The Arizona Kid

This film is set just before the Civil War starts, featuring a Southern sympathizer named "Roy Rogers" (playing himself) and his close friend "Gabby Whitaker" (George 'Gabby' Hayes) delivering horses to a buyer in his hometown in Missouri. When he arrives, he reconnects with an old friend named "Dave Allen" (David Kerwin), who shares his passion for the Southern cause. Instead of joining the regular Confederate army, Dave is thinking about joining a militia of guerrilla fighters led by a man named "Val McBride" (Stuart Hamblen). This worries Roy, who tries to warn him about his concerns with a man like McBride, but his words go unnoticed-and once the Civil War begins, the two men go their separate ways. Sure enough, it isn't long before McBride and his men commit one atrocity after another, to the point that those in the guerrilla force are seen as outlaws and are hunted by both the Union and Confederate armies. Even so, McBride and his men remain a strong fighting force, which causes trouble for Roy and everyone else involved. Now, rather than say more, I will just say that this was a fairly short movie (about 61 minutes), likely shown as part of a double feature at the town theater or local drive-in. That's just how things were done in those days. Be that as it may, although this movie wasn't a great Western by any means, it still managed to pass the time reasonably well, and I have rated it accordingly.

This B western has solid acting ,production values and direction. Joe Kane directs Roy Rogers, "Gabby " Hayes, Stuart Hamblin and David Allen with a sure hand. Unusual for a Rogers film, Kane keeps the singing to a minimum with the emphasis on action and dramatics.The plot concerns Roy and his boyhood friend Dave.Dave is reckless and pursues a career with renegade raider Hamblin.Roy sees trouble ahead and tries to set Dave straight,with no success. Then the Civil War erupts with Roy joining the Confederates and Dave and Hamblin forming their own band of raiders. Roy is ordered to stop Hamblins Raiders. In the final scenes where Roy has to order Dave and the other raiders executed for treason, Roy shows true emotion and a solid bit of acting. Also the final shootout with Hamblin is memorable. This movie is a notch above many other Rogers western. My vote : 7 out of 10.

The Arizona Kid (1939)

*** (out of 4)

Good "B" Western takes place in Missouri, 1861 as Roy Rogers and George "Gabby" Hayes head home and encounter a renegade soldier named MacBride (Stuart Hamblen). Soon MacBride is recruiting men to join his renegade posse who are stealing from people and giving a bad name to the South. THE ARIZONA KID doesn't last an hour but it contains some pretty good action, a nice story, a good villain and of course Rogers and Hayes are always up to their standards. For such a low-budget film I was really surprised at how good the atmosphere was as you really do get the feel as if you're at the start of the Civil War as families are being torn apart and the stuff dealing with the renegade soldiers robbing was very well handled and made for some nice drama. Another good sub-plot deals with Roy getting caught up with an old flame (Sally March) and an old friend who ends up joining the bad guy's troops. These two stories aren't the best written in Western history but they're both above average and makes for some entertainment. As you'd expect, Rogers is in good form as he has no problems fitting into the role of the hero. The screenplay also allows him to sing three good numbers (It's Home Sweet Home, Swing Low Sweet Chariot, Lazy Old Moon) that are well shot and performed. Hayes adds his typically nice humor and Hamblen makes for a good villain. There are a couple good shoot-outs and a few explosions as well to cover the action. All in all, if you're a fan of these "B" Westerns then you should be entertained by this one. If these type of things aren't your cup of tea then it's doubtful this one here will change your opinion.

Roy Rogers (as Roy Rogers) finds his home town divided at the onset of the Civil War. Missouri is a Union State, but Mr. Rogers and the town-folk side with the Confederate States. Rogers and his sidekick George "Gabby" Hayes (as Gabby) decide to work for the Confederacy; their mission becomes defeating renegade Stuart Hamblen (as McBride). The wicked Mr. Hamblen complicates loyalties further by employing Rogers' boyhood friend Dave Kerwin (as Dave).

Obviously, hero Rogers is on the losing side of the Civil War; but the film has little to do with its Civil War setting; instead, it's a story about loyalty and the law. It you ignore the Confederate issues, it's one of the better early Rogers stories. The acting and production levels are relatively high - watch the story after the storm hits, with thunder and lightning used effectively by director Joseph Kane. Dorothy Sebastian (as Bess) is great with Rogers and Hamblen in the final confrontation/shootout scene. Roger's songs are above average, too - particularly when harmonizing with slaves on "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot".

****** The Arizona Kid (9/29/39) Joseph Kane ~ Roy Rogers, George 'Gabby' Hayes, Dorothy Sebastian

As is the case in a lot of B westerns the title has nothing to do with the story. The only connection that Arizona has with The Arizona Kid is that Roy Rogers and Gabby Hayes are bringing a string of horses from Arizona as the story opens. Otherwise the action takes place in Civil War era Missouri.

Roy wants to join the Confederate cause, but friend Dave Allen wants to join the irregular guerrillas that Stuart Hamblen is putting together. Roy has scruples about what Hamblen is all about, he's a Quantrill type raider in all, but name.

Later on Hamblen has his connections with the Confederacy severed by the Confederacy due in no small part to Rogers's instigation. After that capturing Hamblen and destroying his band becomes a personal mission for Roy.

I think it completely ironic that the Confederacy had such scruples about the fictional character that Hamblen plays. They sure didn't in real life have any about Colonel Quantrill, they couldn't afford any.

I will say that the final showdown between Roy and Hamblen's character is nicely staged.

Still this is not one of the best of the Roy Rogers westerns.