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.
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.