Ride ’em Cowgirl (1939)
Directed by Samuel Diege and released by Grand National Pictures, Ride ’em, Cowgirl is a lively Western musical starring Dorothy Page, one of the few female singing cowgirls of the era. The film blends action, music, and frontier justice with a strong female lead—rare for its time—and stands as a unique entry in the short-lived career of Page, who was billed as “The Singing Cowgirl.”
Plot Summary
Sandy Doyle, a gambler and political boss in a dusty border town, schemes to take over the Bar-X Ranch, owned by Rufe Rickson, by exploiting Rickson’s gambling addiction. When Rickson is framed for a robbery, his daughter Helen Rickson (Dorothy Page) saddles up to clear his name and defend the ranch.
Helen isn’t just a damsel—she’s a rodeo-riding, gun-slinging heroine who sings her way through trouble and takes justice into her own hands. With help from government investigator Oliver Shea and his assistant Dan Haggerty, she uncovers the truth and confronts Doyle in a showdown that mixes bullets and ballads.
Cast Highlights
- Dorothy Page as Helen Rickson
- Vince Barnett as comic relief
- Milton Frome, Lynn Mayberry, Frank Ellis, and Joseph W. Girard in supporting roles
- Over 30 credited actors, including Snowy Lionel Backus, Fred Behrle, and Rex Dale
Behind-the-Scenes Trivia
- The film was one of three Westerns starring Dorothy Page, who was promoted as a female counterpart to Gene Autry
- Page performs songs like “I Love the Wide Open Spaces”, showcasing her musical talents
- The film passes the Bechdel Test, with scenes between Helen and other female characters discussing ranch life and justice—not just men
- Grand National Pictures, the studio behind the film, collapsed shortly after, making this one of its final releases
- The earliest documented TV broadcasts occurred in Detroit (May 31, 1949), Fort Worth (June 13, 1949), Philadelphia (July 17, 1949), and Los Angeles (February 26, 1950)
