Ridin’ on a Rainbow

Gene Autry arrives in Riverton and begins helping the local cattlemen sell their herds after years of poor profits. He also convinces them to deposit their money in Eben Carter's bank for safekeeping before the town's parade. The arrival sets the tone for the town's optimism and foreshadows the later crime.

Captain Lijah Bartlett arrives on the riverboat Jolly Betsy with a troupe of entertainers, and the crew parades through Riverton while the townspeople are distracted. The boat's performances mingle with a growing tension over the bank's money. The showboat becomes the cover for the ensuing crime.

Matt Evans joins Blake and Morrison to rob the bank while the parade distracts the town. Eben Carter is gunned down during the robbery, and Evans is forced to deliver the stolen money to Blake and Morrison in Colesburg. The crime shatters the town's fragile sense of security.

Feeling responsible for the loss, Gene teams with Frog Millhouse and Sheriff Jim Mason to track down the bank robbers. They decide to pursue Evans and recover the money, intensifying the search beyond Riverton.

The pursuers follow Evans to the riverboat, but he eludes them, telling Patsy to meet him later in Colesburg. The showboat serves as the first major location for their undercover investigation. Tension rises as the chase moves between the boat and the town.

Gene and Frog are hired as performers by Captain Bartlett, who remains unaware of their real investigation. They use their stage roles to keep close to Evans and to gather information. The arrangement places them inside the show while secrets simmer outside.

Patsy is allowed to go ashore alone in Colesburg, where she becomes torn between telling the truth and loyalty to her father. Her actions pull her into the adults' dangerous game. She nearly betrays Gene by revealing his undercover presence.

Convinced that Gene is planning to double-cross her, Patsy informs Captain Bartlett of Gene's identity. This creates a rift and makes Gene's mission more perilous as they lose her trust. The captain weighs the risks of trusting the disguised investigators. The growing mistrust heightens the danger surrounding the operation.

Patsy gathers the money her father hid on the boat and sneaks ashore to the inn where he is hiding. She pleads with him to turn himself in and return the money, hoping to end the danger. The emotional pressure tightens as the pursuit closes in.

Blake and Morrison arrive at the inn and confront Evans as he reveals where the money is hidden. Patsy locks herself in the next room and listens in horror as her father is shot. The personal stakes soar as the family faces deadly violence.

Patsy gives her dog Spotlight her room key and sends him to the showboat. The dog delivers the key to Gene, enabling the rescue plan to proceed. This animal-assisted turn gives the heroes a crucial edge.

Gene, Frog, and the others rush to the inn to rescue Patsy as the bank robbers attempt to kidnap her. A tense confrontation unfolds, and the family is drawn together in a final showdown. The heroes prevail and secure Patsy’s safety.

After his farewell performance on the showboat, Gene takes Patsy to live with him on his ranch. The immediate danger has passed and Patsy gains a guardian who will protect her. The film closes on a hopeful note for their new life together.