THE CIMARRON KID
US, 1952, 84 minutes, Colour.
Audie Murphy, Beverly Tyler, James Best, Yvette Duguay, John Hudson, Leif Erikson, Noah Beery Jnr, Hugh O' Brian.
Directed by Budd Boetticher.
The Cimarron Kid was the first of the many westerns that Audie Murphy made at Universal Studios, especially during the 1950s. While he had appeared in a few films briefly, he had a breakthrough in John Huston's The Red Badge of Courage. Cimarron Kid was his next film. He went on to make numerous westerns but also made a film of his heroism in To Hell and Back (he was the most decorated American soldier of World War Two, turning twenty-one when the war ended). He also appeared in more substantial films like Joseph L. Mankiewicz's version of Graham Greene's The Quiet American and John Huston's The Unforgiven with Burt Lancaster and Audrey Hepburn.
Budd Boetticher, after a colourful career including bullfighting with his film The Bullfighter and the Lady, had begun to make small-budget films at Universal. In the later 50s, he partnered with Randolph Scott and Harry Brown as producer for a series of substantial westerns - which are still very much admired.
1. The popularity of this kind of small-budget, short-running western at Universal Studios? As supports for major features? How well do they stand up now? Straightforward western storytelling?
2. The production values, the locations for the west, for Texas? The trains and the robberies? The cities and the shoot-outs? The musical score?
3. The title, the focus on Bill Doolin, his coming out of jail, the support of the marshal, his being on the train, a new leaf, the Dalton gang robbing, his being accused and his having to flee? His deciding to join the Daltons? His personality, experience, being framed, the pressure by Swanson? The support of the marshal?
4. His joining the Daltons, the personalities of the Dalton gang, Bitter Creek, Dynamite Dick, the young Daltons? Red Buck and his being part of the gang, the Daltons not liking him, his assertion, his wanting to be leader, the final confrontation, the leadership of Bill? Their robberies, the plan for Coffeyville, the detail, the two banks, the first bank and its success, the second bank and the safe not being able to be opened, the manager calling the alarm, the shoot-out and the death of so many of the Dalton gang?
5. Bill, his wanting to lead a straight life, getting caught up in the gangs? His meeting with Pat Roberts, the attraction towards Carrie? His friendship with Bitter Creek and Dynamite Dick, and with Cimarron Rose? Their robberies, success? Swanson in pursuit? The various set-ups, Bill and his escapes? The build-up to the final robbery, Webber and his background, the set-up, the death of Bitter Creek, Dynamite Dick and his betrayal, Bill sending him out, his being shot by Swanson? Bill's escape?
6. The members of the gang, their personalities? Cimarron Rose as a strong personality, love for her husband? Support, getting the information, going into town, the details about the trains? Her posing in Dallas to get information about George Webber? Her sending the telegram? Grief at the death of her husband? Being reunited with Bill and the Roberts family?
7. Roberts, his background, the visit from the sheriff, from Swanson? His shielding the gang? The marshal and his attitude towards Bill, speaking loudly, offering him the chance to give himself up? The later pursuit, working with Swanson, the final set-up? Carrie and her betraying him to the authorities, the decision that this was the only thing to do?
8. Bill, being seen in the town, the cover with the buying of the engagement ring, Pat and his covering for them? Bill's return, their decision to give him up, Pat bequeathing his farm to them
when Bill got out of jail? The final kiss and farewell?
9. Red Buck, Hugh O' Brian with the red beer and hair, severe, his confrontations, the final shooting?
10. The background of law and order, marshals, powerful landowners and their manipulation of the law, the outlaw gangs and the way that they were treated? The popular ingredients of a western?
