Idaho Kid

Rex Bell is probably best known for being the one who finally married that wild child of the Twenties, Clara Bow and eventually making her the second lady of Nevada. Unfortunately if this is an example of his work as a western star, better he did go into politics.

Rex as the title indicates is a young kid from Idaho who became separated from his father as a child. He's come back to join him, but finds dad, played by Earl Dwire, is a ruthless cattle baron. Dwire's methods are none to Rex's liking and he joins forces with Dwire's rival, played by Lane Chandler.

Interesting how some of the most ancient of plot lines can be worked into unexpected situations. This was the problem that confronted Brad Pitt as Achilles in the recent Troy epic. He liked the Trojans who he was fighting far better than the Greek monarchs employing him. Of course things end better for Rex than for Brad.

A rather short lived poverty row outfit called Colony Pictures did this one. They lasted only about four years and their entire output was westerns with one film about the Shadow starring Rod LaRocque. The westerns either starred Bell or Ken Maynard.

The ending is quite unbelievable, I'm not sure why Rex just didn't tell Dwire he was his son right at the beginning.

I hope some of Rex's other films are better than this one.

"Idaho Kid" stars Rex Bell, an actor who was most famous for marrying Clara Bow. Here, he does what he usually did in films...playing in B-westerns.

The story begins with a young man holding up a stage. Our hero, 'Idaho' (Bell), soon finds the kid and convinces him to return the money...which he soon does. Now, no longer in trouble, the kid becomes Idaho's best buddy and sidekick. Soon, however, the young guy is shocked that Idaho signs on to work for Hollister, a REAL jerk and tough guy. Why would a heroic type like Idaho go to work for such a man? And, what is Idaho's connection with the jerk's enemy, the Endicott family? And, who is Idaho REALLY??

I appreciated how this western was NOT a typical story. Normally, most B-westerns have one of about three different plots...and this one manages to be a bit different. It also helped that Bell was really good and showed a nice emotional range. So, despite being a cheaply made film, it is quite entertaining and showed even the likes of Rex Bell could make a dandy film...not just the big stars like Gene Autry or Roy Rogers.

Paul Evan Lehman wrote a story about people that could have been set almost any place and any time. But he set in the West we know and love and the incredibly prolific George Plympton produced a screenplay that lifts this B Western above any claim of "routine."

All the main characters are so well played, only a little more money in the budget would have placed this in the "A" category.

There is more plot than usual, and more thought than action for the protagonist.

Rex Bell was a charming, personable screen presence, and apparently in real life, too, being the man who, five years before this film, wed Clara Bow, their three-decades marriage being the only one for both.

He had a slow smile that surely melted a lot of hearts, and surely won over audiences.

It is easy to see why his character won the leading lady, played by the unusually beautiful Marion Shilling. She didn't have much to do, but her expressive face didn't require much action or even dialogue. It's hard to understand why she didn't make many more movies.

Third billed was still-young David Sharpe, who had been in the biz, off and on, since 1922. Before he finally retired, he was in possibly 5,000 films and TV shows, according to some research. Though he became and probably still is better known for stunt work, in "Idaho Kid" he shows his superb acting talent. He too had a very expressive face, and extraordinary athleticism, and they helped make him a superlative actor.

Two of the older generation, Earl Dwire and Lafe McKee, got to play active, even rambunctious characters, old enough to be the father of the Rex Bell character, yet angry enough to walk the street eager to gun down the other. Great roles for the two of them.

All the characters and all their actions and motivations make "Idaho Kid" not only thoughtful but dramatic, somewhat unusual among B Westerns, but all the more watchable for it.

The only complaint I can make is the print at YouTube leaves a lot to be desired, but the story and the performers are too good for the lousy print to bother us long. I highly recommend "Idaho Kid," which is surprising, and intriguing, is well acted and well written. Please take the less-than-an-hour to enjoy it.