This is one of the earlier films in which Roy Rogers starred. The film begins with a bizarre scene where a masked Roy Rogers stops a stage coach at gunpoint. To disguise himself further, he speaks Spanish--but it's truly god-awful Spanish and many students in Spanish classes speak with greater fluency. So, unless you are stupid, it's obvious the masked man was NOT a Mexican or anyone who spoke Spanish.Later, you learn that Rogers is the so-called 'Carson City Kid'--a wanted outlaw. However, as it's Roy, he's sort of a wussy nice-guy outlaw....but still, he is not the 100% law abiding swell guy he was in later films and that surprised me. You soon learn that Roy's brother was killed by some scum-bag gambler, but he isn't sure of the guy's identity, so he's traveling the west looking for the evil galoot. Along the way, he meets up with an idiot (I am sorry, but there's no other way to describe the poor sap--played by Noah Beery, Jr.) and a grizzly old sheriff (Gabby Hayes. Oddly, the baddie ends up being Bob Steele--another western star who often played the good guy! What a weird set of roles for Roy and Bob!! As for the movie, it's a pretty decent B-western but nothing great. Like any Rogers film, there is lots of superfluous singing, heroics and in the end all is well. But along the way, there are a few surprises--mostly due to Roy's odd persona in this film. Worth seeing if you are a fan but far from a must-see for everyone else. Interesting.

The Carson City Kid (1940) *** (out of 4) Roy Rogers plays a man disguising himself as The Carson City Kid who is seeking vengeance on the man responsible for his younger brother's death. He thinks the guilty person is a bar owner (Bob Steele) but along the way he falls for a young woman (Pauline Moore) and tries to help a young man (Noah Beery, Jr.) from the same fate as his own brother. This is yet another good Western from Rogers and company, although no one should confuse this for the work of John Ford. Your tolerance of the "B" Western will certainly factor into how much you enjoy this film but if you're one who can put up with their low-budget charm then this here is a good one. The best thing the film has going for it are the performances of the cast. As you'd expect, Rogers has no problem playing the good guy as that laid back style really comes across and it's just really impossible not to like the guy. I'm really not sure what it is but Rogers is just so calm and collective that you can fall for his charm and get behind his cause. Moore makes for a very good love interest as she's certainly cute enough for the part but her performance is also good enough to make you care for her. The same is true for Beery, Jr. whose character really comes across thanks to his fun performance. Steele always makes for an enjoyable bad guy and that's the case here as well as you really want to hiss at him each time he's in the frame. George 'Gabby' Hayes is also on hand doing his typical great support. The story itself isn't the strongest in the world but it's good enough to keep you interested for a hour. The action is fast, the characters enjoyable and overall this is pleasant enough for a time killer.

This was one of Roy Rogers better B westerns for Republic Pictures. The plot has Roy as a good/badman known as the Carson City Kid. But he's only doing this because he's on a manhunt. Roy's figuring the outlaw guise will afford him better intelligence about the guy he's after.The trail's taken him to Sonora where he runs into such diverse people as Marshal Gabby Hayes, Pauline Moore, Noah Beery, Jr., and another B picture cowboy, Bob Steele. All of them give a good account of themselves.Especially Steele as the saloon owner with a number of nefarious sidelines. In B films Steele was usually a good guy. Here he's more like the Steele we saw in such classic Humphrey Bogart films as The Big Sleep and The Enforcer.Roy only gets one song in this film, a forgettable duet with his leading lady. He hadn't met Dale Evans yet, so he was paired with all kinds of female co-stars at this point in his career. Of course none had the screen or otherwise chemistry Dale and Roy had together. Fans of the Cowboy King will like it and others will also.

Old Roy Rogers western. Only entertaining when you have nothing better to do. The story is simple and the situations are standard. Done a hundred times before. A few good action scenes and a good supporting cast are the only things that make this movie at least a bit watchable. George "Gabby" Hayes and Noah Beery are the only highlights in this B-Movie.Only for Roy Rogers fans I think.