Take Me Back to Oklahoma

1940 film

November 11, 1940 (1940-11-11)

Running time

57 minutesCountryUnited StatesLanguageEnglish

Take Me Back to Oklahoma is a 1940 American Western film directed by Albert Herman and starring Tex Ritter, Karl Hackett and Bob Wills.^[1]^[2]

Plot

Tex and his sidekick Slim ride into the town of Peeko to help out Tex's old friend, Ace Hutchinson, the foreman of the Peeko Stage Line. The stage line, owned by Jane Winters, is being sabotaged by Storm and his gang, who are plotting to take over the line for themselves. Because a race of the coaches will determine who will be awarded the stage franchise, Storm determines to eliminate Tex and orders his gang to steal $2,000 raised at a church benefit and plant it in Tex's saddlebags. In case the law fails to remove Tex, Storm then hires Mule Bates to kill him. Unknown to Storm, however, Tex has befriended Bates's little son, and so Bates informs Tex of Storm's plot. Tex and Bates stage a duel for Storm's benefit, but Storm double-crosses Bates and shoots him. On the day of the race, Tex takes the coach reins from Ace, fends off Storm's treachery and wins the franchise for Jane. At the finish line, Storm is arrested on Bates's testimony, and Tex is exonerated of all charges.

Cast

Tex Ritter as Tex Lawton
Bob Wills as Himself, leader Texas Playboys
Slim Andrews as Slim Hunkapillar
Terry Walker as Jane Winters
Robert McKenzie as Deacon Ames
Karl Hackett as Storm
Donald Curtis as Henchman Snapper
Gene Alsace as Henchman Red
Olin Francis as Mule Bates
Carleton Young as Ace Hutchinson
George Eldredge as Sheriff
Johnny Lee Wills as Texas Playboy
Leon McAuliffe as Texas Playboy
Son Caz Lansford as Texas Playboy
Wayne Johnson as Texas Playboy
Eldon Shamblin as Texas Playboy
White Flash as Tex's Horse

Production

Music

Music for the film was done by Bob Willis along with part of the Texas Playboys. His 1940 trip to Hollywood for the film introduced his music to the West Coast.^[3] The film worked Willis and the Playboys into the cast as part of the film.^[1] Most of the band remained in Tulsa as the contract was for a small string band, but he returned to Hollywood in 1941 with the entire band to film Go West, Young Lady.^[4]

Reception

In his book Back in the Saddle, film critic Gary Yoggy noted that Take Me Back to Oklahoma was one of Tex Ritter's best films.^[1]

Soundtrack

"Village Blacksmith" (by Lew Porter and Johnny Lange)
"Kalamity Kate" (by Lew Porter and Johnny Lange)
"You Are My Sunshine" (by Jimmie Davis with Charles Mitchell's Orchestra)
"Good Old Oklahoma" (by Bob Wills)
"Take Me Back To Tulsa" (by Bob Wills)
"Going Indian" (by Bob Wills)
"Lone Star Rag" (by Bob Wills)
"Bob Wills Special" (by Bob Wills)

References

^ ^a ^b ^c Yoggy, Gary A. (September 1, 1998). Back in the Saddle: Essays on Western Film and Television Actors. McFarland. p. 64. ISBN 978-0-7864-0566-4.
^ Rowan, Terry (November 18, 2012). The American Western A Complete Film Guide. Lulu.com. p. 445. ISBN 978-1-300-41858-0.
^ Kienzle, Rich (October 11, 2013). Southwest Shuffle. Routledge. p. 5. ISBN 978-1-136-71896-0.
^ Boyd, Jean A. (January 1, 2010). The Jazz of the Southwest: An Oral History of Western Swing. University of Texas Press. p. 99. ISBN 978-0-292-78321-8.