Rhythm on the Range *** (1936, Bing Crosby, Frances Farmer, Bob Burns, Martha Raye) – Classic Movie Review 7179

Director Norman Taurog’s 1936 black and white Paramount Pictures fun-filled musical Western Rhythm on the Range stars Bing Crosby and Frances Farmer, along with Bob Burns and Martha Raye.

Based on a story by Mervin J Houser, it centres on a cowboy Jeff Larabee (Crosby)’s attempts to seduce a young heiress, Doris Halloway (Farmer), who turns out to be the owner of the farm where he works. He gets nowhere till gangsters endanger her.

Crosby deservedly garnered much praise for his role as the amorous cowpoke, and had a smash hit with the tune ‘I’m an Old Cowhand.’ The film is notable as Farmer’s first A-movie feature and also marks the début feature-film screen appearance of Martha Raye, who threatens to steal the show, as bright spark Emma Mazda, especially during her ‘Mr Paganini’ number.

Rhythm on the Range is good clean Thirties thigh-slapping fun all round, and enough infectious tunes to keep you whistling for days to come. It is still hugely entertaining for fans of Thirties popular movies. Bob Burns co-stars as Buck Eaton. Roy Rogers, Hugh Farr, Karl Farr, Tim Spencer and Bob Nolan make up the Sons of the Pioneers singing combo.

Also in the cast are Warren Hymer, Lucile Gleason, Samuel S Hinds, George E Stone, James Burke, Clem Bevans, Leonid Kinskey, Martha Sleeper, Charles Williams, Beau Baldwin, Emmett Vogan, Dennis O’Keefe, Duke York, James Blaine, James Thompson, Jim Toney, Syd Saylor, Sam McDaniel, Ellen Drew, Irving Bacon, Frank Dawson, Charles Arnt, Oscar Smith, Robert McKenzie, Heinie Conklin, Herbert Ashley, Bessie Patterson, Louis Prima, Roy Rogers, Hugh Farr, Karl Farr, Bob Nolan and Tim Spencer.

Rhythm on the Range is directed by Norman Taurog, runs 86 minutes, is made and released by Paramount Pictures, is written by John C Moffitt [Jack Moffitt], Sidney Salkow, Walter DeLeon and Francis Martin, based on a story by Mervin J Houser, is shot in black and white by Karl Struss, is produced by Benjamin Glazer, is scored by Frederick Hollander, Johnny Mercer, Ralph Rainger, Sam Coslow and Boris Morros, with music by Leo Robin and Richard A Whiting, and designed by Hans Dreier.

It is on a Region 1 double bill DVD with its follow-up, Rhythm on the River (1940), also starring Bing Crosby.

It is remade as Pardners (1956) with Dean Martin, Jerry Lewis and Agnes Moorehead.

Frances Farmer (19 September 1913 – 1 August 1970) made her film debut in Too Many Parents (1936).

© Derek Winnert 2018 Classic Movie Review 7179

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Frances Farmer in Rhythm on the Range (1936).