The film includes specific parodic tributes to Western silent film actors such as William S. Hart and Tom Mix, as well as "singing cowboy" stars like Gene Autry, Tex Ritter, and Fred Scott. The film also evokes numerous other films, including Louis Feuillade's silent film serials, the 1911 Jack Conway Western "Arizona Bill", and the works of John Ford, including "My Darling Clementine". Tornado Lou's character suggests Marlene Dietrich's character in another classic Western film, "Destry Rides Again", and Hogofogo is likely modeled on John Carradine's character in "Stagecoach" (1939).