The Cheyenne Kid [DVD] [1940]

The first of six Jack Randall Westerns directed by Monogram studio hack Raymond K. Johnson, The Cheyenne Kid presented the handsome but ineffective Randall as the title character, a gambler turned ranch foreman. Cheyenne quickly earns the enmity of Baker (Reed Howes), a fellow gambler who does his best to prevent the newcomer from buying a herd of cattle from Ruth Adams (Louise Stanley) and her brother, Chet (Kenne Duncan). The latter owes Baker a large gambling debt and Baker has designs on the Adams' Lazy A Ranch. Aided by sidekicks Manuel (Frank Yaconelli) and Farnum (Edward Brady), Cheyenne sets a trap for Baker who is soon arrested by the sheriff (Forrest Taylor). The rotund Yaconelli, perhaps the best of Randall's varying sidekicks, returned to the series after a two-picture absence, as did Louise Stanley, Randall's wife in real life. It didn't much matter; the Randall series as well as Randall himself were headed for oblivion.~Hans J. Wollstein