Monday, August 1, 2016

Pat Garrett & Billy the Kid 1973


     The time period is 1881 in New Mexico.  Pat Garrett was formerly a travelling companion of Billy the Kid but now he has been appointed sheriff.  The New Mexico cattlemen have given Pat the task of the elimination of Billy.  Billy is taken into custody but he escapes and Pat chases him throughout the territory.  They finally meet up at Fort Sumner.  Billy is a popular figure and he has intervened in crimes committed by the cattlemen. 
     The problem with Billy is that he doesn’t respect not shooting someone in the back?  He sometimes tries to get out of killing someone but the circumstances don’t allow this to happen.  He has become a thorn in the side of powerful and wealthy landowners.  Pat Garrett doesn’t have a choice now that he’s accepted the position of sheriff.  This film had a lot of potential but it seems to skip over a lot of history and doesn’t provide details.  3* (This movie is OK)

122 min, Bio directed by Sam Peckinpah with James Coburn, Kris Kristofferson, Richard Jaeckel, Katy Jurado, Chill Wills, Barry Sullivan, Jason Robards, Bob Dylan, R.G. Armstrong, Luke Askew, John Beck.

Note:  Imdb 7.4 out of 10, 83% critic 83% audience on Rotten Tomatoes, Roger Ebert 2*, Amazon 4.1* out of 5* with 222 reviews.
Special Note:  Filmed in Durango, Mexico.  The director, Sam Peckinpah was forced out of the production by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer and James Aubrey took over.  He reduced the length from 122 to 106 minutes.  The cast and crew were very upset by this and the film became a critical and financial failure.  The complete version was released in 1988 on video.  Peter Fonda and Malcolm McDowell were offered the role of Billy the Kid.

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