Rancho Grande

In "Rancho Grande", Gene Autry is the foreman at a ranch where the owner recently died. His will leaves the ranch to his three very irresponsible and foolish grandchildren and it also appoints Gene as the executor. As such, he has the unenviable task of trying to get these brats to do work and care about something other than themselves. With the youngest, this isn't a major problem...but the older two seem hopeless and not the least bit grateful. So why does Gene stay? Well, that isn't clear...but what is clear is that if the irrigation system isn't soon finished, the ranch will face foreclosure. To make matters worse, greedy folks try to encourage the grandkids to behave like jerks so they can grab the ranch for themselves.

I cannot recall the name of the film, but Republic Pictures made a similar movie...with a spoiled brat taking over the ranch but Gene being made the executor. I assume since "Rancho Grande" was made in 1940, it came first...but regardless the story's been done. And, with the grandkids being so despicable and stupid, it's not an especially enjoyable story. Making them less awful might have made me care as to whether or not they lost the ranch. As it was, I just wanted it to end...or have Gene give them all a good hard spanking! Because of this, it's not one of Autry's better films.