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Comin’ ’Round the Mountain (1936) movie poster

Plot Summary

Comin’ ’Round the Mountain (1936) Plot Summary Explained

Release, runtime and language
1936 · 57 mins · English
Directed by
Mack V. Wright
Starring
Ann Rutherford, Gene Autry, Champion, Robert McKenzie, Raymond Brown, Smiley Burnette

‘Shootin’ Singin’ Son of the Saddle’ His horse Champion steals the show from Gene when what’s at stake is a horse race and a bull fight.

On this page (6)
  1. 1 Where to watch
  2. 2 What happens: full plot
  3. 3 Plot questions answered
  4. 4 Movie threads
  5. 5 Movies like Comin’ ’Round the Mountain
  6. 6 Every angle

Where to watch

Where to Watch Comin’ ’Round the Mountain (1936)

Where can you watch Comin’ ’Round the Mountain? Stream, rent or buy it in the US, including on Amazon Prime Video, fuboTV and Fawesome: current JustWatch availability with up-to-date prices.

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Full plot summary · contains spoilers

What Happens in Comin’ ’Round the Mountain: Full Plot Summary

The whole story of Comin’ ’Round the Mountain (1936) explained, from the opening scene to the final frame: every key event, every twist and what it all adds up to. Read it as a quick recap before the sequel, to check a scene you missed, or to finally understand what really happened.

The movie follows the humorous and adventurous journey of Al Stewart, a theatrical agent who successfully arranges performances for his clients, including the talented Ann Rutherford as Dorothy McCoy, famously known as "The Manhattan Hillbilly," at a lively New York nightclub. Alongside her, he also books an amusingly inept escape artist called The Great Wilbert, whose act quickly turns chaotic during a performance when he fails to free himself from his shackles, desperately shouting for help. Dorothy recognizes Wilbert's distressed scream as the distinctive "McCoy clan yell", a clue that begins to unravel his heritage.

Further investigation reveals a photograph and a concertina — a small musical instrument — in Wilbert’s dressing room, confirming he is the long-lost grandson of Squeeze Box McCoy, the legendary leader of the McCoy clan. Granny McCoy, a wise and determined relative, has been searching for Wilbert because she wishes to reveal where Squeeze Box hid his hidden treasure — gold that has been sought after for generations. Granny emphasizes that Wilbert must prove himself worthy by winning a fight against the notorious Devil Dan Winfield, who leads the rival Winfield family, in a turkey shoot, which involves shooting and gambling, adding to the chaos. Interestingly, Wilbert has never held a gun before, and his clumsy attempt to participate unintentionally reignites the family feud that has persisted for over 60 years.

To make matters more complicated, Granny insists Wilbert must marry before the secret of the treasure can be disclosed. She suggests he marry her 14-year-old daughter, Clora, also known as Matt, who is portrayed by LeRoy Mason’s character. However, Wilbert is more fond of Dorothy, and when he proposes to her, she declines, explaining that she is in love with Clark Winfield, adding a romantic layer to the already complicated plot. In an attempt to sway Dorothy’s affections, Granny sends Wilbert to Aunt Huddy, a local witch, to acquire a love potion. The encounter turns into a bizarre mishap as Wilbert and Laura Puente’s character create voodoo dolls of each other, sticking pins into them and causing mutual pain, a humorous and dark moment in the story.

After finally obtaining the love potion, Wilbert makes a dramatic exit on Huddy’s broom, equipped with windshield wipers, only to crash into a tree, adding physical comedy to the film. The potion initially works once administered, and Dorothy begins to fall for Wilbert. However, chaos ensues when everyone, having sipped the potion, falls wildly in love with each other. As the effects of the spell gradually wear off, Dorothy and Clark prepare to marry, rekindling hope for love and happiness.

The arrival of Devil Dan and his gang sparks a chaotic showdown. During the fracas, a stray bullet shatters the love potion jar, unintentionally causing Devil Dan to taste the potion and unexpectedly fall for Wilbert. Meanwhile, Matt reveals the clues to the treasure: a secret map concealed inside Wilbert’s concertina, which leads directly to a mine in Winfield territory. The group daringly enters the mine, where they eventually succeed in breaking through the rocky barriers and discover a vault filled with gleaming gold. Just when they think the adventure might conclude happily, armed guards rush onto the scene, aiming to arrest them, only to discover that the treasure they have uncovered is actually the United States Bullion Depository at Fort Knox — an unintentional and humorous climax to their wild escapades.

Last updated: August 19, 2025 at 05:15

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Plot questions answered

Comin’ ’Round the Mountain Plot Explained: Your Questions Answered

The questions people ask most about Comin’ ’Round the Mountain (1936): what happens in the confusing scenes, why the characters do what they do, the twists, hidden details and what the ending means. Each answer contains spoilers.

Q1

Why does Dorothy recognize Wilbert's scream as the McCoy clan yell?

Dorothy recognizes Wilbert's distinctive distress scream from his failed escape act as the legendary McCoy clan yell, a specific vocal cue passed down through the family. This unusual sound serves as the crucial clue that first hints at Wilbert's hidden heritage as the lost grandson of Squeeze Box McCoy.

Foreshadowing: Earlier in the nightclub, Wilbert's struggling escape attempt produces the unique yell that Dorothy immediately identifies.

  • mccoy clan yell
  • wilbert heritage
  • dorothy recognition
  • escape artist
Q2

Why must Wilbert marry before learning the treasure location?

Granny McCoy insists Wilbert must prove himself worthy of the family legacy by marrying before she reveals where Squeeze Box hid the gold. The treasure's secret was only to be shared with 'kinfolk' who demonstrate commitment to continuing the McCoy bloodline, making marriage a family requirement.

Foreshadowing: Granny mentions early on that the treasure location is known only to true McCoy family members.

  • marriage requirement
  • granny mccoy
  • treasure secret
  • family legacy
Q3

Why does the love potion affect everyone who drinks it?

The love potion Aunt Huddy brews works on anyone who consumes it, regardless of their original feelings. When Wilbert successfully administers it to Dorothy, the potion's magic spreads chaotically, everyone who tastes it falls deeply in love with the nearest person, causing a wild romantically tangled situation.

Foreshadowing: Aunt Huddy's witch character and voodoo doll scene establish the potion as genuinely magical.

  • love potion
  • aunt huddy
  • magic spell
  • romantic chaos
Q4

Why does Devil Dan fall in love with Wilbert after drinking the potion?

When a stray bullet shatters the love potion jar during the McCoy-Winfield showdown, Devil Dan accidentally tastes the remaining liquid. The potion's magic affects him just as it does everyone else, causing the notorious rival family leader to unexpectedly fall in love with Wilbert, a humorous twist that momentarily stops the conflict.

Foreshadowing: The love potion has already caused chaos with Dorothy and Clark, establishing that anyone who drinks it becomes affected.

  • devil dan winfield
  • love potion effect
  • rival family
  • unexpected romance
Q5

How is the treasure map hidden in Wilbert's concertina?

Matt McCoy reveals that Squeeze Box McCoy concealed the treasure map inside his own concertina, a small musical instrument that would naturally stay within the family. The map leads to a mine located in Winfield territory, where the legendary gold was hidden generations ago.

Foreshadowing: The concertina is introduced earlier as a key item from Wilbert's dressing room that confirms his identity.

  • treasure map
  • concertina
  • squeeze box mccoy
  • mine location
Q6

Why is the treasure actually the United States Bullion Depository at Fort Knox?

The McCoy family's legendary gold turns out to be hidden in a vault that is actually the United States Bullion Depository at Fort Knox, a government building. The map's coordinates accidentally point to this secure federal location rather than a private family cache, leading to the comedic climax where the group is arrested for breaking into Fort Knox.

Foreshadowing: The map leads to 'Winfield territory' without specifying it was government land.

  • fort knox
  • bullion depository
  • treasure twist
  • government gold
Q7

Why does the turkey shoot revive the 60-year McCoy-Winfield feud?

The turkey shoot is selected as the formal challenge between the families, and Wilbert's clumsy participation as the McCoy representative reignites the old rivalry. His inexperience with guns and the high-stakes competition trigger the bitter conflict that has simmered for over six decades between the McCoy and Winfield families.

Foreshadowing: Granny explains the history of the feud when the group arrives in Kentucky.

  • turkey shoot
  • family feud
  • mc coy winfield rivalry
  • challenge
Q8

Why does Granny suggest the 14-year-old Clora as Wilbert's bride?

Granny proposes that Wilbert marry her daughter Clora (called Matt), who is only 14 years old, to fulfill the marriage requirement before revealing the treasure location. This arranged marriage was planned by the clan leader Kalem to keep the treasure within the immediate family, though Wilbert objects and pursues Dorothy instead.

Foreshadowing: Granny states Wilbert must marry 'kinfolk' before learning the treasure secret.

  • clora matt
  • arranged marriage
  • granny daughter
  • family requirement
Q9

How does Wilbert crash the broom while leaving Aunt Huddy's?

After obtaining the love potion, Wilbert makes a dramatic escape on Aunt Huddy's broom, equipped with windshield wipers for visibility. His inexperience with broom flight causes him to crash directly into a tree upon takeoff, adding physical comedy to the scene and setting up the potion's effects to begin.

Foreshadowing: Aunt Huddy's witch character and voodoo doll scene establish the broom as her magical mode of transport.

  • broom crash
  • aunt huddy
  • physical comedy
  • failed escape
Q10

Why does Dorothy decline Wilbert's marriage proposal?

When Wilbert proposes to Dorothy after learning he must marry before the treasure is revealed, she refuses because she is already in love with Clark Winfield, the son of her family's rival, Devil Dan. This romantic complication adds another layer to the already complex situation involving the feuding families.

Foreshadowing: Dorothy's connection to Clark Winfield is established early through the love interest subplot.

  • dorothy rejection
  • clark winfield
  • love triangle
  • proposal decline

Movie threads

More Movies Like Comin’ ’Round the Mountain, by Mood & Story

Curated lists built around what makes Comin’ ’Round the Mountain tick: the same mood, the same kind of story or the same emotional payoff. Each list explains why these movies belong together.

Whimsical Western Comedies like Comin’ ’Round the Mountain

Lighthearted frontier tales where chaos and comedy take center stage. If you enjoyed the zany, lighthearted humor of Comin’ ’Round the Mountain, you'll love these movies. This thread gathers films that blend the Western setting with playful comedy, chaotic adventures, and a cheerful, fast-paced vibe for a fun and undemanding watch.

  • humorous
  • whimsical
  • lighthearted
  • playful
  • zany
  • chaotic
  • Tone: light, whimsical
  • Pacing: fast, chaotic
Why these movies?

The story pattern: Stories in this thread typically involve a simple goal—like finding treasure or winning a contest—that gets wildly complicated by a series of humorous misunderstandings, eccentric characters, and physical gags. The plot is more a vehicle for comedy than for serious drama, often culminating in a happy and humorous resolution.

Why they belong together: Movies are grouped here for their shared commitment to lighthearted fun within a Western framework. They share a low-intensity, humorous tone, fast pacing driven by comedic events, and a focus on delivering laughs rather than tension or emotional depth.

Fast-Paced Comedic Chaos like in Comin’ ’Round the Mountain

Stories where a rapid-fire series of silly mishaps drives the plot. Fans of the rapid-fire, chaotic fun of Comin’ ’Round the Mountain will find more to love here. Discover movies where the plot is a whirlwind of humorous events, from love potions to treasure hunts, all delivered with a light tone and playful energy.

  • chaotic
  • fast-paced
  • zany
  • humorous
  • playful
  • lighthearted
  • Tone: light, playful
  • Pacing: fast, frantic
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative pattern is a domino effect of comedic events. A simple premise quickly spirals out of control as characters get entangled in increasingly ridiculous scenarios. The focus is on the journey of gags and mishaps rather than deep character development, ensuring a consistently entertaining and brisk pace.

Why they belong together: These films are united by their frantic comedic pacing and a structure built around a sequence of chaotic events. They share a light emotional weight, a humorous tone, and a commitment to keeping the audience laughing with a constant stream of lighthearted antics.

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Every angle

Comin’ ’Round the Mountain (1936) Explained: Plot, Timeline & Characters

Everything about Comin’ ’Round the Mountain in one place: what happens in the plot summary, the timeline in chronological order, the characters and meaning and a spoiler-free summary. What's After the Movie adds the cast, box office and post-credit scenes.

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