Gene Autry (played by Gene Autry) is a protagonist in Mexicali Rose.
A singing cowboy employed by Alta Vista Oil Company, Gene meets Anita during a radio broadcast and learns that the company is cheating her orphanage. He quits, investigates the scheme in Mexico, and works with Frog and Valdez to expose the fraud and get drilling underway. He is the central figure in the effort to save the orphanage. Frog Millhouse (played by Smiley Burnette) appears in Mexicali Rose.
Gene's sidekick, Frog accompanies him in the effort to uncover Alta Vista's scheme. He joins Gene in chasing the men who kidnap Blythe and helps rescue the engineer. Later, he works with Gene and Valdez to plant oil upriver from the company office as part of Gene's plan to make Carruthers drill. Valdez (played by Noah Beery) appears in Mexicali Rose.
A Mexican bandit whom Gene influences to see himself as a modern-day Robin Hood, Valdez encourages donations at the orphanage's fundraising dance. He later arrives at the cabin where Gene is captured and helps save the orphans, sacrificing his life in the rescue. His actions make him a crucial ally to Gene and the children. Anita Loredo (played by Luana Walters) appears in Mexicali Rose.
A woman Gene meets during a radio broadcast, Anita helps run a Mexican orphanage with her uncle, Padre Dominic. She is distressed that the orphanage has received no return on its investment in Alta Vista Oil Company, money needed for the children. She reunites with Gene at the orphanage, and he sings a romantic song to her at its fundraising dance. Padre Dominic (played by William Farnum) appears in Mexicali Rose.
Anita's uncle and co-runner of the orphanage, Padre Dominic explains to Gene that he leased the orphanage's land to Carruthers on a royalty basis. Alta Vista has no intention of drilling and instead sells shares in a nonexistent well, leaving the orphanage without the royalties it needs and facing bankruptcy. Carruthers (played by William Royle) appears in Mexicali Rose.
The head of Alta Vista Oil Company, Carruthers leads a crooked scheme to sell shares in a nonexistent well rather than drill on the orphanage's land. He eventually orders construction after tracing oil in the water, abandons the well when he discovers Gene's ruse, and later sabotages the project in an attempt to buy back his stock.
Mexicali Rose (1939) character relationship network mapped with AI analysis. Explore the connections, alliances, and conflicts between characters.
Characters
Gene Autry
(played by Gene Autry) — protagonist
A singing cowboy employed by Alta Vista Oil Company, Gene meets Anita during a radio broadcast and learns that the company is cheating her orphanage. He quits, investigates the scheme in Mexico, and w...
Frog Millhouse
(played by Smiley Burnette) — supporting
Gene's sidekick, Frog accompanies him in the effort to uncover Alta Vista's scheme. He joins Gene in chasing the men who kidnap Blythe and helps rescue the engineer. Later, he works with Gene and Vald...
Valdez
(played by Noah Beery) — supporting
A Mexican bandit whom Gene influences to see himself as a modern-day Robin Hood, Valdez encourages donations at the orphanage's fundraising dance. He later arrives at the cabin where Gene is captured...
Anita Loredo
(played by Luana Walters) — supporting
A woman Gene meets during a radio broadcast, Anita helps run a Mexican orphanage with her uncle, Padre Dominic. She is distressed that the orphanage has received no return on its investment in Alta Vi...
Padre Dominic
(played by William Farnum) — supporting
Anita's uncle and co-runner of the orphanage, Padre Dominic explains to Gene that he leased the orphanage's land to Carruthers on a royalty basis. Alta Vista has no intention of drilling and instead s...
Carruthers
(played by William Royle) — supporting
The head of Alta Vista Oil Company, Carruthers leads a crooked scheme to sell shares in a nonexistent well rather than drill on the orphanage's land. He eventually orders construction after tracing oi...
Canonical Relationships
Family, romantic, and professional connections based on plot evidence.
Padre Dominic → Carruthers
(Professional Lease Holder And Promoter)
Padre Dominic leased the orphanage land to Carruthers on a royalty basis, but Carruthers's company has no plan to drill and instead sells shares in a...
Anita Loredo → Padre Dominic
(Family Niece And Uncle)
The plot states that Anita helps run the Mexican orphanage with her uncle, Padre Dominic.
Gene Autry → Valdez
(Power Influencer)
Gene's influence leads Valdez to see himself as a modern-day Robin Hood.
Gene Autry → Anita Loredo
(Romantic Interest)
Gene meets Anita when her sweater catches on his outfit during the radio program, and he sings romantic words directed at her. Later, Gene sings a rom...
Story Dynamics
Alliances, conflicts, and narrative interactions that evolve throughout the story.
Valdez → Padre Dominic
(Alliance Protector)
Valdez supports the orphanage fundraising effort and later sacrifices his life to rescue children connected to the orphanage.
Valdez → Carruthers
(Conflict Combatant)
Valdez helps Gene during the confrontation at the cabin where Carruthers and his men are holding the missing orphans.
Anita is upset because the orphanage has received no return on its investment in the oil company, and Gene confronts Carruthers over the situation.
Gene Autry → Carruthers
(Conflict Adversary)
Gene confronts Carruthers after realizing that the oil company is selling worthless shares in a nonexistent well. He later opposes Carruthers's sabota...
Gene Autry → Frog Millhouse
(Narrative Sidekick)
Frog travels with Gene and helps him chase the men who kidnap the lead engineer. Frog also assists Gene in planting oil upriver from the company offic...
Story Analysis
Gene Autry battles an oil fraud to save a Mexican orphanage, gaining a loyal friend whose final sacrifice makes justice possible.
Plot Progression
A Song Hides a Fraud
Road to the Orphanage
The False Well
A Dangerous Deception
The Robin Hood Sacrifice
Directed by George Sherman
Mexicali Rose (1939) · 7/10 · action, music, western
