Shooting High  (1940)

Theatrical Release Information:
Shooting High

Singing cowboy Gene Autry makes a rare appearance outside his usual Republic Pictures stamping grounds in 20th Century-Fox's Shooting High. Instead of playing "himself" as he usually does, Autry is cast as Will Carson, whose family is engaged in a decades-long feud with the Pritchard clan. The story shifts into gear when a movie company arrives in town, intending to film the life story of Will's frontier-hero grandfather. Alas, the leading role is to be played by obnoxious Hollywood star Bob Merritt (Robert Lowery), while poor Will is relegated to the lowly position of Merritt's stand-in. Coming to the rescue is little Jane Pritchard (top-billed Jane Withers), kid sister of Will's girl friend Marjorie Pritchard (Marjorie Weaver), who contrives to scare Merritt out of town so that Will can star in the picture himself. In the course of events, Will proves himself to be a real hero by foiling a bank robbery. This has the salutary effect of ending the Carson-Pritchard feud and reuniting estranged sweethearts Will and Marjorie. It is to the everlasting credit of both Jane Withers and Gene Autry that they never encroach upon one another's territory in Shooting High; both stars are allowed plenty of opportunity to shine without lowering themselves to scene-stealing. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide