Song of the Saddle (1936)

Features the “Singing Cowboy” initially as the “The Singing Kid”. Dick Foran started this role right after playing Boze Hertzlinger in The Petrified Forest with Leslie Howard Bette Davis Genevieve Tobin and Humphrey Bogart!

The story starts off with a land rush scene like Cimarron (1931). Like The Oklahoma Kid (1939) some malfeasance occurs regarding the land claiming process with Phineas Hook played by familiar character actor Charles Middleton being responsible. Five years later Hook is running a prominent (if crooked) business in town when a wagon train comes to town. One of the covered wagons is owned by Frank Wilson Sr. whose son Frank Wilson Jr. is seen singing to Jen Coburn (Bonita Granville These Three and Nancy Drew). Hook dubs him “The Singing Kid” then buys Wilson Sr.’s entire wagon of goods only to send his men pretending to be Indians to rob him on the trail later. “The Singing Kid” witnesses the incident in which his father is killed and escapes vowing to return one day to avenge the death.

Years later “The Singing Kid” returns to disrupt Hook’s business exacting financial revenge and more. There are of course several sequences which feature Foran singing. Additionally he discovers that Jen Coburn’s family settled there and predictable results follow. “The Singing Kid” with assistance from a gang loyal to him acts in such a way that he does not end up having to serve any time even though many untimely deaths result on account of his actions.

Also in the cast Roy Rogers (a singing cowboy with a famous horse of his own) appears uncredited.