South Of The Border

South of the Border is a classic western musical movie released in 1939, packed with action, songs, and romance. The movie stars Gene Autry, Smiley Burnette, and June Storey and is directed by David Howard.

The movie begins with Gene Autry and his best friend Frog Millhouse, played by Smiley Burnette, heading towards Mexico on a horse-drawn carriage. Autry is a wealthy rancher, and he has come to Mexico to purchase some horses for his ranch. However, things take an unexpected turn when they find themselves entangled with a band of Mexican bandits led by General Torena, played by Duncan Renaldo, who is trying to sell the stolen horses to Gene.

As Autry learns about the true identity of the horses and Torena’s involvement in the crime, he decides not to buy them. In return, Torena and his gang capture Gene and Frog and throw them into jail. But Gene’s quick thinking and singing skills wins over the Mexican jailer, and they are freed.

Soon, Gene discovers a beautiful girl named Dolores, played by June Storey, who is trapped in a loveless marriage with Torena. Gene tries to win Dolores's trust and love and reveal Torena's true nature to her. But while Gene tries to help Dolores, Torena discovers that Gene has something Torena wants, which puts Gene and Dolores in grave danger.

The movie showcases Autry’s exceptional singing skills with multiple songs that Gene and the supporting cast sing throughout the movie, including “South of the Border,” “I Can't Escape From You,” and “Mexicali Rose.” The song "South of the Border" became a popular hit during those times and remains an all-time classic.

Apart from Autry's singing and acting, the movie also features Smiley Burnette's comedic performance, which adds a light touch to the movie's serious moments.

The movie's visuals are breathtaking, set largely in Mexico and shot in Technicolor, adding vivid, bold colors to the scenery. The cinematography reflects the movie's theme and pace, capturing the vast landscape filled with mountains, deserts, and small towns.

As the movie progresses towards the climax, the storytelling takes an exciting turn, showcasing Autry's action skills as he tries to save Dolores and himself from Torena and his gang. The climax is filled with suspense and action, leading to a satisfactory yet predictable ending.

Overall, South of the Border is a delightful western/singing movie, filled with iconic songs, humor, and an engaging storyline. Though the movie is over 80 years old, it remains a great entertainment option for fans of classic western movies and fans of Gene Autry.