RODEO RHYTHM (1942) Fred Scott, Pat Dunn & Loie Bridge | Drama, Western | B&W

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Rodeo Rhythm is a 1942 American Western film directed by Fred C. Newmeyer and written by Gene Tuttle and Eugene Allen. The film stars Fred Scott, Pat Dunn, Loie Bridge, Patricia Redpath, Jack Cooper and Gloria Morris. The film was released on March 13, 1942, by Producers Releasing Corporation.

Synopsis

This film is considered one of the rarest and oddest productions from Producers Releasing Corporation (P.R.C.), seldom appearing on collectors' want lists. It was shot on location in the Kansas City area and features a cast with minimal film experience, primarily B-western star Fred Scott and actress Loie Bridge, who had a modest career in early B-westerns. The film is directed by Fred C. Newmeyer, who hadn't directed since 1937, and features a crew with similarly obscure backgrounds.

The plot centers around Tillie Knapp, who runs an orphanage and struggles to keep it open while dealing with local businessman Alex Twitchell, who has taken control of the mortgage on the orphanage and the Knapp Ranch. To cheer the orphans, Tillie's brother Buck sends money for their annual ranch visit, but financial troubles arise. In a bid to save the orphanage, the kids, led by former resident Jim Corey and Buck's daughter Ellie, decide to put on a rodeo to raise funds.

After a series of mishaps, including a car accident involving Twitchell, the children manage to hold the rodeo and raise enough money to save the orphanage. Twitchell, moved by their efforts, decides to retire the mortgage himself and even plans to build a better orphanage.

While the film showcases the talents of young riders and reflects the local theater scene, it also illustrates the persistence of vaudeville influences in Kansas City during that era. Despite its low production quality, the film stands as a testament to the talent in the region, even as vaudeville was declining.

Cast & Crew

Fred Scott as Buck Knapp
Pat Dunn as Jim Corey
Loie Bridge as Aunt Tillie Knapp
Patricia Redpath as Ellen Knapp
Jack Cooper as Joe Stegge
Gloria Morris as Gloria
H. 'Doc' Hartley as Sheriff Bates
Donna Jean Meinke as Juanita
Vernon Brown as Slow Burn
Landon Laird as Lawyer
John Frank as Grandpa Twitchell
Roy Knapp as Roy Knapp

Director: Fred C. Newmeyer
Screenplay: Gene Tuttle, Eugene Allen
Story: Leo J. McCarthy
Producer: Leo J. McCarthy
Cinematography: Edward A. Kull
Editing: George Halligan
Production Company: Del Cal Theatres, Inc.
Distributor: Producers Releasing Corporation
Release Date: March 13, 1942
Running Time: 72 minutes
Country: United States
Language: English