Bantam-weight western star Don "Red" Barry certainly deserved his designation as "The Cowboy Cagney" in Republic's Desert Bandit. Barry is cast as two-fisted Texas Ranger Bob Crandall, who after being dishonorably discharged heads to the Mexican border to start life anew. He falls in with a gang of gun runners, headed by corrupt lawman Largo (William Haade). It turns out, of course, that Crandall's "disgrace" was merely a ruse to allow him to work undercover in bringing Largo and his minions to justice.
| Actor | Role |
|---|---|
 Don 'Red' BarryBob Crandall, Texas Ranger | Bob Crandall, Texas Ranger |
 Lynn MerrickSue Martin | Sue Martin |
 William HaadeLargo | Largo |
| JJames GilletteTim Martin | Tim Martin |
 Dick WesselHenchman Hawk | Henchman Hawk |
 Tom ChattertonTexas Ranger Captain Banning | Texas Ranger Captain Banning |
 Tom EwellTexas Ranger Ordway | Texas Ranger Ordway |
 Robert StrangeHatfield | Hatfield |
 Charles R. MooreT-Bone Jones | T-Bone Jones |
 Ernie StantonSheriff Warde | Sheriff Warde |
 Charles KingDying Henchman at Wagon (uncredited) | Dying Henchman at Wagon (uncredited) |