Just before entering the armed services, Gene Autry delivered one of his best Republic westerns, Cowboy Serenade. Many of Autry's previous vehicles had suffered from too much music and not enough action. Happily, Cowboy Serenade struck the happy medium common to Autry's vintage 1930s efforts. There's even time for a mystery angle as Autry tries to ascertain the identity of the head of a crooked gambling ring. Autry's leading lady this time out is Fay McKenzie, in real life the sister-in-law of comedian Billy Gilbert. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi