempts to swindle ranchers out of their oil-rich property. With guitar in hand and justice in his heart, Gene sings his way into the townsfolk’s trust—and into the heart of leading lady Helen Foster—while uncovering the truth behind the scam. Packed with action, music, and classic Western charm, the film blends frontier justice with toe-tapping tunes in true Gene Autry fashion. --- Background: Released by Republic Pictures during the height of the “singing cowboy” craze, The Man from Music Mountain was one of Gene Autry’s many successful B-Westerns of the 1930s. Directed by studio regular Joseph Kane, the film features Autry's signature blend of wholesome heroism, musical interludes, and simple morality tales set against a rugged Western backdrop. Smiley Burnette provides comic relief in his usual sidekick role, while Carol Hughes—later known for her role as Dale Arden in Flash Gordon serials—adds romantic tension. The film showcases several musical performances and was aimed squarely at family audiences of the era. --- Trivia: One of over 90 films starring Gene Autry, the original "Singing Cowboy" of the silver screen. Features multiple original songs performed by Autry and Burnette throughout the film. Carol Hughes went on to star opposite Buster Crabbe in Flash Gordon Conquers the Universe (1940). Smiley Burnette was a prolific musician and sidekick actor, appearing in dozens of Autry and later Roy Rogers films. Republic Pictures churned out dozens of musical Westerns during the 1930s and 1940s, many now in the public domain. The film includes early examples of Autry's screen persona: humble, honest, musical, and morally steadfast. --- Hashtags: #TheManFromMusicMountain #GeneAutry #SingingCowboy #1930sWestern #RepublicPictures #SmileyBurnette #CarolHughes #ClassicWestern #MusicalWestern #PublicDomainFilm #VintageHollywood #OldTimeWestern #CountryMusicCinema #CowboyMovie #BlackAndWhiteClassic #WesternMusical #AmericanWest #BWestern #WesternFans #RetroCinema