The Texas Playboys Movies

In the 1930s, musician Bob Wills took his love for the blues and jazz, fused it with the country sounds that dominated his native Texas and Oklahoma, and created a whole new form of music -- Western swing, in which big bands (complete with horns and strings) played up-tempo dance tunes that moved Western music in a brand new direction. Bob Wills and his band the Texas Playboys became massively popular in the Southwest, and the Western swing sound they pioneered is still championed today by groups such as Asleep at the Wheel and the Hot Club of Cowtown. Fiddlin' Man: The Life and Times of Bob Willis tells the story of this musical maverick and features vintage film clips of Wills and his band performing some of their biggest hits. Songs include "San Antonio Rose," "Time Changes Everything," "Sittin' on Top of the World," "Lone Star Rag," and more. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

After faithfully serving in supporting roles in Columbia's Charles Starrett westerns, Russell Hayden was awarded his own series in 1943. Starrett's Saddles and Sagebrush is nothing special plotwise, but it does show off the star to best advantage actionwise. In trying to keep the peace by pummelling every bad guy in sight, Hayden is helped along by resident Columbia comedy relief Dub "Cannonball" Taylor. Bob Wills and his entourage handle the musical chores. Though ignored by contemporary viewers, Columbia's eight Russell Hayden westerns were among the best B-pictures that the studio ever produced; the series came to an end when Hayden accepted a better offer at Universal. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Beautifully restored to its original theatrical length of 84 minutes by the Gene Autry Foundation, Melody Ranch is a bright, tuneful, and at times quite action-packed piece of B-Western extravaganza, Republic style. The victim of both a drop in ratings and a tardy leading lady, radio star Gene Autry is only too happy to oblige when old friend Pop Laramie (George "Gabby" Hayes) proposes that he return to his hometown of Torpedo as honorary sheriff during the upcoming Frontier Day celebration. With leading lady Julie Shelton (Ann Miller), city slicker announcer Cornelius Courtney (Jimmy Durante), and bemused sponsor Tommy Summerville (Jerome Cowan) in tow, Gene takes Torpedo by storm. That is, everyone except the Wildhack brothers (Barton MacLane, Joe Sawyer, and Horace MacMahon), old enemies who take umbrage to Gene's lampooning them on his daily broadcast. Julie, meanwhile, falls in love with the Wild and Woolly West in general and Gene in particular, and when the crooner proposes to leave show business and run for the office of sheriff for real, she decides to stay as well. The Wildhack brothers, meanwhile, attempt to sabotage the election, but Gene and his pals persevere against the odds. Produced at a cost of 500,000 dollars, Melody Ranch was the first Autry Western to be booked into first-run theaters, which had been Republic Pictures' goal all along. Autry, Ann Miller, Jimmy Durante, Mary Lee, and Bob Wills and His Playboys perform "Melody Ranch," "We Never Dream the Same Dream Twice," "Call of the Canyon," My Gal Sal," "Torpedo Joe," What Cowboys Are Made Of," and "Rodeo Rose," all by Jule Styne and Eddie Cherkose, and a good time is had by all. ~ Hans J. Wollstein, Rovi

For fans of Western Swing, the 1930s, 40s, and 50s were truly the golden era. Whether your tastes lean towards fiddle-based folk, country, swing, or blues, Western Swing could always be counted on to liven up the party and get folks on the dance floor. In this release featuring performance footage of Tex Williams, Spade Cooley, Bob Wills, and Hank Thompson, music fans will most certainly get their fill of the Western Swing flavor as they move to some of the 20th Century's most durable tunes. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi