ROOTIN' TOOTIN' RHYTHM (1937) Gene Autry, Smiley Burnette & Armida | Drama, Western | B&W

Rootin' Tootin' Rhythm is a 1937 American Western film directed by Mack V. Wright and starring Gene Autry, Smiley Burnette, and Armida. Based on a story by Johnston McCulley, the film is about two cowboys who assume the identities of dead outlaws in order to stop a bunch of cattle rustlers, later discovering that the outlaws are far from dead.

SYNOPSIS
Gene and Frog, out to stop a bunch of cattle rustlers, assume the identities of what they believe to be dead bandits, which soon gets them in big trouble.

Gene Autry (Gene Autry) and his sidekick Frog Millhouse (Smiley Burnette) decide to leave Gene's ranch in order to pursue cattle rustlers who have been terrorizing the range. The men they are following, the Apache Kid (Max Hoffman Jr.) and Black Jim (Charles King), kill two lawmen and exchange clothes with them. When Gene and Frog discover the bodies, they decide to take their clothes and, disguised as wanted outlaws, head for the border.

Gene discovers that Joe Stafford (Monte Blue), a supposed upstanding head of the cattlemen's association, is the boss behind the rusting gang. When Stafford's niece, Rosa Montero (Armida), and his stepdaughter Mary Ellen (Ann Pendleton) mistake Gene and Frog for the Apache Kid and Black Jim, they turn them in to the deputies, who turn out to be the real outlaws in disguise.

CAST & CREW
Gene Autry as Gene Autry
Smiley Burnette as Frog Millhouse
Armida as Rosa Montero
Monte Blue as Joe Stafford
Al Clauser and His Oklahoma Outlaws as Singing Cowhands
Champion as Champion,
Hal Taliaferro as Buffalo Brady
Ann Pendleton as Mary Ellen Stafford,
Max Hoffman Jr. as Jed
Charles King as Jim Black
Frankie Marvin as Hank
Nina Campana as Ynez
Gonzalo Meroño as Richard Steward
Charles Meyers as Charlie

Directed by Mack V. Wright
Screenplay by Jack Natteford, Story by Johnston McCulley
Produced by Armand Schaefer
Cinematography William Nobles
Edited by Tony Martinelli
Music by Raoul Kraushaar
Production company Republic Pictures
Distributed by Republic Pictures
Release date May 12, 1937 (U.S.)
Running time 61 minutes
Country United States
Language English
Budget $23,500

NOTES
Mexican-born actress Armida was paid significantly more than Autry's past female co-stars, $750, for her appearance in Rootin' Tootin' Rhythm. According to Autry, she helped him to sing Spanish lyrics to film songs.[5]

Rootin' Tootin' Rhythm was filmed March 10–20, 1937. The film had an operating budget of $23,500 (equal to $478,377 today), and a negative cost of $33,034.