MTV Films Present: Better Luck Tomorrow

Amazon.com

Justin Lin's well-received 2002 independent feature, Better Luck Tomorrow, is a strangely appealing story of the mysterious, somehow inexorable drift of an ultra-conscientious, Southern California high school senior, Ben (Parry Shen), toward a fateful interlude with crime. Though highly focused on impressing colleges with his thoughtful balance of excellent grades, energized volunteer work (as a translator), and varsity sports (warming the bench during basketball games), something about Ben appears to be unraveling. Perhaps it is an attraction to his out-of-reach lab partner (Karin Anna Cheung), or his growing attachment to hard cash, or simply the malaise that coats his every act of self-denial. In any case, he and a brood of fellow Asian American overachievers metamorphose into the local go-to gang of black-market thievery--all while keeping up their classes. Lin brings a fresh angle to the exhausted youth-crime genre, and clarifies, with no small wisdom, the distinction between building a future and living one's destiny. --Tom Keogh

Customer Reviews:

This is refreshing........2007-08-09

After decades of being type-casted by other films, its refreshing to see Asian American kids just doing normal American stuff. Lets leave all the stereo-types behind.

A microcosm deserves to be seen, with moral issues of certain school behaviors.......2007-06-30

BETTER LUCK TOMORROW (2002) is a remarkable independent film, highly
realistic and original in the story that it tells. It brings forth,
as well, multicultural aspects as it has viewers mulling over that
and other moral and faith implications and foundations important to
each person. These too often are not taught, are forgotten or
dismissed as a pointless "overhead" needing eliminatation in the
final "profit analysis " in many people's lives.

Although the events occur in high school, the audience will surely
empathize with quite a bit of the storym as youngters build and
solify their character during those school years, from taking on new
life experiences.

In this tale, just as food cooks faster in a pressure cooker, and so
do the characters in this movie, aging faster than otherwise, by
taking on a large number of obligations, activities and social
interactions, beyond what many students do. The protagonists are
extraordinarily self-aware of what is needed in landing a
scholarship in the most expensive, brand name US universities, thus
ambitious objectives, in terms of a resume-building, such as
volunteerism, exam results, sports team membership, work experience.

A handful of school colleagues become friends, and thru exterior
influence, adopt small time scams, evolving to bigger ones, for
monetary profit, egomaniacal reasons (social status, self-worth) and
for the challenge. Examples shown include exam cheating, shoplifting
and simulating a return of merchandise, narco-trafficking, outright
theft of goods from their own school, etc.

A number of parallel issues, not edited out, are raised such as the
discomfort of affirmative action among those who are minorities who
obtained their jobs by merit. Another is the ghetto aspect to this
group of friends, all Asian yet all fully immersed in American
culture, well adjusted.

The flaw of this work, is that the moral aspects are brought out
into the open, in a clumsy, very vague, generalized manner, without
any familiarized notion of any organized existing religion or life
philosophy, irrealistically. The confusion, hesitance, remorse, pain
and self-doubt shown by the lead character, from a murder, sexual
excesses, simulated burglary, participation in the scams perhaps
could have been clarified, assisted by popular faiths. All students
are shown as atheistic or totally clueless about this, which seems
implausible, even unrealistic.

The picture is filmed with talent, very well edited, until the
cadence of action seems to flounder at the 75 minute mark, in the
plateau of the events, preparing the public for a relatively short
ending sequence. There's a sharp, clear DVD transfer, not quite a
widescreen. The soundtrack is original, and skillfully couples
various musical selections with the proper moods.

Undoubtedly, this work deserves to be seen, for the microcosm that
is laid out bare on screen, with events entirely realistic, and from
the action that maintains viewers attentions throughout as well as
from the aspects already mentioned (moral, multicultural) if not the
natural charisma of the actors.

Interesting Flick.......2007-02-21

Better Luck Tomorrow is an unusual little movie in that it is both a creation of Asian Americans and, most significantly, a film with Asian male characters who are not martial arts experts. In fact, it does not appear that any of the characters in this production are into martial arts at all.

The main characters are a group of Asian American students in Orange County who are generally academic standouts. After a fight with a white football jock who took exception to an Asian American tennis player wearing a letterman's jacket, the tennis player becomes studly in the eyes of the other students. The other Asian American male youths see adopting a violent pose as being the ticket to respect. Even so, they still must pay attention to their grades and the upcoming SAT's. Also, they are still unable to score any dates.

This latter point leads us to the true context that this movie needs to be seen in. Young Asian American males find it difficult to get dates. Many Asian American females seem to prefer white guys so much so that for every 1,000 married Asian American women, there are only 860 married Asian American males. Meanwhile, females of other racial groups seem to have little to no interest in Asian American male youth. Hence a great deal of frustration among many young Asian American males who cannot get dates.

This is a most interesting movie that hopefully presages more movies down the line pertaining to the Asian American experience that are made by Asian Americans.

A breakthrough for Asian American cinema........2007-01-14

Like many of you who have read the on-line reviews, "Better Luck Tomorrow" is a breakthrough film for Asian Americans. This is the film that helped put Justin Lin on the map, and I loved it for its respect in showing the pressures of high school life in the United States from the Asian American perspective. It is a groundbreaking film with a well-written script, and I commend it for the strong performances of its lead actors Parry Shen, Karin Anna Cheung, John Cho, and Sung Kang.

"Better Luck Tomorrow" is the first full-on Asian American feature film I have ever seen. Just imagine how I must have felt after years of watching my people portrayed as 1-dimensional stereotypical caricatures on screen for us to finally see a film that accurately portrays Asian Americans. Lin, arguably, understands the Asian American ethos better than any other Hollywood filmmaker out there. He's still a rising filmmaker in Hollywood who is making a name for himself in an extremely racist industry; I hope that in a few years, there will be more films by Lin and many other Asian American filmmakers that dispel a lot of the negative stereotypes perpetuated upon Asian Americans by mainstream American society for the past 150 years.

Most other Asian American filmmakers never got a shot at the brass ring, and I am sorry to hear that, but Lin did through his chance meeting with M.C. Hammer, who was impressed by the well-written quality of Lin's script for "Better Luck Tomorrow." This came at a time when Lin had no funding left for his independent film production company and was on the verge of shutting down. It was M.C. Hammer who helped fund Lin's film ($250,000 to produce "Better Luck Tomorrow"), and helped arrange Lin to meet with MTV executives to promote and distribute it through Paramount Pictures Studios. The only "luck" involved throughout the film's funding, production, and distribution was in its title. Lin put his heart and creative energy into this film like the way John G. Avildsen did with the original "Rocky."

I want Justin Lin to succeed in Hollywood, and his success allows more doors to be opened for Asian American filmmakers and Asian American actors who want to work in Hollywood. Lin got his foot in the gate, and he's prying it open. He has clearly shown to the American mainstream that Asian Americans can be portrayed as all-around human beings who can love, hate, think, feel like everyone else. At this point, Asian American filmmakers are still trying to find "a voice" in the Hollywood community. It's still in the "trials and tribulations" stage, and they have to take the lumps with the praises. We have to work with what we've got until that day arrives. It is good to know that we were able to establish that first breakthrough with "Better Luck Tomorrow."

As for martial arts, leave those films to Chuck Norris...

Better Luck Tomorrow.......2006-02-22

I love this movie, this is the movie I leave in the DVD player on REPEAT....haha.

Average customer rating:

Pure nostalgia
The Real Thing
2/3 of perhaps the best and funniest Roy Rogers movie
The Best Roy Rogers Video
Comments on Don't Fence Me In

Don't Fence Me In
Starring: Roy Rogers , Trigger , George 'Gabby' Hayes , Dale Evans , and Robert Livingston
Director: John English
Manufacturer: Good Times Video
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ASIN: B00022LIC0
Release Date: 2004-07-13

Customer Reviews:

Pure nostalgia.......2007-03-08

Just brings back memories of childhood. Get this one rather than the 'Roy Rogers Theatre' version. No idle chat or cuts. Lovely!

The Real Thing.......2006-09-10

The children of the 1940's loved Roy Rogers. He was the leading box-office cowboy for 10 years. However times were slower then. "The Little Rascals / Our Gang" series of the 1930's is a wonderful series, loved by children and adults of the time; but also made when times were slower. Children and adults today, may not have the patience and appreciation for the charm of "Roy Rogers" and the old "Little Rascals".

Roy Rogers was everything in real life that he plays in the movies. You like Roy Rogers films; if you like Roy. The stories are pleasant, and hold your attention; but not as exciting compared to today's special effects. Many of his films have similar plot style. Some of his stories, like the sheriff being crooked, with a gang of deputies that robs every gold shipment from the mines, with the town helpless, except for the arrival of the hero, seemed far-fetched. However, I later read a historical biography that told this same true story. It was true. Reality is sometimes stranger than fiction.

Roy was the best, in real life and on film, he was the best singer, always some good songs, the best yodeler,(he yodels in his songs in a couple films), he had true close, life-long, friendships with many of his on-screen friends, he was a great shot, and a real hunter, best outfits, his horse, which he owned in real life, did lots of tricks, his hard to win love, Dale Evans, took some effort for him to win in real life, but became a true and romantic love, and his wife. Roy was quite the athlete, he could walk for an hour on his hands. Roy was a good guy in real life, visiting children's hospitals throughout all the States.

Reading about Roy and Dale's off-screen lives, in their great book, "Happy Trails", makes their films endearing. The book tells how Dale was not at first interested in the real, cowboy, Roy; because she wanted to be a glamorous, city, singer, (it is best to read it) however, in summary, Roy does save her in a real life, adventure, incident, sweeping her off her feet. Their romance on-screen plays so interesting; because of their true romance off-screen.

I like the "Happy Trails Theatre" versions best. (This is such a version). A before and after segment, made many years later, is hosted by Roy and Dale, in their later years. They always have a guest.

The "Dont Fence Me In" song in this film is a good song.

I have seen 40 Roy Rogers films, and liked them all. Roy and Dale were good people, of an era gone by, the era of Walt Disney and Shirley Temple. Roy's films, not found here, can be found on RoyRogers dot commmmmm. "The Television Collection Vol.2" of Roy's has excellent songs, with guests, and is a pleasant surprise.

2/3 of perhaps the best and funniest Roy Rogers movie.......2004-07-24

Don't Fence Me is a 5-star Roy Rogers-Dale Evans movie which runs 71 minutes (B&W). This Happy Trails Theatre version cuts out about 19 minutes from the original movie. (An introduction and closing remarks with Roy and Dale done for TV in the 1980's adds about 12 minutes, but the film itself runs about 49 minutes in this eviscerated Happy Trails incarnation.)

The original version of Don't Fence Me In became available in 1998 on Republic VHS AIBN B00000EZWW. The audio on the Happy Trails DVD reviewed here is cleaner, raising hopes for an authentic DVD restoration of the whole film at some point. The 2 stars for this DVD are for better-than-nothing and the audio improvement. However, since songs such as Along the Navajo Trail have been edited out, along with much of the comedy--a 13 minute continuous segement is missing-- much of the benefit of better audio is lost. Get the Republic (not the Happy Trails) VHS instead for a delightful 1945 matinee classic.

The Best Roy Rogers Video.......2004-01-08

This video is probibly the best Roy Rogers video there is. Dale Evans is an Eastern reporter/photographer who goes west to find the true story of the long dead Wild Cat Kelly. She meets Roy and Gabby and messes things up for them, but in the end everything works out. Roy and Dale have some funny scenes together and Gabby does a wonderful job. Some of the great songs include Tumbling Tumbleweeds, Along the Navajo Trial and the title song by Cole Porter .

Comments on Don't Fence Me In.......2000-02-10

The quality of this video is very good from both visual and sound aspects. In addition this is a full length version with a running time of over 70 minutes as opposed to the 54 minute TV version found in some earlier video releases. This is one of the very best Roy Rogers films. An outstanding performance as the retired outlaw Wildcat Kelly by "Gabby" Hayes adds considerably to the value of this film. This is a must for Roy Rogers' fans

Average customer rating:

Thought-provoking in a way similar to "Crash" but not as well told
So Sorry...
Actually 3 1/2
True To Life!
A Serious Drama!

Good Fences
Starring: Danny Glover , Whoopi Goldberg , Zachary Simmons Glover , Mo'Nique , and Ryan Michelle Bathe
Director: Ernest R. Dickerson
Manufacturer: Showtime Ent.
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ASIN: B0000DIJNJ
Release Date: 2003-12-16

Description

Good Fences reunites Goldberg and Glover for the first time since their now classic pairing in Steven Spielberg's The Color Purple in 1985. This is a story of an upwardly mobile yet dysfunctional black family who find themselves standing at the lily- white gates of the American Dream. They come to discover that nothing in life is just black and white and that the road to a better life may just be another path of struggle and survival.

Customer Reviews:

Thought-provoking in a way similar to "Crash" but not as well told.......2007-06-17

Desperate Housewives meets The Jeffersons meets Crash

This is a movie you'd only watch in order to provoke a discussion about race and society and ambition, and since it's set in the past, even that discussion is of limited value. It isn't a well-told story, the plot jumps from vignette to vignette without a clear connection. Gradually you 'get' what's going on but the story is never fleshed out. It's more a series of snapshots that you're left to fill in the blank spaces between.

As others noted, the description on the back of the DVD case is totally off the mark - this movie is not at all funny or a comedy unless you like making fun of people with narrow stereotypical caricatures. I did not laugh once. Good Fences (a complete misnomer of a title, there are no fences in the movie, but I'm nit-picking) does have some very strong points as you observe what the two main characters are willing to do to themselves in the pursuit of a so-called better life; this element would be the basis for a very meaningful discussion and the reason why I gave the movie two stars instead of one.

The movie is rated R and definitely deserves it. There is frontal nudity and the seduction of a teenage boy, both completely unnecessary to the plotline. Hanging is portrayed, spousal abuse is intimated, bigotry runs rampant, drug abuse and other criminal behaviors are mixed into the suburban cauldron in a lame attempt to keep the plot interesting. Mostly I just ended up feeling sorry for the actors at being stuck in such a bad production. If the movie were recut it could be very powerful. As it is, you can assume that they slapped the "non-stop hilarity" label on the back of the DVD in a desperate attempt to get people to watch it. Go see Crash and watch The Jeffersons instead.

So Sorry..........2006-08-29

Yes, I'm afraid I can't agree with any of the reviews above, except that they are all right in saying that this movie certainly is not at all funny. (The only funny thing, in fact, is Whoopi Goldberg's absurd glasses.) This movie is a real snore. It doesn't start anywhere, and it doesn't go anywhere. It's too long and it pieces together all kinds of different scenes without any kind of rationale. The idea of the cost of upward mobility is interesting, but the execution is flawed, and I can understand why more people haven't heard of this movie.

Actually 3 1/2.......2006-08-14

I agree this was not a comedy. The story of the black man that makes it far enough to where he is suspicious of other blacks living on his block was interesting. He actually set a house on fire so a black neighbor wouldn't buy it. I really enjoyed the curious white women also. The grocery store scenes were also quite interesting.
Towards the end when Glovers daughter had the blond hair and the contacts, I was saying damn, look how far things have gone. Wonder what daddy would have thought. As for the end, I wonder, did Mable ever tell Ruth what happened with the house. I liked the movie but have seen better ones with a similar plot.

True To Life!.......2005-01-05

I thought this movie was a comedy when I got it,but it is a far cry from that. Although there are some lighthearted moments in it, this is a heartfelt film.
Whoopie Goldberg and Danny Glover play a black family. Glover had a disturbing past with bigot whites in his youth. His determindation to make something of himself pays off and soon he and his family are living on easy street. However, things are not as they should be. This movie shows, I believe, that we must all be true to ourselves, rich or poor, black or white, we are happiest when we do not try to be what others what us to be.
No one can be happy when they surpress their true desires and try to live the way they feel others think they should.If we respect one another, try to live peaceable our world would be a much happier place to live in. I feel this was the basic of the movie and they did a very job in showing that.

A Serious Drama!.......2004-08-13

First of all I would like to say that this movie is not funny or meant to be funny as one customer stated in their review. I don't want viewers to get confused and miss out on a serious drama portrayed quite well by Glover and Goldberg. I have seen this movie a few times, and I myself never even thought about the roles they played in The Color Purple, which incidently was also a serious drama. For anyone to think otherwise, they simply have a closed mind, and really missed the point. This is a "must see". A story that is very common, because so many people "Forget where they came from."

Average customer rating:

Disappointed
Unable to Escape Your Past

The Fence
Starring: Freddy Rodríguez , Stacy Logan , Ann Jacques , Billy Wirth , and Jim Foley
Director: Peter Pistor
Manufacturer: Image Entertainment
ProductGroup: DVD
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ASIN: B00000IYR7
Release Date: 1999-09-14

Description

His only crime was trying to survive. Locked up since the age of 15, Terry Griff (Billy Wirth) has known nothing but the harsh realities of incarceration. Now at the age of 29, he is up for early release and finds a new beginning in Jackie (Erica Gimpel). His happiness is short-lived when Terry, framed by a dishonest parole officer, is thrown into a world of corruption, danger and violence that he never believed could have existed on the other side of "The Fence."

Customer Reviews:

Disappointed.......2004-04-03

I was really hoping this movie would be good because I love Billy Wirth and his work. I have to admit I was disappointed in the whole movie. While the acting wasn't bad, I just didn't get the sense that things mattered as much to people as they should have. The love affair between Billy's character and the sister-in-law wasn't developed nearly enough. I just didn't feel for these people like I wanted to. In my opinion, not enough attention was paid to character development.

Unable to Escape Your Past.......2001-08-13

The Fence (1994)

Starring Billy Wirth as Griff put in jail at 15 for defending his mother from an abusive father. Locked away his youth is wasted in the correctional system. Given a chance to be paroled, with a close inmate who has become a father figure to him (Paul Benjamin). When an overdose kills his mentor Griff gets out in the real world, a place where he has never been in 18 years. He tries to bring comfort to the family and becomes involved with the sister in law. (Erica Gimpel.)

Hoping to have a normal life and love for the first time in his life only to have inmates from his pass show up along with a parole officer who is crooked.

Description

This "hip" thriller takes place in the "Windy City" where Andy Hammond (Donald Sutherland), a detective, collaborates with an insurance company to investigate a theft of diamonds.... worth $3 million! Enter the lovely (and very affluent)Paula Booth (Jennifer O'Neill) and her father, Paul Booth (Patrick Magee), who deals in stolen goods. Although daughter and father are key suspects in the diamond caper, Andy is torn between capturing the criminals, or being captivated himself by a beautiful jewel thief. Bonus Features: VCI Previews| Actor Bios| Chapter Selection Menu. Specs: DVD5; Dolby Digital Mono; 93 minutes; Color; 1.33:1 Aspect Ratio; MPAA - PG; Year - 1973; SRP - $9.99.

Customer Reviews:

Pan n scan.......2006-06-14

VCI's budget DVD starts out well enough for the obscure thriller Lady Ice, with nice letterboxed credits foreshadowing interesting widescreen photography to come. Unfortunately, as soon as the credits end, the aspect ratio changes to full screen and the rest of the film is presented in one of the worst pan and scan jobs I've ever seen on DVD. Pass on this one from VCI, and hopefully down the line there will be a new widescreen transfer so we can see how the film is supposed to look after the credits.

Little style, less substance........2000-02-14

A made-for-TV "Thomas Crown Affair (1968)" tries hard to duplicate the Steve McQueen-Faye Dunaway chemistry, using Donald Sutherland and Jennifer O'Neill in this watery version.

Role reversal sets O'Neill as the wealthy jewel thief, hunted seductively by insurance investigator Sutherland..who works most of the film in shirts open to the navel...Ahh, the 70's!

O'Neill is beautiful and stylish, drives fast cars, swims unclothed and stays away from complex sentences, while Sutherland smokes those little thin cigars and from time to time falls back on his `Hawkeye' grin. There is a nice turn by Jon Cypher as the heavy. Soap opera vet Eric Braeden gets some on-screen time as does, of all people Robert Duvall as the straight-arrow cop.

Description

Barbed wire is brought to the open range, and the ranchers are urged by Sandy Reeves to fight against it. Reeves secretly plans to bring sheep into the territory but forgets to count in Gene Autry, who makes certain nothing dishonest goes on for very long. Crashing action and catchy Western melodies make this a true Autry classic, featuring the songs "Down in the Valley," "Buffalo Gals," "Powder Your Face with Sunshine" and "Bury Me Not on the Lone Prairie."

Customer Reviews:

"Gene Autry B-Western Series ... Cow Town (1950) ... Image Ent. (2004)".......2007-09-12

Columbia Pictures present "COW TOWN" (Released: 19 May 1950) (71 mins/B&W) (Fully Restored/Dolby Digitally Remastered) --- relive those thrilling days when the "First Singing Cowboy" Gene Autry took us down the dusty trails with hard riding and straight shooting hitting the bull's eye with excitement every time --- the Gene Autry series of B-Westerns were a staple of Saturday matinees in the 1930s and 1940s --- The Following Segments are from the "Melody Ranch Theater", which originally aired on the Nashville Network in 1987 --- Hosted by Gene and longtime sidekick Pat Buttram the program showcased many of Gene's classic motion pictures and featured personal anecdotes about how the films were made --- Information on costars and significant happenings in Gene's personal life and career. --- don't miss any of the Singing Cowboy's features loaded with action and songs that will leave you wanting more of Gene Autry's B-Western Adventures --- The sale of this DVD will further the educational and cultural mission of the renowned "Autry National Center in Los Angeles".

Under Jon English (Director), Armand Schaefer (Producer), Gerald Geraghty (Screenwriter), William Bradford (Cinematographer), Mischa Bakaleinikoff (Musical Direction/Supervision), Johnny Lange (Composer (Music Score), Henry Batista (Editor) - - - - - our story line and plot, Gene had now settled into rather serious mostly straight B-Westerns, full of fisticuffs, gunplay and wild chases with some musicals tunes thrown in for good measure --- gone were the fancy shirts and pants with modern trappings and settings --- the cycle had come nearly full circle, and what emerged was Gene Autry frontiersman --- intending to hinder the rustlers by putting barbed wire fencing around his spread is making rancher Gene Autry very unpopular --- and not all cattlemen favor this tactic thus the action and adventures begin --- Gene introduces barbed wire to the range to end cattle rustling and straying cattle --- his neighbor Ginger Kirby (Gail Davis) and her kid brother Duke (Clark "Buddy" Burroughs) give Gene a rough time --- the crafty livery stable owner Sandy Reeves (Harry Shannon) wants the wide open unfenced range for his sheep, planning to buy up range land for the taxes the cattlemen can't pay ----- some wonderful tunes, DOWN IN THE VALLEY (Gene Autry), BUFFALO GALS (Gene Autry), POWDER YOUR FACE WITH SUNSHINE (Gene Autry), BURY ME NOT ON THE LONE PRAIRIE (Gene Autry) - - - - - some Autry fun facts, Gene had 1,000 square feet of closet space in his North Hollywood home.

the cast includes
Gene Autry ... Gene Autry
Champion ... Champion
Gail Davis ... Ginger Kirby
Harry Shannon ... Sandy Reeves
Jock Mahoney ... Tod Jeffreys (as Jock O'Mahoney)
Clark 'Buddy' Burroughs ... Duke Kirby
Harry Harvey ... Sheriff
Steve Darrell ... Hilliard
Sandy Sanders ... Ranch hand Stormy
Ralph Sanford ... Storekeeper Martin Dalrymple
Ted Mapes ... Henchman Ed
Pat O'Malley ... Townsman
Bud Osborne ... Rancher Copeland
House Peters Jr. ... Gill Saunders

BIOS:
1. Gene Autry
Date of Birth: 29 September 1907 - Near Tioga, Texas
Date of Death: 2 October 1998 - Studio City, Los Angeles, California

Special footnote, Orvon Gene Autry was an American performer who gained fame as The Singing Cowboy on the radio, in movies and on television --- Discovered by film producer Nat Levine in 1934, he and Burnette made their film debut for Mascot Pictures Corp. "In Old Santa Fe" as part of a singing cowboy quartet; he was then given the starring role by Levine in 1935 in the 12-part serial "The Phantom Empire" --- Shortly thereafter, Mascot was absorbed by the formation of Republic Pictures Corp. and Autry went along to make a further 44 films up to 1940, all B westerns in which he played under his own name, rode his horse Champion, had Burnette as his regular sidekick and had many opportunities to sing in each film --- Autry became the top Western star at the box-office by 1937, reaching his national peak of popularity from 1940 to 1942. His Gene Autry Flying "A" Ranch Rodeo show debuted in 1940 --- Gene Autry is the only celebrity to have five stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, one in each of the five categories maintained by the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce --- Radio, Films, Recordings, Television and Live Theater.

SPECIAL FEATURES:
1. Reminiscing with Gene Autry and Pat Buttram at the "Melody Ranch Theater"
2. "Don't Touch That Dial", Gene Autry is on the air - excerpts from the Original "Melody Ranch Radio Show"
3. Production and Publicity Stills
4. Horseplay
5. Poster and lobby Card Art
6. Trivia and Movie Facts
7. Original Press Kit Material

Check out a new book from Empire Publishing - "GENE AUTRY WESTERNS" (Hardcover) - by author Boyd Magers, like no other book on Gene Autry --- all of Gene's Mascot, Republic and Columbia westerns included, as well as his half-hour TV Episodes --- each segment contains the release date on each film ... major production credits ... complete cast (including character played) ... all songs included, songwriter and who performed them in the film ... running time of each film ... dates of the filming ... bios on the cast and major players (Smiley, Pat Buttram, Cass County Boys, Herbert J. Yates, directors, leading ladies, songwriters and various heavies, etc.) ... locations that were used ... budgets and negative cost ... stunt people involved ... analysis and synopsis on each film ... notes and comments (including film and cast background info, salaries paid, working titles, etc) ... comments from Gene and many other cast members on each film ... theater exhibitors comments at the time of the films release ...this tribute was written from the heart and it shows.

Hats off and thanks to Les Adams (collector/guideslines for character identification), Chuck Anderson (Webmaster: The Old Corral/B-Westerns.Com), Boyd Magers (Western Clippings), Bobby J. Copeland (author of "Trail Talk"), Rhonda Lemons (Empire Publishing Inc) and Bob Nareau (author of "The Real Bob Steele") as they have rekindled my interest once again for B-Westerns and Serials --- looking forward to more high quality releases from the vintage serial era of the '20s, '30s & '40s and B-Westerns ... order your copy now from Amazon where there are plenty of copies available on DVD --- stay tuned once again for top notch action mixed with musical songs and adventure --- if you enjoyed this title, why not check out Image Entertainment where they are experts in releasing B-Westerns --- all my heroes have been cowboys!

Total Time: 71 min on DVD ~ Image Entertainment ~ (5/25/2004)

Modern fences!!.......2004-08-31

Filmed in 1950, starring Gene Autry, who by that time was a seasoned actor who had grown better and better with the years. Gone were some of the dressy and wonderfully tailored outfits of yesteryear and in it's place was a man in plain jeans and shirts, (of course, we still had the fancy guns and custom made cowboy boots Autry was so famous for) but none the less the hero who saves the day. One of the first in the area to use barbed wire for his cattle ranch, Autry had to uncover a plot by the bad guys to drive a wedge between neighbors using the barbed wire controversy, so that they could buy their ranchs to raise sheep. In turn he also helps a young girl, Gail Davis and her brother to keep their ranch which was in trouble financially. Autry movies in the late 40's and early 50's took on a much more realistic story line which I guess was due to the maturing of this famous "Singing Cowboy". Either way...whether in early movies or the later, more serious movies....they just didn't make them any better. Autry will never be forgotten for the moral and ethical values he showed in these movies. My hats off to you Mr. Autry....He died Oct 2, 1998 long before I discovered his movies and I wish I had found them sooner!!

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