Stardust on the Sage

Stardust on the Sage, released in 1942, is a Western musical film that starred Gene Autry as the lead protagonist, Smiley Burnette as his sidekick, and William Henry as the love interest. The movie was directed by William Morgan, and its screenplay was written by Betty Burbridge.

The story revolves around a singing cowboy named Gene Autry, who inherits a rundown ranch from his late father. Accompanied by his best friend Frog Millhouse (played by Smiley Burnette), Gene travels to the ranch, only to find that it's being targeted by a group of ruthless cattle rustlers.

As Gene sets out to save his ranch, he crosses paths with a beautiful woman named Joy Ryan (played by William Henry). Joy is the niece of one of the cattle rustlers, but she has a heart of gold and soon develops feelings for Gene. However, their budding romance is threatened by the feud between Gene and the rustlers.

As Gene tries to bring the rustlers to justice, he also manages to showcase his singing and guitar-playing skills. The movie features several musical numbers, including "When It's Round-Up Time in Texas," "The Old Chisholm Trail," and "The Cowboy's Lament."

One of the standout scenes in the movie is a horseback chase that takes place across the open plains. Gene and Frog pursue the rustlers, and the scene is expertly shot and choreographed. It's clear that the filmmakers put a lot of effort into making the action scenes look realistic and exciting.

The movie also includes some comedic moments, courtesy of Smiley Burnette's performance as Frog. He provides comic relief without detracting from the overall suspense of the story.

Overall, Stardust on the Sage is an entertaining Western musical that showcases Gene Autry's talents as a singer and actor. It's a classic example of the type of movies that were popular during the era of the singing cowboy. The film also features a strong supporting cast and well-executed action scenes. Fans of classic Westerns and musicals will enjoy this movie.