The Cimarron Kid (1952)

Director:

Budd Boetticher

Writers:

Kay Lenard (story)
Louis Stevens (story)

Release Date:

31 March 1952 (Sweden)

Genre:

Western

Plot:

Audie Murphy comes into his own as a Western star in this story. Wrongly accused by crooked railroad...

Plot Keywords:

Remake

Cast

Audie Murphy	...	Bill Doolin / The Cimarron Kid
Beverly Tyler	...	Carrie Roberts
James Best	...	Bitter Creek Dalton
Yvette Duguay	...	Cimarron Rose Adams (as Yvette Dugay)
John Hudson	...	Dynamite Dick Dalton
Hugh O'Brian	...	Red Buck
Roy Roberts	...	Pat Roberts
David Wolfe	...	Sam Swanson
Noah Beery Jr.	...	Bob Dalton (as Noah Beery)
Leif Erickson	...	Marshal John Sutton
John Hubbard	...	George Weber
Frank Silvera	...	Stacey Marshall

Runtime:

84 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Certification:

USA:Approved (certificate #15433) | Australia:PG | Finland:K-16 | Sweden:15 | UK:U

Filming Locations:

Columbia State Historic Park - 22708 Broadway, Columbia, California, USA

Company:

Universal International Pictures (UI)

Trivia:

Film debut of William Reynolds.

Quotes:

Bill Doolin: I've got a rule of my own that might do you good to remember: there will be no killing unless it's forced upon us.

Movie Connections:

Featured in Budd Boetticher: A Man Can Do That (2005) (TV)

Another of Universal's Legendary Outlaw Westerns!

"The Cimarron Kid" was another of Universal's great little 80 minute westerns based on legendary outlaws of the old west. This one benefits from crisp direction from soon to be legendary Diector Budd Boetticher, a great supporting cast and good story. It stars Audie Murphy in one his early and best roles.

Bill Doolin aka "The Cimarron Kid" (Murphy) is paroled from prison and intends to go straight. Unfortunately, the train on which he is riding is held up by the notorious Dalton Gang (I always thought that there were four Daltons but this story has six). One of the gang, Red Buck (Hugh O'Brian complete with red hair and beard) recognizes the Kid. The passengers think that the Kid is a part of the gang and try to restrain him. The Kid escapes and goes to the Dalton's camp.

The Daltons led by Bob Dalton (Noah Beery Jr.) welcome him into the gang. The overly ambitious Red Buck doesn't trust the Kid and a conflict develops. The gang has a two bank heist planned for Coffeyville, Kansas. Seasonedw western fans will know what happens there. With the gang decimated, the Kid takes over as leader and they flee to the ranch of Pat Roberts (Roy Roberts) to hide out with Marshal John Sutton (Leif Ericson) and Railroad detective Tilden (Eugene Baxter) hot on their trail. Naturally Roberts has a comely young daughter, Carrie (Beverly Tyler) who is attracted to the Kid and likewise.

The gang in spite of several setbacks, continues to operate. Dynamite Dick Dalton (John Hudson), who was believed to be lost, returns to the hideout with a proposal. With the help of his brother-in-law Geaorge Webster (John Hubbard), he proposes the robbery of a train carrying gold bullion and replacing it with lead. As the plan unfolds, the Kid discovers a double cross and.........................................

As with most of Universal's westerns, the supporting cast consists of several of their up and coming contract players, sprinkled with a few recognizable veterans. In addition to those mentioned above we have James Best, Gregg Palmer (aka Palmer Lee), Rand Brooks and William Reynolds as the other Daltons, as well as, Yvette Duguay as Best's girlfriend Rose, John Bromfield, Richard Garland and Frank Silvera as Dalton Gang members and Tristram Coffin as a womanizer/gambler.

The boyish looking Murphy was developing into a competent actor by this time and would enjoy a long career at Universal making these excellent little westerns.