The Kid Ranger

"The Kid Ranger" is simple, raw, stark, and a bit grim, and although this combination of attributes would be limiting for many movie goers, fans of Bob Steele or 1930's westerns will find this a quite watchable venture.

Surprisingly, there is so much story, and the rest of the cast are so busy in telling the story, that Steele's screen time may be the lowest ever in a Bob Steele starring role. And that is fine, because the screen is alive and in good and fascinating stead with plenty of screen time for William Farnum and Earl Dwire.

Farnum shows off his characteristic exaggerated eye play, presumably a holdover acting approach from his silent movie days that he never shed, to good advantage; he always shows a lot of charisma. And then we have Earl Dwire in one of his most lecherous, treacherous, and sadistic bad guy portrayals of his career. One ends up really detesting Dwire after this one!

All in all, a pretty good story with a flowing script, a series of fascinating and gritty characterizations, and an appropriately unadorned atmosphere (thanks to a paltry budget) make for a tasty western movie experience.