Ride, Ranger, Ride (1936)

A lot of perfectly good film show their cards early, establish a unique premise and let the audience explore a topic at a leisurely pace, without much in terms of surprise. this film is not one of those films.

Just intense enough to provide a much-needed diversion, just lightweight enough to make you forget about it soon after it’s over. It’s not exactly “good,” per se, but it does what it sets out to do in terms of putting us on edge, which makes it … successful?

what a terribly boring film. I'm sorry but this is absolutely not deserving of best picture and will be forgotten quickly. Entertaining and engaging cinema? No. Nothing performances with flat faces and mistaking silence for subtlety.

It is an exhilarating, distressing, funny and profound film, with one of the more memorable film scores in years,

Best not to pay close attention while watching this one, the longer it goes the less sense it makes. Consider Autry's character for starters - today he would be on the politically incorrect side of things by insisting that the Comanches are getting ready to attack a supply train heading for Fort Adobe. For his part in an altercation with an advance party, Autry is cited for general court martial for disobeying orders, jeopardizing a peace treaty and indirectly causing the death of a trooper. Colonel Summeral (Robert Homans) states that upon his court martial, he'll also be reduced in rank - how does that work? But after a bar brawl in which Gene participates, he's asked to resign the Cavalry!?!? But later, when the Indians actually do attack, the Colonel reminds Autry that even though he was right, he's still scheduled to be shot!?!? Did anyone proofread this script?Apparently I'm not alone, because a handful of other reviewers on this board have similar issues with the picture. There's not a whole lot to recommend here for Western fans in general, or Gene Autry fans in particular. Perhaps you can give the story some credit for supplying Gene with two nominal sidekicks, Smiley as usual doing an early Frog Millhouse, and Max Terhune as Indian scout Rufe Jones. I'd have to say that the comedic nod goes to Max, even without Elmer around. The fact that Smiley had to outrun Chief Thundercloud trying to take his scalp was more surreal than funny to my mind, though I'm sure young matinée fans back in the day got a kick out of it well enough.Another oddity compared to most of Gene's flicks has to do with the musical offerings. Some of his pictures manage up to ten songs in an hour long format, but here there's only two, but they're performed multiple times! Like 'On the Sunset Trail' that gets delivered twice, and the title song that pops up three times in the course of the story. I don't know, I guess even Gene is entitled to a clunker every now and then considering his historic career in film and as a businessman afterward. But "Ride Ranger Ride" is not one of his better ones, and if I had to bet, even Champion knew it because he kept his name out of the credits list.

This Gene Autry film has two distinctions. First, it's one of the few westerns I've seen with TWO sidekicks--Max Terhune and Smiley Burnett. I've never seen this before and doubt I ever will again, as it's completely against the usual formula. Second, the film has the distinction for begin the most anti-American Indian film I've ever seen--and I've seen a lot.The film begins with Gene and Max leaving the Texas Rangers and joining up to help the Cavalry. However, it soon becomes clear that the Colonel is a complete potato-head--with the brains to match. He loves the Indians and refuses to accept the idea that any of them could be in any way bad. Gene and Max (particularly Max) think the only good Indian is a dead one--and they are sure to say this again and again. In their estimation, Indians are an evil that needs purging--and they sound like they are about to go on some ethnic cleansing. So guess who is proved right in the end?! Aside from having a hate-filled and historically inaccurate script in regard to Indians, the film repeats the myth of the attack on the wagon train and circling the wagons--things that, despite being in films, didn't happen in the old west. An accurate view of the tribes would have been that SOME are pretty hostile and some are not--much like what you would say about any group of people. I don't say all this because I am Mr. Political Correctness but as a retired history teacher, I just like to see the facts straight. Overall, a stupid and terribly written film that is sure to ruffle a few feathers!

The Texas Rangers are about to be demobilized because the U.S. Cavalry is coming to Texas. They've got garrison duty as the Comanches are allegedly at peace. That's not what Gene Autry says and that's not what grizzled scout Max Terhune says, who actually does say the only good Indian is a dead one. And that's allegedly without the dummy.Gene and the whole troop of rangers join the cavalry including Max as a scout and even Smiley Burnette. They really don't take to military life to well. In addition Gene's got a romantic rivalry going with George J. Lewis over Kay Hughes. Somebody is stirring up the Indians, acting as agent provocateur and for those interested in seeing this ancient oater I won't reveal who it is.Usually Autry westerns at least included some decent cowboy numbers. But even after seeing this only a couple of hours ago on TCM, I can't remember a one of them.The Indians are really presented in a bad light. Oafs and Dupes at best and savages at worst. But you can't expect too much from a B western.Although saying B is giving this one too high a grade.

Gene Autry doesn't get much of a chance to stand out in this routine and rather dated feature. The plot had potential, with Autry leading a group of Texas Rangers who are trying to stop an Indian attack while working against the skepticism of a cavalry commander.But what follows is not very entertaining, and most of the problems can probably be blamed on the script. The characters remain one-dimensional, with little or no justification for their actions, and none of them really appears in a very good light. It does not help that the Indians are portrayed in a rather dated and cartoonish fashion, even for the 30's.Nothing at all against the talented and very likable Autry, but this one just does not work very well at all. Even the most devoted fans probably won't find much here to get excited about.