The Old Barn Dance

Good compact screenplay that manages to coordinate songs, action, and radio-station plot in fairly smooth fashion. Okay, so maybe a tractor can do the work of 5 horses, but can a tractor run down a bad-guy in a car by going overland. Gene shows how a horse can (before Champion). Besides, a tractor can't be stroked or nuzzle like a buddy like a horse can.

Actually, the movie somewhat mirrors Depression era conditions (1938)—the farmers owe more on the tractors than they can pay, so they may lose their farms. Trouble is they're the victims of a crooked scheme that involves the unwitting Autry, who then has to make things right.

I like the radio programming from behind a bale of hay—a whole new concept in broadcasting. In fact, mobile broadcasting plays an important role in the story. Of course, Frog (Burnette) gets to do his bit, and by playing a musical instrument that looks like it's from Mars. All in all, it's a good little Autry programmer, Gene's last for Republic studios, who soon hired Roy Rogers to replace him. Oh well, I still like horses best.