Independent Films, Film Profiles

Melody Ranch

Melody Ranch (also known as Gene Autry's Melody Ranch) is a 1940 western film which tells the story of a singing cowboy who returns to his hometown to restore order when his former childhood enemies take over the town. It stars Gene Autry, Jimmy Durante, Ann Miller, Barton MacLane, Barbara Jo Allen, George 'Gabby' Hayes and William 'Billy' Benedict.The movie was written by Ray Golden, F. Hugh Herbert, Sid Kuller and Jack Moffitt. It was directed by Joseph Santley. The film has been deemed "culturally significant" by the Library of Congress and selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry.In 1950, Gene Autry brought his singing cowboy persona to television in a series which was alternately called The Gene Autry Show and Melody Ranch.