Under Western Stars
{{Short description|1938 film by Joseph Kane}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2021}}
{{Use American English|date=October 2021}}
{{Infobox film
| name = Under Western Stars
| image = Under Western Stars (1938 poster).jpg
| alt =
| caption = Theatrical release poster
| director = Joseph Kane
| producer = Sol C. Siegel
| screenplay = {{Plainlist|
- Dorrell McGowan
- Stuart E. McGowan
- Betty Burbridge
}}
| story = {{Plainlist|
- Dorrell McGowan
- Stuart E. McGowan
}}
| starring = {{Plainlist|
- Roy Rogers
- Smiley Burnette
- Carol Hughes
- Maple City Four
}}
| music = Alberto Colombo {{small|(uncredited)}}
| cinematography = Jack Marta
| editing = Lester Orlebeck
| studio = Republic Pictures
| distributor = Republic Pictures
| released = {{Film date|1938|04|20|US}}
| runtime = 65 minutes
| country = United States
| language = English
| budget =
| gross =
}}
File:Under Western Stars (1938).webm
Under Western Stars is a 1938 American Western film directed by Joseph Kane and starring Roy Rogers, Smiley Burnette, Carol Hughes, and the Maple City Four. Written by Dorrell McGowan, Stuart E. McGowan, and Betty Burbridge, the film is about a populist singing cowboy who decides to run for Congress in order to seek federal assistance to help small ranchers regain their water rights during the Dust Bowl of the 1930s. His campaign comes into conflict with greedy water company executives.{{cite web|title=Under Western Stars |publisher=Turner Classic Movies |url=https://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/94405/under-western-stars |access-date=April 24, 2014}}
The film was the first starring role for Rogers, made under contract to Republic Pictures during a walkout by the studio's singing cowboy Gene Autry. The picture was filmed on location in the Alabama Hills of Lone Pine, California.
Plot
John Fairbanks' water company is hoarding water behind a dam and refuses to allow free water for the farmers and ranchers. When Roy Rogers and his men overpower the dam's guards and release the valve on the water, the sympathetic mayor fines Rogers one dollar and convinces him to follow in his father's footsteps and run for Congress. Rogers campaigns on the water issue and builds on his popular support, winning the election over incumbent William P. Scully who is propped up by John Fairbanks. Rogers is encouraged and secretly helped by John Fairbanks' feisty daughter, Eleanor.
Though defeated, Fairbanks uses his connections to prevent other members of Congress from meeting with Congressman Rogers, in particular Congressman Edward H. Marlowe, who is critical to the Federal water bill. Receiving an anonymous letter from Eleanor, Rogers tracks down Marlow to a gathering on his estate and invites him and the other company present to a party. At the party, he performs a song highlighting the plight of his constituents ("Dust"). The other Congressmen are still unsure of the extent of the problem but resolve to travel to assess the situation.
After arriving in Rogers' district, the Congressional delegation announce that they found the water issue less pressing than reported, especially after receiving a tip that the footage presented during Rogers' song was shot in another state. They prepare to leave but Marlowe's wife requests a drive in the countryside. During the drive, the delegation is ambushed by outlaws who take their cars, leaving them on horses. They begin the slow trip back to town and run into the camp of Rogers, Eleanor, and their friends. Rogers offers his assistance, but the group are battered by dust storms and parched from the unavailability of water. Eventually, during a particularly serious dust storm, they take shelter in a poor farming house where it's accidentally revealed by the woman living there that the whole sequence of events from the outlaws was orchestrated by Rogers to give the delegation a first-hand look at the water issue. Rogers insists that though the situation was manufactured, the conditions are real, causing a bemused Congressman Marlowe to agree to support the Federal water bill.
Suddenly, Rogers gets word that a group of desperate ranchers are headed to blow up the Fairbanks dam. Rogers rides out and successfully prevents the explosives from being delivered and diffuses the conflict. Rogers, Eleanor and their friends ride off singing, assured that they have won their fight for water.
Cast
- Roy Rogers as Roy Rogers
- Smiley Burnette as Frog
- Carol Hughes as Eleanor Fairbanks
- Maple City Four as Singers
- Guy Usher as John Fairbanks
- Tom Chatterton as Congressman Edward H. Marlowe
- Kenneth Harlan as Richards
- Alden Chase as Tom Andrews
- Brandon Beach as Senator Wilson
- Earl Dwire as Mayor Biggs
- Jean Fowler as Mrs. Wilson
- Dora Clement as Mrs. Marlow
- Dick Elliott as William P. Scully
- Burr Caruth as Larkin
- Slim Whitaker as Tremaine
- Jack Rockwell as Sheriff
- Frankie Marvin as Deputy Pete
Production
The film's pre-production title was Western Cowboy. The film was originally intended to star Gene Autry, but Autry was on strike beginning in December 1937 so Republic Pictures cast Roy Rogers.{{cite web | title= Under Western Stars (1938) |url =https://catalog.afi.com/Catalog/moviedetails/7581 | access-date= May 13, 2025 | website=AFI Catalog}} The film was filmed on location in the Alabama Hills of Lone Pine, California.{{cite web | title=Under Western stars | access-date= May 13, 2025 | website=Library of Congress | url=https://www.loc.gov/item/2023600630/}}
Music was provided Rogers and the Maple City Four. The song "Dust" was purchased by Republic Pictures from its composers Gene Autry and Johnny Marvin. However, Autry later filed a lawsuit for improper use of the song and dramatization of the lyrics, which was settled out of court.{{Citation |last=Enss| first=Chris| last2=Kazanjian| first2=Howard| title=Under Western Stars| publisher=Library of Congress| url=https://www.loc.gov/static/programs/national-film-preservation-board/documents/under_western_stars.pdf}}
Legacy
The film's song "Dust", written by Johnny Marvin, was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Song. In 2009, Under Western Stars was selected for the National Film Registry by the Library of Congress for being "culturally, historically or aesthetically" significant and will be preserved for all time.{{cite web|last=Cannady |first=Sheryl |title=News from the Library of Congress |publisher=Library of Congress |number=PR 09-250 |date=December 30, 2009 |url=https://www.loc.gov/today/pr/2009/09-250.html |access-date=April 24, 2014}}{{Cite web|title=Complete National Film Registry Listing |url=https://www.loc.gov/programs/national-film-preservation-board/film-registry/complete-national-film-registry-listing/|website=Library of Congress|access-date=2020-05-14}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- Under Western Stars essay [https://www.loc.gov/static/programs/national-film-preservation-board/documents/under_western_stars.pdf] by Howard Kazanjian and Chris Enss at National Film Registry
- {{IMDb title|0030910|Under Western Stars}}
- {{TCMDb title|94405|Under Western Stars}}
- {{AFI film|id=7581|title=Under Western Stars}}
- {{Internet Archive film|id=UnderWesternStars|name=Under Western Stars}}
- Under Western Stars essay by Daniel Eagan In America's Film Legacy, 2009-2010: A Viewer's Guide To The 50 Landmark Movies Added To The National Film Registry In 2009–10, Bloomsbury Publishing USA, 2011, {{ISBN|1441120025}} pages 60–63 [https://books.google.com/books?id=4GNRD_icEmkC]
{{Joseph Kane}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:1938 Western (genre) films
Category:American Western (genre) films
Category:Films shot in Lone Pine, California
Category:Republic Pictures films
Category:United States National Film Registry films
Category:American black-and-white films
Category:Films produced by Sol C. Siegel
Category:1930s political comedy-drama films
Category:American political comedy-drama films
Category:Films about politicians
Category:Films directed by Joseph Kane
Category:1930s English-language films