It’s no secret that the Hollywood Comet loves musicals.
In 2010, I revealed I had seen 400 movie musicals over the course of eight years. Now that number is over 600. To celebrate and share this musical love, here is my weekly feature about musicals.

This week’s musical:
Song of the Saddle (1936) – Musical #744

Studio:
Warner Bros.

Director:
Louis King

Starring:
Dick Foran Alma Lloyd, Charles Middleton, Addison Richards, Eddie Shubert, George Ernest, Bonita Granville, Monte Montague, Victor Potel, Milton Kibbee (uncredited)

Plot:
Young Frankie Wilson Jr. (Ernest) and his father (Richards) head west from Ohio for California during the western land rush. They stop along the way to sell some goods to Phineas Hook (Middleton). Hook says he’s interested in more goods and encourages Mr. Wilson and Frankie to head back to Ohio for more goods. But it’s all a trick to ambush their wagon, steal their money back and kill Mr. Wilson. Left alone, Frankie grows up (Foran) and becomes the bandit known as The Singing Kid, seeking revenge against Hook and his henchmen to avenge his father’s death.

Trivia:
• Foran is billed as “Dick Foran, the singing cowboy”
• Dick Foran’s second “singing cowboy” film for Warner Bros., following “Moonlight on the Prairie” (1936)
• Roy Rogers and the Sons of the Pioneers make an appearance performing at a barbecue in the film.

Highlights:
• Dick Foran singing

Notable Songs:
• “Underneath the Western Skies” performed by George Ernest, reprised by Dick Foran
• “Vengeance” performed by Dick Foran

My review:
Compared to Roy Rogers, Gene Autry or Tex Ritter, Dick Foran isn’t as well-known as other singing cowboys. But frankly, I like Dick Foran and wanted to spotlight his singing talents, so I wanted to include him in this singing cowboy musical series.

Dick Foran’s career was more varied than other singing cowboys. He’s also best known for films like “Four Daughters” (1938), “The Petrified Forest” (1936) or “Unfinished Business” (1941). But for a portion of his career at Warner Bros., his film billing was “Dick Foran, the Singing Cowboy.”

“The Singing Cowboy is back is headed this way again … Dick Foran, new king of western stars,” touts the film trailer for “Song of the Saddle” (1936).

Warner Bros. shifted Foran into singing western roles to capitalize off what other studios were doing. “Our hats in the ring with westerns that sing,” Warner Bros. said in trade publications.

Foran’s second singing western for Warner Bros. was “Song of the Saddle” (1936). The film begins with child actor George Ernest playing Frankie Wilson Jr., and it opens on a scene of young Frankie singing “Underneath the Western Skies” on a covered wagon. Frankie and his father are heading to California. But when they stop to sell some goods on the way, nefarious Phineas Hook cons Mr. Wilson into returning back to Ohio for more goods to sell. The ultimate plan is to steal the money back and kill Mr. Wilson and Frankie. Frankie escapes but his father isn’t as fortunate. Frankie grows up (into Dick Foran), who returns to seek revenge.

Foran made 12 westerns between 1935 to 1937, before Warner Bros. gave up on the idea.

However, while westerns made by poverty row studios, like Republic, were more successful, Foran’s films had a better production value and had a more cohesive storyline. It also had a better cast. In addition to Foran, “Song of the Saddle” is filled with character actors like Addison Richards, Charles Middleton, and even a young Bonita Granville. Casting George Ernest as young Dick Foran was especially great casting.

As for “Song in the Saddle” being a musical? With its title and Foran’s character being known as “The Singing Kid,” you would think there would be multiple songs. But alas, we get a whopping three (sort of), but “Underneath the Western Skies” is performed several times. And I love Dick Foran and he sings beautifully, so I let it slide. Besides, I figure calling this a musical was no less a stretch than calling “Colorado Serenade” a musical.

Outside of the music aspect, I found the actual story interesting. Foran’s Frank Wilson doesn’t actually kill anyone himself, and he carries his revenge out in an interesting way. Though, I thought it was a pretty dark plot point to have chalk drawings of each targeted person, and Frank erases each person as they are taken care of.

Now I have to tell on myself. I went into this film thinking it was a first time viewing, when I in fact watched in 2021, according to my records. And at the time, I didn’t like it!

Thankfully, in contrast, I really enjoyed this revisit. I enjoy Dick Foran as an actor — cowboy or not — love his singing and it had an engaging (and sad) plot. Even better: The film was a brisk 58 minutes.

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