The Big Sombrero (Columbia Pictures) (1949)

Big Sombrero Mat 2-F; Prod. Still No. II WESTERN THRILLS come to romantic Mexico in Gene Autry's newest Cinecolor film for Columbia. The outdoor drama, which features beautiful Senorita Elena Verdugo, currently is being shown at the UT PUNE i Tel ge Theatre. (Feature) Miss, Autry Kissed, Hisses Star's Fans Elena Verdugo is mad at Gene Autry’s fans. The beautiful Castilian actress, Autry’s leading lady in Columbia’s “The Big Sombrero,” the Cinecolor Western SG aes see ns Theatre, claims they are responsible for the most spectacular love scene of her film career ending up on the cutting-room floor. “It was Gene’s first screen kiss,” she explained, a_ bit heatedly. “Just think, his first in eleven years as the top Western star—and I was the one who was going to give it to him.” Elena gave it to him, all right, and it was quite an event, rivalling in public interest Deanna Durbin’s first screen kiss, some years back. Cowboy stars aren’t supposed to get kissed in their pictures, you see. Their business is catching outlaws, outwitting crooks and saving damsels in distress—but not kissing them. No sir, that kind of business is for Glenn Ford, Clark Gable, Cary Grant and those other guys who go around in city clothes. So when the script of “The (Reader) Blonde Dyes Hair For That ‘Reel’ Look Because the average film fan visualizes a Spaniard as having dark hair, Elena Verdugo, a puré Castilian, had to dye her blonde hair black for her role as Gene Autry’s leading lady in Columbia’s “The Big Sombrero,” Cinecolor musical Western holding forth at the ...... Theatre. She is a descendant of the Spanish Conquistadores. Her ancestor, Jose Maria Verdugo, once owned by grant of the King of Spain, the San _ Rafael Rancho, on part of which Universal-International Studio now stands. Like many a Castilian, Elena is a blonde, but producer Armand Schaefer requested that she dye her tresses jet black for the Autry picture. Broadway Star Vera Marshe, former comedienne in Broadway musicals and who recently completed a role in “Where There’s Life There’s Hope,” plays one of the comedy leads in Columbia’s ‘‘The Big Sombrero,” the Gene Autry starrer coming to the Theatre on is a Western musical photographed in Cinecolor. Page 10 Big Sombero” called for Autry to get kissed, there was a great to-do on the Hollywood range, and folks came to Columbia studio from far and wide to witness the cataclysmic spectacle of a he-man being corraled by a young filly in skirts. “It was a perfect screen kiss, too,” said Elena, “and I was very proud of it. Mr. Autry complimented me on my _technique, and the rest of the cast and the crew applauded. There were even reporters there with their photographers, and it got in all the papers.” She sighed. “That was the trouble,’ she continued. “His fans who definitely did not want Gene kissed wrote to the studio during the next six days. I know because I saw the letters. So we shot the scene again, minus the kiss, and there went my great chance for fame.” She smiled. “But I have one satisfaction. Gene told me that my kiss was undoubtedly the best kiss that ever landed on the cutting-room floor.” Champion, Gene’s famous horse, is starred with the cowboy in “The Big Sombrero.” Featured players include, besides Miss Verdugo, Stephen Dunne, George J. Lewis and Vera Marshe. Olive Cooper wrote the original screenplay for the Gene Autry Production. Frank Mc Donald directed for producer Armand Schaefer. Spe Big Sombrero Mat |-B; Prod. Still No. 16 DESPERATE struggle between Gene Autry (left) and Bob Casson highlights Columbia's Cinecolored "The Big Sombrero" at the ............ Theatre. (Review) Viva Gene Autry! Star Storms Mexico In ‘Big Sombrero’ Columbia’s “The Big Sombrero,” newest Gene Autry starrer in Cinecolor, opened yesterday at the...... and proved to be a rodeo of Western thrills, a fiesta of melody and a jamboree of romance. Champion, Gene’s famous horse, is also starred, and the supporting cast includes Elena Verdugo, Stephen Dunne, George J. Lewis and Vera Marshe. Olive Cooper’s original screenplay provides Gene with his hottest adventure as it serves up North of the border thrills and South of the Border romance. Gene finds himself in Mexico looking for a job, and promptly tangles with James Garland (Dunne), former barker and confidence man who has virtually become the overlord of the vast Estrada Rancho. Gene decides to throw in his lot with the poor rancheros who are the ranch’s tenants and whom Garland is trying to evict. In the big cattle drive attempted by the rancheros and led by Gene, neither savage ambush, dangerous landslide nor whizzing bullet can stop Gene from completing it and exposing Garland for what he is. Autry does everything expected of him and more. With his magnificent steed, Champion, he’s the very personification of the outdoors. Gene is heard in some of the best songs he’s had occasion to sing, including “You Belong to My Heart,” “My Adobe Hacienda,” “La Golondrina” and “My Darling Clementine.” Lovely Miss Verdugo, a stunner if there ever was one, plays Gene’s leading lady to perfection. She also does a high-spirited Spanish dance which is worth the price of admission alone. Dunne, Lewis, as a fighting ranchero, and Miss Marshe as a blonde “threat” to the caballeros, are also extremely capable. Frank McDonald directed this Gene Autry Production for producer Armand Schaefer. (Advance Reader) Gene Autry Coming In ‘Big Sombrero’ Columbia’s “The Big Sombrero,” starring Gene Autry and his famous horse, Champion, is: coming: to the: .*s2. 1... Theatre on Filmed in Cinecolor, the musical Western features Elena Verdugo, Stephen Dunne, George J. Lewis and Vera Marshe. In “The Big Sombrero,” Gene heads South of the Border in his biggest rodeo of thrills. He rocks all Mexico as he saves a Latin spitfire with Western gunfire and finally hits the trail of bandits to fight for the right of rancheros to live on their traditional rancho, braving landslide, cattle stampede and bullets. Olive Cooper wrote the original screenplay for this Gene Autry Production. Frank McDonald directed for producer Armand Schaefer. Golden Slippers Gene Autry’s famous horse, Champion, will wear a set of gold-plated horse-shoes when Autry’s Flying A Rodeo plays at New York’s Madison Garden this year. The golden shoes were a gift from Gene’s Oklahoma fan club and were presented to the star on the set of Columbia’s “The Big Sombrero,” his latest Cinecolor musical Western now holding forth at the Big Sombrero Mat |-A; Prod. Still No. 39 GENE AUTRY and Champion are starred in Columbia's "The Big Sombrero."' The Cinecolor thriller currently is on view at the .......... Theatre. Champion Not Sure Show Must Go On Making movies with animals is no soft touch. If you don’t believe it, ask Gene Autry. Columbia’s famous cowboy star was highly embarrassed one day during filming of “The Big Sombrero” by none other than Champion, his own beautiful horse, considered the finesttrained animal in the world. Gene’s latest film, a musical Western, in Cinecolor, is currently at the Theatre. The extreme heat was no obstacle to the 300-odd Autry fans who journeyed out from Tucson by foot, bicycle, horse and automobile to get a look at their hero in the’ saguaro-studded desert. But Champion picked on this day to embarrass his master! The script called for Autry to make the horse lie down behind a large boulder. Ordinarily, this trick is a cinch for Champ, and he will respond immediately. But this day, he was either tired, temperamental or suffering from prickly heat, because when Gene gave him the cue with his knee, Champ refused to perform. Since in training an animal, you must always follow through on a trick, Autry continued to cue Champ until he lay down, even though the shot was ruined, Then the camera rolled again, and Autry and Champ replayed the scene. And again Champ would not take his cue. Clearly, the high-spirited horse was not in an acting mood. But Autry, a showman to his fingertips, was perturbed about all those people seeing his famous horse on a bad day, and he took time out to explain to the visitors the necessity of forcing Champ to do the trick even though he didn’t want to. Then Gene mopped his brow and went at it again. One hour later, with everyone worn out, director Frank McDonald and Autry decided that it was useless to try any longer, and too expensive. So they moved the camera 100 yards up the hillside to a much larger boulder behind which Champ could hide standing up. The horse went through the scene perfectly, and Autry rewarded him with a carrot. “He’s still the best horse in the world,” Autry said. “All actors are temperamental.” Supporting the stars are featured players Elena Verdugo, Stephen Dunne, George J. Lewis and Vera Marshe. Gene Autry Rides South of Border In New Adventure Columbia’s Cinecolor “The Big Sombrero,” the new Gene Autry starrer, is scheduled to law) Vee Ns Theatre Shab INO pee nina s Starred with Autry is his famous horse, Champion, while featured roles are held by Elena Verdugo, Stephen Dunne, George J. Lewis and Vera Marshe. Viva Autry, the aficionados are saying, for America’s favorite cowboy becomes Mexico’s favorite hero in “The Big Sombrero.” From sparkling fiesta to savage ambush, it’s Gene’s hottest adventure. On the vast reaches of the Rancho Estrada, in sunny Mexico, James Garland (Dunne), ex-Wild West show barker, has ingratiated himself with beautiful Estrellita Estrada (Verdugo), owner of the ranch, and is permitted to run things his own way. He plans to dispossess the rancheros and sell the land to Ben McBride (Gene Stutenroth). Gene joins the cause of the rancheros and leads them in driving their cattle to market. En route, their enemies try by desperate means to block them but Gene and his companions outfight and outsmart them. Autry is reported to have one of the best roles of his career as he sings and fights his way through the picture with Champion again proving what a magnificent animal he is. Miss Verdugo is said to make one of Gene’s loveliest leading ladies, while Dunne, as the principal heavy, Lewis as a ranchero, and Miss Marshe, as a blonde visitor to the land of the Latins, round out the supporting cast. Olive Cooper wrote the original screenplay for the Gene Autry Production. Frank MceDonald directed for producer Armand Schaefer. (Reader) H,O Not O.K. For Champion Water in the Mojave desert may be okay for humans, but it’s not good enough for Champion, Gene Autry’s famed horse. A Columbia studio water wagon with 500 gallons of San Fernando Valley water was taken along to location filming of Columbia’s “The Big Sombrero,”’ Cinecolor Western musicalnow atthe a eien.s Theatre. Champion has important roles in all of Autry’s pictures, and the cowboy star takes no chances on the horse becoming ill. Big Sombrero Mat |-F; Prod. Still No. 108 RAGING FIRE fails to daunt Gene Autry, star of Columbia's "The Big Sombrero.’ The Cinecolor action film may be seen at the ............ Theatre.