THE REAL WEST?

McCord's gang robs the stage carrying money to pay Indians for their land, and the notorious outlaw "The Oklahoma Kid" Jim Kincaid takes the money from McCord. McCord stakes a "sooner" claim on land which is to be used for a new town; in exchange for giving it up he gets control of gambling and saloons. When Kincaid's father runs for mayor, McCord incites a mob to lynch the old man whom McCord has already framed for murder.. I just watched The Oklahoma Kid,  on YouTube, and I  it great fun as I thought it would be from reading books and articles about James Cagney.Gagney was worth his weight in gold as an actor because he gave it everything. The models are I believe Hill. Another great Fim was Fred Macmurry in The Texas RangersThe Texas Rangers Paramount, 1936, 95m. b&w, directed by King Vidor, Screenplay by Louis Stevens
Cast:
Fred MacMurray (Jim Hawkins)
Jack Oakie (Wahoo Jones)
Jean Parker (Amanda Bailey)
Lloyd Nolan   (Sam McGee, "Polka Dot")
Edward Ellis (Major Bailey)
Bennie Bartlett (David)
Frank Shannon (Capt. Stafford)
Frank Cordell (Ranger Ditson)
Richard Carle (Casper Johnson)
Jed Prouty (Prosecuting attorney)
Fred Kohler Sr. (Higgins)

George Hayes (Judge

In 1935 Walter Prescott Webb published The Texas Rangers, A Century Of Frontier Defense. The story spans the years from the formation of the Texas Rangers through the killings of Bonny and Clyde Barrow. While Webb was a stylist of note, the book is a historian's view rather than a populist one, which may put off many readers. Today the book is a cornerstone of Western history, still the best book on the subject, but outside   the circles of Western enthusiasts and historians, few know of its existence. This is a shame.   The book not only tells many fascinating stories of the Texas frontier, it chronicles the history of a famed organization.

Paramount bought the rights and set about composing a screenplay. The credits read, "Based upon data furnished by Walter Prescott Webb's book The Texas Rangers." The 'data' referred to in the credits must refer to the title alone for the screenplay ignores the book. The only incident that bears some semblance to an actual incident occurs when the Texas Rangers encounter a large band of Indians and must fight their way out. This scene was reportedly a re-enactment of the 1876 battle in which Vicorio, a nephew of Geronimo, led the Apaches against the Texas Rangers and Union Army soldiers. Still, the incident in the film bears little reality to the actual events

Another good Fred Western is the one below. Fred MacMurray plays the head of an outlaw band trying to escape across the Mexican border. The gang is able to elude the law and to navigate the rough terrain, but the flight comes to a halt in an all-but-deserted desert town. Here MacMurray and company are forced to stave off an Indian attack, during which several of the bandits prove to be less venal than they seem. The buildup to the attack seems to take forever, indicating that the producers may have had High Noon and Gunfight at the OK Corrall. It's likely that Fred MacMurray would have ground out budget westerns for the remainder of his career had not Walt Disney and My Three Sons come along. 


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