The Carson City Kid (1940)

SYNOPSIS: Stagecoach bandits, the Carson City Kid and his treacherous partner Laramie, hit Sonora. Laramie is soon captured. Promised his freedom if he identifies the Kid, Laramie fingers Warren, an innocent (in both senses of that word) prospector.NOTES: According to Republic publicity, Bob Steele's first role as a heavy.COMMENT: An unusual entry in the Rogers saga, with our hero playing an outlaw, albeit a colorful and most personable one, in a script that gives some great opportunities to the support cast, particularly the beautiful Pauline Moore, dressed to the nines, Alice Faye style, who has two out of the film's three tuneful Tinturin songs and even sings the intro line to Roy's sole solo; Bob Steele, who has a great time as the aggressively smooth-talking villain; George Hayes, who doesn't overstay his welcome for once; Noah Beery, who plays the innocent abroad with enough charm to make this almost impossible character believable; Francis MacDonald, as slimy a partner as the meanest bushwacker could wish; Hal Taliaferro, an appealingly reliable henchman; and even Hank Bell, who is given some worthwhile dialogue and business at last in his career.Doubtless because he authored the original screen story, Joseph Kane has directed his 43rd film with unusual care. Besides his customary vigorously staged action spots with lots of fast riding and running inserts, the dialogue scenes are handled with style and finesse using attractively composed images and even a bit of camera movement. Nobles has excelled himself with the lighting, particularly in the saloon scenes, whilst sets and costumes look unusually rich by Republic standards.The only thing missing is a really slap-up climax. True, the finale is exciting enough, but rabid action fans are liable to feel a bit cheated.As for Rogers himself, here he gives one of his most personable and likeable performances.

This is one of the earlier films in which Roy Rogers starred. The film begins with a bizarre scene where a masked Roy Rogers stops a stage coach at gunpoint. To disguise himself further, he speaks Spanish--but it's truly god-awful Spanish and many students in Spanish classes speak with greater fluency. So, unless you are stupid, it's obvious the masked man was NOT a Mexican or anyone who spoke Spanish.Later, you learn that Rogers is the so-called 'Carson City Kid'--a wanted outlaw. However, as it's Roy, he's sort of a wussy nice-guy outlaw....but still, he is not the 100% law abiding swell guy he was in later films and that surprised me. You soon learn that Roy's brother was killed by some scum-bag gambler, but he isn't sure of the guy's identity, so he's traveling the west looking for the evil galoot. Along the way, he meets up with an idiot (I am sorry, but there's no other way to describe the poor sap--played by Noah Beery, Jr.) and a grizzly old sheriff (Gabby Hayes. Oddly, the baddie ends up being Bob Steele--another western star who often played the good guy! What a weird set of roles for Roy and Bob!! As for the movie, it's a pretty decent B-western but nothing great. Like any Rogers film, there is lots of superfluous singing, heroics and in the end all is well. But along the way, there are a few surprises--mostly due to Roy's odd persona in this film. Worth seeing if you are a fan but far from a must-see for everyone else. Interesting.

Rodgers holds up mail-lines looking for bad guy Bob Steele, in order to settle an old score. Along the way, he tangles with lawman George "Gabby" Hayes and tries to protect young, naive miner Noah Beery Jr., whom Roy's partner (!) and Steele set their thieving sights on.A great role for Roy, this has a great, above average cast and an irresistible chance to see Rodgers going up against fellow Saturday matinée star Steele (who always looked more like a heavy than a hero) in a rare villainous turn.A better than average script, that knows what buttons to push and a quick pace also go a long way in helping make this Republic Pictures production worth watching.The only things that disappoint is the abrupt conclusion and the half-hearted nature of songs.

This was one of Roy Rogers better B westerns for Republic Pictures. The plot has Roy as a good/badman known as the Carson City Kid. But he's only doing this because he's on a manhunt. Roy's figuring the outlaw guise will afford him better intelligence about the guy he's after.The trail's taken him to Sonora where he runs into such diverse people as Marshal Gabby Hayes, Pauline Moore, Noah Beery, Jr., and another B picture cowboy, Bob Steele. All of them give a good account of themselves.Especially Steele as the saloon owner with a number of nefarious sidelines. In B films Steele was usually a good guy. Here he's more like the Steele we saw in such classic Humphrey Bogart films as The Big Sleep and The Enforcer.Roy only gets one song in this film, a forgettable duet with his leading lady. He hadn't met Dale Evans yet, so he was paired with all kinds of female co-stars at this point in his career. Of course none had the screen or otherwise chemistry Dale and Roy had together. Fans of the Cowboy King will like it and others will also.