THE CIMARRON KID. Universal International Pictures, 1952. Audie Murphy, Beverly Tyler, James Best, Yvette Dugay, Hugh O’Brian, Roy Roberts, Noah Beery, Leif Erickson. Director: Budd Boetticher.

   There’s more than a hint of grit in Budd Boetticher’s The Cimarron Kid. Not as gritty as the westerns he did with Randolph Scott, mind you, but it’s there nevertheless. Indeed, there’s something a little sweaty, a little dirty and violent about this oater, one starring Audie Murphy in a comparatively early role for him.

   Here, Murphy portrays Bill Doolin, an Oklahoman falsely imprisoned due to his friendship with the Dalton Gang. After being released from jail, Doolin sets out to create a new life for himself. But it’s not to be. Due to an unfortunate incident during a train holdup, when one of the Daltons recognizes him, Doolin (Murphy) once again finds himself on the wrong side of the law. This time, however, he accepts his fate and goes all in with the Daltons, helping them commit a bank robbery in which many of the Daltons are killed.

   Along for the whole ride – figuratively and literally – is Bitter Creek Dalton (James Best) and his Mexican girlfriend Rose (Yvette Dugay), both with whom Doolin forms a tight bond. On Doolin’s trail is the fair-minded Marshal John Sutton (Leif Erickson). There’s a love interest component to the story, too with Beverly Tyler portraying Carrie Roberts, a farm girl who falls for Doolin.

   Much of the movie deals thematically with the question of fate. Was Doolin doomed from the start? Did his relationship with his childhood friends – the Daltons – preclude him from ever having a “normal life”? When the movie ends, it’s not with a bang, but a whisper.

   Overall, a quite enjoyable, thoughtful western with Murphy showing that he had a long future ahead of him in that genre.