Pat Garrett & Billy the Kid (1973)

User Rating:

7.3/10   

Director:

Sam Peckinpah

Writer:

Rudy Wurlitzer (screenplay)

Release Date:

31 August 1973 (Hong Kong)

Genre:

History | Western

Tagline:

Best of enemies. Deadliest of friends.

Plot:

An aging Pat Garrett is hired as a lawman on behalf of a group of wealthy New Mexico cattle barons--his sole purpose being to bring down his old friend Billy the Kid.

Plot Keywords:

Fate | Destiny | Friendship | Topless Women | Aging

Awards:

Nominated for BAFTA Film Award. Another 2 nominations

Cast

James Coburn	...	Sheriff Pat Garrett
Kris Kristofferson	...	William H. Bonney (Billy the Kid)
Bob Dylan	...	Alias
Richard Jaeckel	...	Sheriff Kip McKinney
Katy Jurado	...	Mrs. Baker
Chill Wills	...	Lemuel
Jason Robards	...	Gov. Lew Wallace
R.G. Armstrong	...	Deputy Sheriff Bob Ollinger
Luke Askew	...	Eno
John Beck	...	John W. Poe
Richard Bright	...	Holly
Matt Clark	...	Deputy Sheriff J.W. Bell
Rita Coolidge	...	Maria
Jack Dodson	...	Lewellen Howland
Jack Elam	...	Alamosa Bill / Kermit
Emilio Fernández	...	Paco
Paul Fix	...	Pete Maxwell
L.Q. Jones	...	Black Harris
Slim Pickens	...	Sheriff Colin Baker
Jorge Russek	...	Silva
Charles Martin Smith	...	Charlie Bowdre (as Charlie Martin Smith)
Harry Dean Stanton	...	Luke
Claudia Bryar	...	Mrs. Horrell
John Davis Chandler	...	Norris (as John Chandler)
Michael T. Mikler	...	Denver (as Mike Mikler)
Rutanya Alda	...	Ruthie Lee
Walter Kelley	...	Rupert
Rudy Wurlitzer	...	O'Folliard
Gene Evans	...	Mr. Horrell
Donnie Fritts	...	Beaver
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Aurora Clavel	...	Ida Garrett (uncredited)
Elisha Cook Jr.	...	Cody (uncredited)
Don Levy	...	Sackett (uncredited)
Sam Peckinpah	...	Will (uncredited)
Barry Sullivan	...	John Simpson Chisum (uncredited)
Dub Taylor	...	Josh (uncredited)

Directed by
Sam Peckinpah

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Rudy Wurlitzer		screenplay (as Rudolph Wurlitzer)

Produced by
Gordon Carroll	....	producer

Original Music by
Bob Dylan

Cinematography by
John Coquillon

Film Editing by
David Berlatsky
Garth Craven
Tony de Zarraga
Richard Halsey
Roger Spottiswoode
Robert L. Wolfe

Casting by
Patricia Mock

Art Direction by
Ted Haworth

Set Decoration by
Ray Moyer

Makeup Department
Jack R. Wilson	....	makeup artist
Herbert Smith	....	makeup artist (uncredited)

Production Management
Jim Henderling	....	unit production manager
Alfonso Sánchez Tello	....	production manager: Mexico (as Alfonso Sanchez Tello)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Newt Arnold	....	assistant director (as Newton Arnold)
Jesús María Bello	....	assistant director: Mexico (as Jesus Maria Bello)
Gordon T. Dawson	....	second unit director (as Gordon Dawson)
Lawrence J. Powell	....	second assistant director

Art Department
Robert J. Visciglia Sr.	....	property master (as Robert John Visciglia)

Sound Department
Harry W. Tetrick	....	sound
Charles M. Wilborn	....	sound
Bill Wistrom	....	supervising sound editor (uncredited)

Visual Effects by
Augie Lohman	....	special visual effects (as A.J. Lohman)

Stunts
William H. Burton	....	stunts (uncredited)
Gary Combs	....	stunts (uncredited)
Jerry Gatlin	....	stunts (uncredited)
Bill Hart	....	stunts (uncredited)
Whitey Hughes	....	stunts (uncredited)
Harrold Laswell	....	stunts (uncredited)
Walter Scott	....	stunts (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Herbert Smith	....	camera operator
Gabriel Torres	....	director of photography: second unit (as Gabriel Torres G.)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Michael Butler	....	wardrobe

Music Department
Daniel Allan Carlin	....	music editor (as Dan Carlin)
Dan Carlin Sr.	....	music editor (as Dan Carlin)
Dan Wallin	....	scoring mixer (uncredited)

Other crew
Katherine Haber	....	production staff (uncredited)
'Chema' Hernandez	....	head wrangler (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Distributors

• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (1973) (USA) (theatrical)
• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (1973) (West Germany) (theatrical)
• CBS Television (1975) (USA) (TV) (original airing)
• MGM/UA Home Entertainment (1989) (USA) (VHS)
• Warner Bros. Finland (2006) (Finland) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (2006) (Germany) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (2006) (USA) (DVD) (special edition)
• EuroVideo (19??) (West Germany) (VHS)
• MGM-EMI (1973) (UK) (theatrical)
• Neue Visionen Filmverleih (????) (Germany) (theatrical)

Other Companies

• Turner Entertainment  package design

Also Known As:

Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid (USA) (poster title)

MPAA:

Rated R for western violence and sexuality/nudity. (edited for re-rating; originally R)

Runtime:

106 min (Cut theatrical version) | 115 min (2005 DVD Special Edition) | 122 min (1988 restored version)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Metrocolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Singapore:M18 | Iceland:16 | Finland:K-16 (cut) (1987) (video release) | Finland:K-18 (uncut) | UK:X (original rating) | Netherlands:18 (original rating) | West Germany:16 | Australia:PG | Norway:18 | Sweden:15 | UK:18 | USA:R

Filming Locations:

Durango, Mexico

Company:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Trivia:

Rumors began to reach the studio that director Sam Peckinpah was unable to work due to his heavy drinking. So as a joke, a photo was taken which showed Peckinpah on a stretcher being fed whiskey through an IV bottle while cast members carried him.

Goofs:

Anachronisms: Though the film takes place in 1881, many of the characters use Winchester Model 1892 rifles which were not available until 1892.

Quotes:

Garrett: Why don't you take your money, shove it up your ass, and set fire to it?
Gov. Lew Wallace: Commendable notion, Sheriff.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Easy Riders, Raging Bulls: How the Sex, Drugs and Rock 'N' Roll Generation Saved Hollywood (2003)

One of the Best Westerns

Especially the director's cut, this is one of the finest Westerns ever made. Yes, Bob Dylan didn't make the best soundtrack (with the exception with the beginning music and the river music), and the studio version lacks quality, this is Sam Peckinpah at his finest since "The Wild Bunch". Peckinaph is one of my all time favorite directors because most of his movies are great, and this one is no different. James Coburn and Kris Kristofferson in the title roles are excellent, especially the always great Coburn (R.I.P.). What is also great is most of the Peckinpah regulars and recognizable Western characters making a great support cast, including Chill Wills, L.Q. Jones, R.G. Armstrong, Matt Clark, Slim Pickens, Katy Jurado, Jack Elam, Harry Dean Stanton, Emilio Fernandez, Richard Jaeckel, Barry Sullivan, Dub Taylor, Elisha Cook Jr., and John Beck. Even Peckinaph has a great cameo. Bob Dylan isn't the best actor, but his character plays an important part. He represents the story teller that passes down the legend of this story to all generations. This is a film that all Peckinpah and Western fans can't miss. It's a shame Sam never lived to make another Western like this.