The Outlaw (1943)

User Rating:

5.6/10   

Director:

Howard Hughes

Writer:

Jules Furthman (screenplay)

Release Date:

13 June 1948 (France)

Genre:

Drama | Western | Romance

Tagline:

How'd you like to tussle with Russell??

Plot:

Newly appointed sheriff Pat Garrett is pleased when his old friend Doc Holliday arrives in Lincoln, New Mexico on the stage...

Plot Keywords:

Billy The Kid | Sheriff | Doc Holliday | Horse | New Mexico

Cast

Jack Buetel	...	Billy the Kid (as Jack Beutel)
Jane Russell	...	Rio McDonald
Thomas Mitchell	...	Pat Garrett
Walter Huston	...	Doc Holliday
Mimi Aguglia	...	Guadalupe
Joe Sawyer	...	Charley
Gene Rizzi	...	Stranger

Runtime:

116 min | Portugal:103 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Spanish

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Iceland:L | Canada:PG (Ontario) | West Germany:12 (nf) | Finland:K-18 (DVD rating: 2008) | Norway:16 (1950) | Argentina:13 | Australia:G | Finland:(Banned) (1950) | Sweden:(Banned) (1943-1964) | Sweden:15 | UK:U | USA:Approved (PCA #7440)

Filming Locations:

General Service Studios - 1040 N. Las Palmas, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Howard Hughes Productions

Trivia:

Debut of Jane Russell.

Goofs:

Continuity: Doc Hollyday changes position several times between shots during his first conversation with Billy the Kid.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Townsman: Doc Holliday just got off the stagecoach! Do you want me and some of the boys to come along with you?
Pat Garrett: Why do ask that?
Townsman: Well, I certainly wouldn't want to fool around with him if I were alone.
Pat Garrett: I don't blame you, but I ain't gonna make no trouble for Doc Holliday. He's my best friend!

Movie Connections:

Featured in Nuovo cinema Paradiso (1988)

Soundtrack:

Gwine to Rune All Night

Take Out Jane Russell And You're Left With A Crap Movie

OMG has there been a movie icon hotter than Jane Russell in THE OUTLAW ? I don't think so either . Her smouldering sexuality is the yardstick in which to judge all woman on Earth and the likes of Monroe are second best when compared to this definitive sex goddess . And to think some people describe the likes of Jay-Lo or Abi Titmuss as the most beautiful woman who has ever lived

Unfortunately Ms Russell is the only thing THE OUTLAW is remembered for , which is by no means a bad thing since this is an absolutely terrible movie . From the opening scene featuring a sheriff who gives a performance that resembles a circus clown giving a portrayal of a homo-erotic wet dream to the final credits this movie is an ordeal to sit through . It's badly directed with tons of very poor acting and ridiculous back projection and is so factually incorrect as to be laughable . Did I say it was laughable ? Maybe that's why the musical score has a comedy soundtrack complete with a WAH WAH WAH WAH sound that belongs in a three stooges feature ?

I would have happily given THE OUTLAW one out of ten but because of the presence of Russell we're treated to something of a movie landmark - We're treated to on screen sex . Billy The Kid ravishes Rio Mcdonald in a hay loft 30 years before Clint Eastwood did an identical scene in HIGH PLAINS DRIFTER and in a later scene Rio asks Billy if he'll look at her while he does it , and the audience is left in no doubt what " It " is . Boy this must have caused people to drop dead in their seats on its initial release .

Despite the controversy it's still an awful movie though