Gene Autry Movie Gaucho Serenade

Gaucho Serenade is a 1940 American Western film directed by Frank McDonald and starring Gene Autry, Smiley Burnette, and June Storey. Written by Betty Burbridge and Bradford Ropes, the film is about a singing cowboy who goes up against a group of businessmen who plot to kidnap the son of a former partner so he won’t testify against them. My former cub scout master (really!) Duncan Renaldo plays the Gaucho Don José part.

Gene Autry and Frog Millhouse are in New York, left holding the bag by their ex-rodeo boss, and trying to work their way home to the West. They meet twelve-year old Ronnie Willoughby who has just arrived from England, sent for by some unscrupulous businessmen who railroaded the boy’s father into prison on a false embezzlement charge and who now plan to hold Ronnie as a hostage to prevent his imprisoned father from testifying against the villains. Ronnie does not know that his father is in prison. He heads West to what he believes is his father’s ranch, “Rancho San Quentin”, with Gene and Frog, who try to shield the truth from the lad. On the way, they meet with a young woman who has just run away from the church prior to her wedding along with her little sister. The road to California is full of adventure and fun for the cowboy and his friends.

The film had an operating budget of $77,885 (equal to $1,276,315 today). It was filmed at Jack Garner Ranch, State Highway 74, San Bernardino National Forest and Lake Hemet, California.

You can order the DVD by clicking HERE.