This was the first in the Buster Crabbe series of Billy the Kid interpretations, this from 1941. I must say I am always surprised how I enjoy the PRC westerns, as they hold up just as well as the era's B-westerns from more lustrous studios, such as Republic. I have also noted how the PRC 8-day westerns don't jump out as being notably creaky and stilted like the studio's 8-day contemporary dramas and comedies. Nonetheless, this maiden voyage for Crabbe's BTK flicks has a focused and involving story that is developed well through the dialog, and which interestingly features three assemblages of men who take turns either being the group chasing on horseback the other two or being the group chased by the other two. Lots of horseback riding with manes a-flying in this picture!
Both Buster Crabbe and Al St.John are seen here before they evolve into what we will later in the series consider signature in their personal characteristics: Crabbe seems more blonde, evaluative, and gentle in this film; while St. John has a much less "Fuzzy" countenance about him here than he will show in subsequent installments... less comic appeal, less eccentricity, and a less overt old-timer "look." And finally Dave O'Brien, as the third amigo of the heroic 3-man team featured in many of these films, has a more integral role in the action here, more so than he often did in later BTK efforts.
The cast is fairly large and features the charismatic Glenn Strange, whose appearance here is made more delicious for the audience by his frequent sparring and matching wits with the wonderful Charles King. One just can not get enough of Mr. CK! The Billy the Kid series (Steele or Crabbe) was total baloney historically speaking, but the films were consistently enjoyable to witness, this first one with Crabbe included.