Billy the Kid Returns (1938)

After Pat Garrett kills Billy the Kid, Billy's look-alike Roy Rogers arrives and is mistaken for him. Although a murderer, Billy was on the side of the homesteaders against the large ... See full summary »

Director:

Joseph Kane

Writer:

Jack Natteford (original screenplay)

Stars:

Roy Rogers, Smiley Burnette, Lynne Roberts

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Roy Rogers	...	Roy Rogers / Billy the Kid
Smiley Burnette	...	Frog Millhouse
Lynne Roberts	...	Ellen Moore (as Mary Hart)
Morgan Wallace	...	J. B. Morganson
Fred Kohler	...	Matson (as Fred Kohler Sr.)
Wade Boteler	...	Sheriff Pat Garrett
Edwin Stanley	...	Nathaniel Moore
Horace Murphy	...	Mr. Miller - Homesteader
Joseph Crehan	...	U.S. Marshal Dave Conway
Robert Emmett Keane	...	Mr. Page

Storyline

After Pat Garrett kills Billy the Kid, Billy's look-alike Roy Rogers arrives and is mistaken for him. Although a murderer, Billy was on the side of the homesteaders against the large ranchers. As Billy's death is unknown, Roy gets Garrett to let him pose as Billy to continue the fight, but without the killing.

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Plot Keywords:

song | trail | homesteader | billy the kid | death | 

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Taglines:

MARSHAL of LAW...MASTER of MEN...he fights for right and the girl he loves! (original poster)

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Genres:

Comedy | Music | Romance | Western

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

4 September 1938 (USA)

Also Known As:

Billy the Kid kehrt zurück

Filming Locations:

Iverson Ranch - 1 Iverson Lane, Chatsworth, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Republic Pictures (I)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

53 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA High Fidelity Recording)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

An LA Times print ad dated 9/5/1938 shows that this film had its world premiere at the Los Angeles Orpheum Theater on that date on a double bill with I'll Give a Million, with a personal appearance by Roy Rogers, "Acclaimed the Screen's Greatest Find of the Year, Singing the Songs of the West ... The Songs You Love Best!"

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Connections

Edited into New Frontier (1939)

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Soundtracks

"Trail Blazin'"
Written by Eddie Cherkose
Sung by Roy Rogers

User Reviews

Typical But Enjoyable Roy Rodgers Vehicle

Sheriff Pat Garrett corners and kills Billy the kid. The next day, lookalike Roy Rodgers rides into town and is immediately mistaken for the outlaw, who's death has yet to be reported. Roy's then pressed into service by Garrett, who wants him to take the place of Billy in a range war pitting ruthless ranchers against the homesteaders that the late kid had intervened on behalf of.

This second starring vehicle for Rodgers is decent enough, with lots of great songs from Roy and sidekick Smiley Burnette. He still hadn't quite gotten the hang of the acting profession, with a less sure Rodgers delivering his lines in a slightly different tone of voice!

This was the first of three times that Roy played a dual role in his films, the second being 1941's Jesse James At Bay and the third being 1942's Sunset On The Desert.