Young Billy Young (1969)

A peace-loving man named Ben Kane takes a job as deputy marshal of Lords, in the old West. Kane is no lawman, but he accepts the badge because he has an old score to settle with the town's ... See full summary »

Director:

Burt Kennedy

Writers:

Burt Kennedy (screenplay), Heck Allen (novel)

Stars:

Robert Mitchum, Angie Dickinson, Robert Walker Jr.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Robert Mitchum	...	Deputy Ben Kane
Angie Dickinson	...	Lily Beloit
Robert Walker Jr.	...	Billy Young (as Robert Walker)
David Carradine	...	Jesse Boone
Jack Kelly	...	John Behan
John Anderson	...	Boone
Paul Fix	...	Charlie
Willis Bouchey	...	Doc Cushman
Parley Baer	...	Bell
Robert Anderson	...	Gambler (as Bob Anderson)
Rodolfo Acosta	...	Mexican Officer
Deana Martin	...	Evvie

Storyline

A peace-loving man named Ben Kane takes a job as deputy marshal of Lords, in the old West. Kane is no lawman, but he accepts the badge because he has an old score to settle with the town's chief trouble-maker. Once on the job, Kane must also deal with a young sharpshooter named Billy Young and a sharp and sassy saloon dancer, Lily.

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Plot Keywords:

repeating rifle | quick draw | dance hall | shootout | pistol duel | 

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Taglines:

Billy better learn fast...or die young!

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Genres:

Romance | Western

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Certificate:

G

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

2 February 1970 (Norway)

Also Known As:

Der gnadenlose Rächer

Filming Locations:

Old Tucson - 201 S. Kinney Road, Tucson, Arizona, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Talbot-Youngstein

Technical Specs

Runtime:

89 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Goofs

When Jesse Boone (David Carradine) and Billy Young(Robert Walker) jump their horses off the flatbed train car, Billy is flogging his horse with his rifle barrel and you can see the rifle flex, it's obviously a rubber stage prop.

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Quotes

John Behan: How would you boys like to pick up a little extra spending money?
Jesse Boone: I figure as long as it ain't legal.

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Connections

Referenced in Kings of the Road (1976)

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Soundtracks

"Young Billy Young"
Music by Shelly Manne
Lyrics by Ernie Sheldon
Sung by Robert Mitchum

User Reviews

"Young Billy Young, has a lot to learn."

The title role of this western is played by Robert Walker, Jr. He's a young gun who with partner David Carradine gets separated after doing a contract hit on a Mexican general. In eluding their pursuers Carradine and Walker become separated. Walker comes upon the camp of lawman Robert Mitchum who takes a liking to Walker and makes him a protégé and reclamation project of sorts.

This is the first of two films Robert Mitchum did with writer/director Burt Kennedy. The second was the more humorous The Good Guys and the Bad Guys.

Not that Young Billy Young does not have its moments of hilarity. But it is a tripartite story involving the Walker reclamation, Mitchum's hunt for the bad who killed his son and a romantic triangle involving Mitchum, Angie Dickinson, and town boss Jack Kelly.

The film abounds with nepotism. David Carradine is John's son. Dean Martin's daughter Deana is in this, Walker is the son of Robert Walker and Jennifer Jones and Mitchum's son Chris plays Mitchum's son in some silent flashbacks.

Robert Mitchum got his start in westerns and always looks right at home in them. Angie Dickinson essentially repeats the role she had in Rio Bravo. Walker had a brief career playing rebellious youths and doing a good job at it. I've often wondered what happened to him. He looks hauntingly like his father. Maybe he didn't want to come to such a tragic early end like his father.

And it that wasn't enough, Mitchum fans get to hear old rumple eyes sing the title song at the beginning of the film.