The Cowboy and the Kid
Cast & Crew
Ray Taylor
Buck Jones
Billy Burrud
Dorothy Revier
Harry Worth
Oliver Eckhardt
Film Details
Technical Specs
Synopsis
Cowboy Steve Davis has lost everything but his horse to gambling and swears off the bad habit while he is on the trail. He comes across cattle near a water hole that has been closed off in order to transport water. Although intending only to put a small hole in the pipe with which to water the cattle, Steve shoots the pipe and breaks it completely open. This breakage causes the town nearby to lose all of their water. Jess Watson, head of the water company, wrongly suspects rancher Jim Thomas of the misdeed and sends his thugs to threaten him. They kill the rancher in cold blood, leaving his young boy Jimmy an orphan. Steve finds the boy and is mortified that his innocent act led to a death. He befriends Jimmy and vows to get a job to support them. He is offered a job as a hotel porter on the condition he supply his own uniform. Without Steve's knowledge, Jimmy jumps a freight train and steals a porter's uniform, but is injured when he jumps off. Although Jimmy recovers, Doctor Wilson and his wife keep Jimmy from Steve, believing him to be a bad influence, and tell Jimmy that Steve abandoned him. In the meantime, Steve has befriended schoolteacher June Caldwell, who is being courted by Watson. Worried that an examiner will see his low bookkeeping figures, Watson borrows two hundred dollars from June, who reluctantly takes the money from school funds. When Watson does not repay the debt prior to a school board meeting, during which they plan to use their funds, June tries to find him and, failing that, gives Steve a note to give to Watson as soon as he returns. As the meeting approaches and the money has not been returned, June despairs and tries to commit suicide. Two strangers arrive in town and identify the returning Watson as robber Mort Purcell. Watson hurriedly tries to leave and is stopped by Steve, who has discovered the reason for June's unsuccessful suicide attempt after she was rescued and confessed all to the doctor. Steve attacks Watson but flees when Watson cries robbery. Watson denies all knowledge of June's note, even though Steve had confronted him with it and he had flatly refused to pay his debt. Aware that he is wanted for robbery in another town, the sheriff arrests Watson. A posse chases Steve to tell him he has a reward coming to him for Watson's capture. Jimmy, who realizes Steve never really left him, finally catches up with Steve and tells him the good news. With the reward money, Steve buys mining equipment and takes off with June and Jimmy.
Director
Ray Taylor
Cast
Buck Jones
Billy Burrud
Dorothy Revier
Harry Worth
Oliver Eckhardt
Mary Mersch
Burr Caruth
Kernan Cripps
Lafe Mckee
Silver, A Horse
Charles Le Moyne
Dick Rush
Bob Mckenzie
Eddie Lee
Mildred Gover
Crew
Film Details
Technical Specs
Quotes
Trivia
Notes
According to information in the MPAA/PCA files at the AMPAS Library, the film was certified as Banished in March 1936, which was to be the film's release title. The plot synopsis in the copyright records relates that Steve Davis is a "hell-raiser," who is escaping arrest for his mischievous pranks in a town when he comes upon the thirsty cattle and the water well.
