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General Category => Books, Movies and Television => General Discussion => Westerns => Topic started by: Administrator on March 24, 2025, 07:40:41 AM
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The Law vs Billy the Kid (1954)
These are brief excerpts from one of 23 films and television series ostensibly about Billy the Kid. Below the analysis of this source are links to clips from and a bit of analysis of other dramas about the outlaw/hero. Less important than any facts or legends that may be found or debunked in these sources is the suggestion that our views of Billy have evolved through the years and that these media may tell us as much or more about the eras in which they were produced than about the historical characters and times portrayed.
Playing the title character in "The Law vs. Billy the Kid" is Scott Brady, veteran of c. 150 films, although more noteworthy is Director William Castle, famous for the outrageous gimmicks he employed to promote dozens of his cheaply made B-movies. His telling of the Billy the Kid story is more restrained than his more famous fright-fest films, and he actually offered a few insights into the sources of Billy's fury, including the murders of both his real and substitute fathers. Also introduced is New Mexico Territorial Governor Lew Wallace, former Union General and author of the novel "Ben Hur: A Tale of the Christ". Sheriff Pat Garrett's dilemma in tracking down and killing his friend-nemesis Billy is fairly accurately conveyed, but an unconvincing romance between rough-born and -raised Billy and a seemingly sophisticated young woman undercuts any insightful aspects of this version of the story. The film displays director Castle's usual slap-dash touch but without the amusing excesses he exhibited in so many of his "thrillers", which you can learn about in another surreal filmmaker John Waters' 2007 tribute, "Spine Tingler: The William Castle Story". Watching Waters' film rather than Castle's would be be a far more satisfying way to pass an hour and a half.
Billy the Kid (1930) • Billy the Kid - 1930
Billy the Kid Returns (1938) • Billy the Kid Returns (1938)
Billy the Kid Outlawed (1940) • Billy the Kid Outlawed (1940)
Billy the Kid (1941) • Billy the Kid (1941)
Fugitive of the Plains (1943) • Billy the Kid in Fugitive of the Plai...
The Outlaw (1943) • The Outlaw (1943)
I Shot Billy the Kid (1950) • I Shot Billy the Kid (1950)
The Law vs. Billy the Kid (1954) • The Law vs Billy the Kid (1954)
The Parson and the Outlaw (1957) • The Parson and the Outlaw (1957)
The Left Handed Gun (1958) • The Left Handed Gun (1958)
The Tall Man (1960-62) • The Tall Man (1960-62)
Billy the Kid vs. Dracula (1966) • Billy the Kid vs. Dracula (1966)
Chisum (1970) • Chisum (1970)
Dirty Little Billy (1972) • Dirty Little Billy (1972)
Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid (1973) • Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid (1973)
Lucky Luke vs. Billy the Kid (1984) • Billy the Kid vs. Lucky Luke (1984)
Young Guns (1988) • Young Guns (1988)
Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure (1989) • Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure (1...
Gore Vidal’s Billy the Kid (1989) • Gore Vidal's Billy the Kid (1989)
Young Guns II (1990) • Young Guns II (1990)
The Kid (2019) • The Kid (2019)
Old Henry (2021) • Old Henry (2021)
Billy the Kid (2022) • Billy the Kid (2022)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Law_vs._Billy_the_Kid
Billy the Kid (1941)
Gore Vidal's Billy the Kid (1989)
Billy The Kid (EPIX 2022 Series) Official Trailer (2022-2023 - 2 seasons)