The Tulsa Kid (1940)

Arriving in town, Tom Benton quickly teams up with Wallace in his fight with Saunders over a water hole. But Saunders chief henchman is Montana Smith, Tom's old partner and the man that ... See full summary »

Director:

George Sherman

Writers:

Oliver Drake (original screen play), Anthony Coldeway (original screen play)

Stars:

Don 'Red' Barry, Noah Beery, Luana Walters

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Don 'Red' Barry	...	Tom Benton
Noah Beery	...	Montana Smith
Luana Walters	...	Mary Wallace
David Durand	...	Bob Wallace
George Douglas	...	Dirk Saunders
Ethan Laidlaw	...	Henchman Nick Carson
Stanley Blystone	...	Sam Ellis
John Elliott	...	Judge Perkins
Jack Kirk	...	Sheriff Austin
Fred 'Snowflake' Toones	...	Snowflake - the Cook (as Snowflake)
Jimmy Wakely and His Rough Riders	...	Musicians (as Jimmy Wakely and his 'Roughriders')

Storyline

Arriving in town, Tom Benton quickly teams up with Wallace in his fight with Saunders over a water hole. But Saunders chief henchman is Montana Smith, Tom's old partner and the man that taught him how to shoot. Tom no longer carries a gun but when Wallace gets into trouble, he straps it on once again and goes to face Montana.

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Plot Keywords:

self defense | foster father | gun | ranch | inquest | 

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Taglines:

All outlaws beware!...The Tulsa Kid is headin' this way with an old score to settle in old-fashioned western style!

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Genres:

Action | Adventure | Western

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English Spanish

Release Date:

16 August 1940 (USA)

Also Known As:

Cow boy dynamitis

Filming Locations:

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

Company Credits

Production Co:

Republic Pictures (I)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

57 min 53 min (Western Channel print)

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA "High Fidelity" Recording)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Quotes

Montana Smith: Why didn't you stampede along with your herd, young fella?
Bob Wallace: Because this is my water hole.
Montana Smith: Well, now, I heard different.
Bob Wallace: Sam Ellis agreed it was when he sold me the ranch.
Montana Smith: Maybe so. I ain't no lawyer...
Bob Wallace: Nooo. No, just a gunman.
Montana Smith: Well, that's what they pay me for, yes.
Bob Wallace: Killin' people?
Montana Smith: I never killed anyone who didn't try to get me first.
Bob Wallace: Am I to take that as a warning?
[...]

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Soundtracks

"Oh, Dem Golden Slippers!"
(1879) (uncredited)
Music and Lyrics by James Allen Bland
Performed by Jimmy Wakely and His Rough Riders

User Reviews

A Forerunner of "The Gunfighter"

Don Red Barry, called Red because he played Red Ryder in a popular serial based on the comic strip, was more the Bob Steele type cowboy, short, feisty, and a veritable buzz saw in a fight. He brings that energy to the screen this outing by playing a reformed gunfighter who used to have the moniker The Tulsa Kid. Strange that this little B western tackles a major theme that would later be explored in greater depth and character by Henry King with his classic "The Gunfighter." Actually, "The Tulsa Kid" deals with two gunfighters, one young who has assumed a new identity to try to live down the past and start anew. He no longer even wears a gun. The other an old gunfighter Montana played by Noah Beery who refuses to surrender his reputation and who works for the boss outlaw Dirk Saunders (George Douglas). It seems the two gunfighters are almost father and son with Montana having partly raised the Kid. He also taught the kid the art of fan shooting without taking the gun from the holster. When the Kid comes to the aid of the set upon Wallace family, he also comes at odds with his old gunfighting mentor. That Mary Wallace (Luana Walters) is also a pretty young woman attracted to the Kid only complicates matters.

A future singing cowboy star, Jimmy Wakely, makes a brief appearance to sing with his band, The Roughriders, the only song in the film, a traditional piece from the 19th century. A member of Wakely's band at the time was Johnny Bond who appeared in several other westerns. He and Wakely both became popular singers with hit records. Fred 'Snowflake' Toones as a cook represents the racial stereotyping of African-Americans by Hollywood at the time of production.

There is plenty of action with the usual uptown cinematography and stunt work for which Republic was noted. If you've never seen the popular Don Red Barry films of the early 40's, "The Tulsa Kid" is a good place to start.