Ridin’ on a Rainbow 1941

Singing cowboy and rancher Gene Autry arrives in the town of Riverton to help his fellow cattlemen sell their herds for the first profit they’ve seen in four years. He convinces them to deposit the money into Eben Carter’s bank for safekeeping before heading out to watch the parade. Captain ‘Lijah Bartlett’ Captain ‘Lijah Bartlett’ has just arrived on the riverboat Jolly Betsy with its troupe of entertainers who are parading through town. While the townspeople are distracted, Matt ‘Pop’ Evans, a washed-up dancer looking to provide for his young daughter Patsy Patsy Evans, reluctantly assists Blake and Scoop Morrison in robbing the bank. Evans is shocked when they gun down Carter, but still agrees when the men order him to bring the money to them in nearby Colesburg.

Feeling responsible for the loss of his friends’ money, Gene sets out to find the bank robbers and recover the stolen money, with the help of his sidekick Frog Millhouse and Sheriff Jim Mason Sheriff Jim Mason. They track Evans to the showboat, but Evans is able to elude them after telling Patsy to meet him later in Colesburg. With Patsy as their only lead, Gene persuades the sheriff to go easy on her. As part of their investigation, Gene and Frog are hired as performers by Captain Bartlett, who does not know they are working with the sheriff. Genuinely concerned with Patsy’s welfare, Gene tries to befriend the youngster, who is torn between telling the truth and her loyalty to her father. Patsy is able to convince Gene to let her go ashore alone at Colesburg, but when she sees the sheriff, who has arrived without Gene’s knowledge, she assumes that Gene is going to double-cross her and informs the captain of Gene’s identity.

Patsy gathers the stolen money her father had hidden on the boat and sneaks ashore to the inn where he is hiding. There she pleads with her father to turn himself in and return the money. Before they can leave, Blake and Morrison arrive at the inn. Patsy locks herself in the next room and listens in horror as the bank robbers shoot her father after he tells them where the money is stashed. Patsy gives her dog Spotlight her room key, helps him through a window, and tells him to go to the showboat, where the dog gives the key to Gene. Knowing what has happened, Gene, Frog, and the others rush to the inn and rescue Patsy just as the bank robbers are about to kidnap her. After giving his farewell performance on the showboat, Gene takes Patsy to live with him on his ranch.