The Oklahoma Kid *** (1939, James Cagney, Humphrey Bogart, Rosemary Lane) – Classic Movie Review 3665

Director Lloyd Bacon’s 1939 Western features players boldly cast but all too evidently off their usual underworld patch.

James Cagney is the notorious ‘good’ outlaw, Jim Kincaid, aka The Oklahoma Kid, who seeks to avenge his father’s lynching. His opponent is a chicly black-clad Humphrey Bogart, who is the very bad outlaw, Whip McCord. All the trouble starts when McCord’s gang robs the stage carrying money to pay the Indians for their land and Kincaid takes the money from McCord. Kincaid’s father runs for mayor, McCord frames him for murder and incites a mob to lynch him.

Warner Bros try to adapt all the hallmarks of their gangster cycle to the Western and it doesn’t quite work. But Cagney is quite solid at the helm and memorably sings ‘I Don’t Want to Play in Your Yard’ while biffing a baddie. An uncomfortable Humphrey Bogey is not at all good though.

Samuel Bischoff’s production is a strong one, with notable black and white images from cinematographer James Wong Howe, catchy score by Max Steiner and striking production designs by Esdras Hartley.

Also in the cast are Rosemary Lane, Donald Crisp, Harvey Stephens, Charles Middleton, Hugh Sothern, Ward Bond, Edward Pawley, Lew Harvey, Trevor Bardette, John Miljan, Arthur Aylesworth, Irving Bacon, Wade Botelier, Joe Devlin, Dan Wolheim, Ray Mayer, Bob Kortman, Tex Cooper, John Harron, Stuart Holmes, Jack Moyer, Frank Mayo and Don Barclay.

The screenplay by Warren Duff, Robert Buckner and Edward E Paramore is based on a story by Paramore and Wally Klein.

© Derek Winnert 2016 Classic Movie Review 3665

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