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The Oklahoma Kid

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The Oklahoma Kid

Released Mar 3, 1939

1h 25m

Western

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3 Reviews

47%

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250+ Ratings

When Oklahoma's Cherokee Strip opens for settlers in 1893, a payment is sent to the Native Americans. Whip McCord (Humphrey Bogart) steals the money, but Jim Kincaid (James Cagney), known as the Oklahoma Kid, steals it back. Jim's father, John (Hugh Sothern), disapproves of his son's vigilante actions. McCord takes over the town, turning it into a lawless zone. When John runs for mayor to try to civilize the town, McCord frames him for murder. Jim must rescue his estranged father from lynching.

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Ty Burr

Ty Burr's Watch List (Substack)

A B-Western, when all is said and done, but with the Warners’ typically hard nose in matters of class tensions and who’s getting screwed (Native Americans) by whom (Tulsa land-rush barons).

Rated: 3/4

Aug 25, 2023

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Yasser Medina

Cinefilia

Cagney injects his charisma into a few scenes, but overall, it's a conventional and dispensable western. [Full review in Spanish]

Rated: 5/10

Jan 6, 2025

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Dennis Schwartz

Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews

This B Western with an A cast never becomes more than a B Western.

Rated: C

Jul 1, 2005

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Steve D

Miss-cast, ridiculous and unintentionally funny.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

03/16/24

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Audience Member

Diverting western would be completely unmemorable except for the fact that it stars James Cagney and Humphrey Bogart. Cagney is the hero wanting revenge for the hanging of his father by Bogey. The film features a solid supporting cast that includes Donald Crisp and Ward Bond, which helps as well, but this film really could have been any number of routine Tim Holt westerns, except for maybe one song and dance number performed by Cagney.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

01/31/23

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Audience Member

Cagney in a western! Bogart co-stars as the villain in black. Despite the modern criticism this film receives, I found it quite enjoyable and with frequent moments of humor. Cagney delivers a speech which is quite anarchist in its spirit, explaining why he hasn't joined the landrush, or even taken time to observe it. Interesting stuff.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

02/02/23

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Audience Member

I had trouble believing Cagney was not a gangster from Chicago and Bogart was not exactly the stereotypical western bad guy. It was interesting to see the fight scene and compare to the present.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

01/15/23

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Audience Member

Competently made but Cagney just doesn't make sense in the West.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

02/27/23

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Audience Member

It is the late-1800s and the US government is buying land from Indians in an area known as the Cherokee Strip, in the Oklahoma Territory. Gold intended for the Indians is hijacked by the gang of Whip McCord (played by Humphrey Bogart). The gang is in turn ambushed and robbed by Jim "The Oklahoma Kid" Kincaid (James Cagney). This leads to a deadly feud between McCord and Kincaid. A good old-fashioned good guys vs bad guys western. Plot is fairly basic, but works. Similarly the acting is a bit over-the-top, but works. It is basically the swagger of James Cagney and Humphrey Bogart that propels the movie, and makes it work. Makes it quite amusing at times, too... On a side note, this might actually be the first movie to include both Cagney and Bogart, so the movie is of historical significance too.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

01/20/23

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Lloyd Bacon

Director

James Cagney

Jim Kincaid

Humphrey Bogart

Whip McCord

Rosemary Lane

Jane Hardwick

Donald Crisp

Judge Hardwick

Harvey Stephens

Ned Kincaid

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Synopsis

When Oklahoma's Cherokee Strip opens for settlers in 1893, a payment is sent to the Native Americans. Whip McCord (Humphrey Bogart) steals the money, but Jim Kincaid (James Cagney), known as the Oklahoma Kid, steals it back. Jim's father, John (Hugh Sothern), disapproves of his son's vigilante actions. McCord takes over the town, turning it into a lawless zone. When John runs for mayor to try to civilize the town, McCord frames him for murder. Jim must rescue his estranged father from lynching.

Director: Lloyd Bacon
Producer: Samuel Bischoff
Screenwriter: Warren Duff
Production Co: Warner Bros.
Genre: Western
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Mar 3, 1939, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Jan 1, 2009
Runtime: 1h 25m

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