Exoticalot People are voting emotionally.

Marketic It's no definitive masterpiece but it's damn close.

Animenter There are women in the film, but none has anything you could call a personality.

BelSports This is a coming of age storyline that you've seen in one form or another for decades. It takes a truly unique voice to make yet another one worth watching.

dougdoepke A PRC production means that whatever the premise, it's going to get bottom of the barrel treatment. Actually, the premise here of a movie-making crew worming their way onto an Ozark location shoot is a good one. So it could be Hollywood sophistication versus hillbilly guile if handled correctly. There's some of that, but mostly its forgettable songs (except for the title tune) and dumbed down humor. Also, about every hillbilly stereotype makes an appearance, including Mabel Todd as a Judy Canova-type rural clown. Then too, the movie's concept of a performing mule (Shirley!), may have inspired the highly successful series of the 1950's, 'Francis, the Talking Mule'. But I confess to rather liking the movie, warts and all. There's an underlying good feeling to the nonsense, along with the best joyful hayride sequence that I've seen. Sure, it's bottom of the barrel production values, but the 70-minutes does manage a dollop of charm despite itself. Besides, where else can you catch that cadaverous menace John Carradine actually warble a few notes in his graveyard baritone.

Johnboy1221 I wasn't around when this travesty came out, but that's a plus really. This isn't a western programmer, but a boring, silly musical comedy. Please! Who thought up this mess? This has to be the worst programmer ever made, by far....bad acting, bad singing, bad songs, silly comedy, simply awful.Eddie Dean was a good singer and a terrible actor, with only passable looks and no charisma whatsoever. He must have loved doing this one, however, since it didn't require him to look like a tough guy, which was impossible, in his case. According to what I've read, this was one of the last of the programmers, which might explain why it was made in the first place.....drag little boys into the theater to see a shoot-'em-up, and sing to 'em. Poor kids wasted their money on this stupid turkey.Fortunately, I only wasted an hour of my time on this film, but still....Johnboy

kevin olzak 1946's "Down Missouri Way" was one of the final productions for poverty row outfit PRC, soon to be absorbed into another poverty row outfit, Eagle-Lion Films Inc. (where Abbott and Costello shot 1948's "The Noose Hangs High"). PRC had some success with a 'B' musical called "I'm from Arkansas," and did this follow up one year later, proving that hillbilly comedies did good business even BEFORE Ma and Pa Kettle. Second billed John Carradine effortlessly steals this film as movie director Thorndyke P. Dunning, on location in Missouri (where the actor actually filmed "Jesse James" in late 1938), searching for an intelligent mule to star in his latest picture; enter top billed Martha O'Driscoll as the owner of scientifically trained mule 'Shirley.' This proved to be something of a swan song for O'Driscoll, female lead in Universal's "House of Dracula" and Abbott and Costello's "Here Come the Co-eds," while perky blonde Mabel Todd would also retire from the screen (she was in Universal's "Mystery of the White Room"). Playing the temperamental star is Renee Godfrey, from Universal's "Terror by Night," a latter Sherlock Holmes adventure, getting most of the barbs from Carradine, who worked right up until her untimely death in 1964. Just about everyone gets to sing, and while the music may be an acquired taste, the comedy is first rate. No doubt still mourning his late friend John Barrymore, Carradine does a magnificent impression, from his dialogue delivery to his mannerisms, even snorting in hilarious fashion. His first appearance is hard to beat, discussing the starring role with Renee Godfrey, whom he wishes had "the divine madness!" Recently plucked out of obscurity by frequent showings on Encore's Western channel.

estabansmythe I'm in shock! I'm watching "Down Missouri Way," from Grade Z studio, Producers Releasing Corporation, aka PRC - and what I can't believe is how much fun, how well written and acted and how professionally produced this delightful, light comedy musical actually is. This is a fun little movie.Martha O'Driscoll owns a special mule that director John Carradine (great as a ham's ham) absolutely must have for his latest film production. It's a thin premise, but who cares. What's important is that heroine O'Driscoll gets her guy, Producer William Wright. PRC cowboy star Eddie Dean, in a co-starring role here gets his girl, funny gal Mabel Todd (who was married to her one-time comedy team partner Morey Amsterdam).Happiness reigns. Fun little film guaranteed to chase your blues away.