James Cagney forsakes the city gangster to become an Oklahoma badman. The change isn't too convincing, but Cagney manages to shoot, mutilate, and generally manhandle other badmen in spite of the change in roles.

The action starts with the rush into Oklahoma when it was opened for settlement. James Kincaid arrives at the site intended for Tulsa City only to find that Bogart had jumped the gun and had already staked the claim. Bogart, however, gladly relinquishes his claim in return for the gambling rights of the city. The evil monster thrives in Tulsa and practically controls the city.

He incites a mob composed largely of his men to lynch honest Jim Kinsaid. The scene is very dark indeed, but Kid Cagney appears out of nowhere and throws all of his fire power on the side of law and order. Bang. Bang. Bang. Bad men fall right and left before the Kid's guns. Cagney turns out to be Kincaid's son. The other son fiddles with legal procedures while Cagney fights. Cagney naturally wins out, romantically and otherwise. Audience and Bogart both lose.

On the other hand, that part of the audience which thinks Hunphrey and James the most adorable boys in the world sat enthralled, and the explosion of rifles from the screen was matched by the explosion from the cheaper seats, where the youngsters were enthroned.

The vast majority of the audience, however, was bored to tears, and suggestions were heard that the title be changed from "The Oklahoma Kid" to "The Oklahoma Goat."