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.
