The Kid Rides Again
Cast & Crew
Sherman Scott
Buster Crabbe
Al St. John
Iris Meredith
Glenn Strange
Charles King
Film Details
Technical Specs
Synopsis
William Bonney, who is infamously known as "Billy the Kid," escapes from jail where he is being held unjustly for robbery. Acting on a tip from his friend, Fuzzy Jones, who runs a saddlery, Billy heads for Sundown, an outlaw town controlled by Mort Slade and his gang. Billy reunites with Fuzzy in town and, sure that the Slades are responsible for framing him, intends to seek revenge and thereby clear his name. Billy suspects that Mort and his brother Tom are the rustlers who have been attacking local ranches, as Mort then buys the mortgages from ranchers who are unable to make their payments. Billy and Fuzzy follow the Slades to their hideout, and Billy overhears Mort vow to take down the local banker, Ainsley, because he refuses to sell him any more mortgages. Billy warns Ainsley and his daughter Joan of Mort's nefarious intent, but they firmly believe that Billy himself is an outlaw and refuse to heed his warning. Mort's hired gunfighter, Vic, forces a showdown, during which Billy is forced to kill him, and Billy is arrested. With his plan to eliminate Billy thwarted, Mort then tries to force Ainsley to do his bidding by robbing the $10,000 he deposited in the bank that day. After Fuzzy frees him from jail, Billy is seen near the bank and connected with the robbery. He hides at Fuzzy's saddle shop until Joan implores him to return the money, as Mort is spreading rumors that the bank is broke. Billy vows that he is innocent, but nevertheless promises to surrender himself if he has not returned the money by the next morning. Billy and Fuzzy escape to the Slade hideout, and after Fuzzy draws the gang out by firing his gun nearby, Billy goes inside and finds the stolen money. Billy then fights with gang member Tom, and after beating him, ties him to a horse and returns to town. Billy returns the money to Ainsley and prevents a run on the bank, then turns Tom over to the authorities. Billy then pursues Mort into the saloon, and when Mort refuses to surrender, Billy is forced to shoot him in self-defense, thereby returning Sundown to its citizens.
Director
Sherman Scott
Cast
Buster Crabbe
Al St. John
Iris Meredith
Glenn Strange
Charles King
I. Stanford Jolley
Ed Peil Sr.
Ted Adams
Slim Whitaker
Crew
Film Details
Technical Specs
Quotes
Trivia
Notes
The opening credits read "Buster Crabbe as Billy the Kid in The Kid Rides Again." Although Buster Crabbe's character is called "William Bonney, also known as Billy the Kid," the story bears no resemblance to the real outlaw's life. Modern sources include Karl Hackett, Kenne Duncan, Curley Dresden, Snub Pollard and John Merton in the cast. For additional information on the "Billy the Kid" series, please consult the Series Index, and see the entry for Billy the Kid Outlawed in AFI Catalog of Feature Films, 1931-40; F3.0341.
