Billy the Kid (1930)

User Rating:

6.4/10   

Director:

King Vidor

Writers:

Walter Noble Burns (book)
Wanda Tuchock (continuity)

Release Date:

18 October 1930 (USA)

Genre:

History | Romance | Western

Tagline:

Cattle-thief, outlaw, 2-gun man, Don Juan - was this the youth who ruled the lawless west with a flame-tipped gun and iron courage?

Plot:

In this version of the Billy the Kid legend, Billy, after shooting down land baron William Donovan's henchmen for killing Billy's boss...

Plot Keywords:

Legend | Billy The Kid | Escape | Sheriff | Killing

Cast

Johnny Mack Brown	...	William H. 'Billy the Kid' Bonney (as John Mack Brown)
Wallace Beery	...	Deputy Sheriff Pat Garrett
Kay Johnson	...	Claire Randall
Karl Dane	...	Swenson
Wyndham Standing	...	John W. 'Jack' Tunston
Russell Simpson	...	Angus McSween
Blanche Friderici	...	Mrs. McSween (as Blanche Frederici)
Roscoe Ates	...	Old Stuff (as Rosco Ates)
Warner Richmond	...	Bob Ballinger (as Warner P. Richmond)
James A. Marcus	...	Colonel William P. Donovan (as James Marcus)
Nelson McDowell	...	Track Hatfield
Jack Carlyle	...	Mr. Dick Brewer
John Beck	...	Butterworth
Chris-Pin Martin	...	Don Esteban Santiago (as Chris Martin)
Marguerita Padula	...	Nicky 'Pinky' Whoosiz

Also Known As:

The Highwayman Rides (USA) (TV title)

Runtime:

98 min | USA:95 min (Turner library print)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.20 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Sound System)

Certification:

USA:Passed (National Board of Review)

Filming Locations:

Gallup, New Mexico, USA

Company:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Trivia:

The pistols carried by Johnny Mack Brown were the actual pistols that belonged to the real Billy the Kid. They were loaned to the studio for the picture by William S. Hart, who had them in his private collection.

Movie Connections:

Version of Billy the Kid's Gun Justice (1940)

Soundtrack:

Hi-Ho

this film has aged like a great wine.

If you look at this film as the story of Billy you will be disappointed because it will seem naive and unrealistic. But the greatness lies in everything else. The panoramic views of the covered wagons and the scenery of New Mexico where it was actually filmed. The town people, especially the women and how they cope with the Lincoln County war that was going on. The characters of Tunston and his partner McSween, good hearted men, against the cruel Donovan, who practically owns the town and reminds one of Judge Roy Bean. The scene where Gov. Lew Wallace shows up with the army to talk to Billy. Happy moments like when Billy is dancing. Wallace Beery is an interesting Pat Garret and Johnny McBrown has a good performance as Billy, whose's guns are the ones he used in the film. Movies have evolved technically throughout the years, but a western made in 1930 tells a story in a much better way then most films nowadays. When I saw this film the credits showed the name as "The Highwayman Rides", but I guess it was changed after.