The El Paso Kid...

The El Paso Kid (1946)

In the mid 1940s Sunset Carson starred in a series of b-westerns for Republic Pictures, most of these films were directed by Thomas Carr. Carr directed close to ninety titles in a career that spanned just over two decades. He was born in Philadelphia, but most of his movies were set in the Wild West. Carr’s first directorial effort was a Sunset Carson vehicle called Santa Fe Saddlemates, the El Paso Kid was one of the last few movies the pair would work on together, and it’s also a really enjoyable b-oater too.

Sunset Carson starred in about a dozen movies for Republic Pictures, that was until he was fired by the studio. His films were good money makers for Republic, but Sunset’s off-screen behavior wasn’t good for the company’s family-friendly image, and when Carson showed up at a Republic party intoxicated with an underage girl for his date, the studio finally decided that they’d had enough, and waited no time at all to drop Sunset’s contract.

The movie opens with a robbery performed by a bandit named Santos and his gang of henchmen (one of which happens to be Sunset Carson). When Sunset’s old-timer buddy Jeff is wounded in the escape, Santos decides to leave Jeff to die. This doesn’t sit well with Carson, so he leaves the gang, and takes Jeff with him.

Sunset and Jeff decide to start their own bandit operation and give Santos and company a real run for their money. Their first attempt at holding-up a gold shipment runs into trouble when the Santos gang decides to hit the same target, instead of successfully robbing the gold, Sunset ends up successfully saving the shipment. This seemingly brave act on the part of the outlaw Sunset Carson (AKA the El Paso Kid) leads to him being made Deputy Sheriff Carson.

The high level of action coupled with a slightly unconventional script makes for an above average b-western. Sunset Carson was never a great actor, but the script plays to his charms, and the plot twists really do work to keep the audience interested. Although far from a classic by any stretch of the imagination, in the end the El Paso Kid really is a rather enjoyable piece of escapist entertainment.

-William J. White