Though TV transmission in the early 50's was black and white and many of the programs were live, a few shows were shot on film and even in color. One reason for this was the possibility of theatrical release. I remember seeing a Lone Ranger movie consisting of three TV episodes pieced together. The entire 5th and final season of "The Gene Autry Show" was done in color. Two of the early episodes from the first season were also presented in color. "Double-Barrelled Vengeance" was one of the two.
Lovable and funny Pat Buttram was Gene's latter-day sidekick, replacing Smiley Burnette. Pat was so well received on the "Melody Ranch" radio show that his presence was expected when Gene began his TV years with "The Gene Autry Show." Unfortunately Pat was seriously injured on the set of "The Peacemaker" episode when a cannon stunt went awry. Pat nearly lost his life and didn't return to the show for several months. Other comical sidekicks filled in for Pat. In "Double-Barrelled Vengeance," stalwart Fuzzy Knight provides a few laughs. His main claim to fame was his stutter, which today would be considered politically incorrect, but in those days brought forth good-natured chuckles.
This time Gene is an undercover government agent on the trail of stolen money taken in a robbery ten years earlier. Believing four men were involved, Gene is after the one still alive, Slinger (played by another former movie sidekick, Raymond Hatton). Then he learns there is a fifth gang member waiting in the wings to find the missing loot.
Gene sings, "I Wish I Had Never Met Sunshine," somewhat of a rewrite of an old Jimmie Davis song, "I Wish I Had Never Seen Sunshine," to the beauty in the episode, Nan Leslie as Yvette Wilson, some say Gene's sunshine off screen as well. Fuzzy attempts unsuccessfully to woo Yvette first, but ends up locking her in a room so she won't expose Gene's true identity.
Director of westerns, John English, and his cinematographer, William Bradford, do the best they can with obviously a shoestring budget. The time restriction, fewer than thirty minutes, also seems to present problems for men used to hour-long features. The editing is a bit choppy in places and the camera sometimes misses its mark. All this improved as the series progressed. "The Gene Autry Show" is still a winner from the early 50's and a must for Gene's many fans.
Lovable and funny Pat Buttram was Gene's latter-day sidekick, replacing Smiley Burnette. Pat was so well received on the "Melody Ranch" radio show that his presence was expected when Gene began his TV years with "The Gene Autry Show." Unfortunately Pat was seriously injured on the set of "The Peacemaker" episode when a cannon stunt went awry. Pat nearly lost his life and didn't return to the show for several months. Other comical sidekicks filled in for Pat. In "Double-Barrelled Vengeance," stalwart Fuzzy Knight provides a few laughs. His main claim to fame was his stutter, which today would be considered politically incorrect, but in those days brought forth good-natured chuckles.
This time Gene is an undercover government agent on the trail of stolen money taken in a robbery ten years earlier. Believing four men were involved, Gene is after the one still alive, Slinger (played by another former movie sidekick, Raymond Hatton). Then he learns there is a fifth gang member waiting in the wings to find the missing loot.
Gene sings, "I Wish I Had Never Met Sunshine," somewhat of a rewrite of an old Jimmie Davis song, "I Wish I Had Never Seen Sunshine," to the beauty in the episode, Nan Leslie as Yvette Wilson, some say Gene's sunshine off screen as well. Fuzzy attempts unsuccessfully to woo Yvette first, but ends up locking her in a room so she won't expose Gene's true identity.
Director of westerns, John English, and his cinematographer, William Bradford, do the best they can with obviously a shoestring budget. The time restriction, fewer than thirty minutes, also seems to present problems for men used to hour-long features. The editing is a bit choppy in places and the camera sometimes misses its mark. All this improved as the series progressed. "The Gene Autry Show" is still a winner from the early 50's and a must for Gene's many fans.
