Scope Note:

Fictional Western, usually lasting from sixty to eighty minutes, in which the standard formula is carried out in a more light-hearted, sometimes perfunctory way. The concentration is usually on ranch life, and the setting is often in the present or in an ambiguous time, rather than the more typical Western period of the late 19th century. The hero is a non-violent cowboy who is pure of heart, and behaves and dresses in a more elegant manner than most non-singing cowboys. The distinguishing aspect of the Singing cowboy from the Western is that the hero's vocal and musical skills are as important as his gunslinging. The two elements are fully integrated, and the plot periodically pauses, in the manner of a musical, to allow interludes for songs and production numbers, usually five to ten in each film. Music and action are blended in a manner to broaden the potential audience beyond western fans. Since the star often plays themselves, the films frequently contain a large measure of reflexivity, mixing their involvement in the entertainment industry and western exploits. The genre was most popular from the mid 1930s, with the emergence of Gene Autry and Roy Rogers, into the early 1950s. Note: Do not use for westerns that merely contain a few songs, sung by a secondary character. For a musical of a different nature with a western background, use Musical in conjunction with Western (SEVEN BRIDES FOR SEVEN BROTHERS; OKLAHOMA; PAINT YOUR WAGON). Feature examples: DON'T FENCE ME IN; HARLEM RIDES THE RANGE (with Ethnic); MEN WITH STEEL FACES / RADIO RANCH (with Science fiction); MOONLIGHT ON THE PRAIRIE; SONG OF THE GRINGO; THE TRAIL OF ROBIN HOOD (with Show business); TUMBLING TUMBLEWEEDS. TV examples: THE GENE AUTRY SHOW; THE ROY ROGERS SHOW.

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