Joe Kidd (1972)

Director:

John Sturges

Writer:

Elmore Leonard (written by)

Release Date:

14 July 1972 (USA)

Genre:

Western

Tagline:

If you're looking for trouble - - - he's JOE KIDD

Plot:

An ex-bounty hunter reluctantly helps a wealthy landowner and his henchmen track down a Mexican revolutionary leader.

Plot Keywords:

Mexican | Landowner | Land | Bounty Hunter | Horse

Cast

Clint Eastwood	...	Joe Kidd
Robert Duvall	...	Frank Harlan
John Saxon	...	Luis Chama
Don Stroud	...	Lamarr
Stella Garcia	...	Helen Sanchez
James Wainwright	...	Mingo
Paul Koslo	...	Roy
Gregory Walcott	...	Mitchell
Dick Van Patten	...	Hotel Manager
Lynne Marta	...	Elma
John Carter	...	Judge
Pepe Hern	...	Priest
Joaquín Martínez	...	Manolo (as Joaquin Martinez)
Ron Soble	...	Ramon
Pepe Callahan	...	Naco
Clint Ritchie	...	Calvin
Gil Barreto	...	Emilio
Ed Deemer	...	Bartender
Maria Val	...	Vita
Chuck Hayward	...	Eljay
Michael R. Horst	...	Deputy
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Rick Kahana	...	Altar Boy (uncredited)
Read Morgan	...	Cowboy (uncredited)
Steve Moriarty	...	Citizen (uncredited)

Directed by
John Sturges

Writing credits
Elmore Leonard		(written by)

Produced by
Sidney Beckerman	....	producer
Robert Daley	....	executive producer
Clint Eastwood	....	executive producer (uncredited)
Jennings Lang	....	executive producer (uncredited)

Original Music by
Lalo Schifrin

Cinematography by
Bruce Surtees		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Ferris Webster

Art Direction by
Henry Bumstead
Alexander Golitzen

Set Decoration by
Charles S. Thompson		(set decorations)

Production Management
Ernest B. Wehmeyer	....	unit production manager (as Ernest Wehmeyer)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
James Fargo	....	assistant director (as Jim Fargo)

Art Department
Ralph Horn	....	stagehand (uncredited)

Sound Department
James R. Alexander	....	sound
Waldon O. Watson	....	sound

Stunts
Buddy Van Horn	....	stunt coordinator
Steven Burnett	....	stunts (uncredited)
Tap Canutt	....	stunts (uncredited)
Running Deer	....	stunts (uncredited)
Mickey Gilbert	....	stunts (uncredited)
Chuck Hayward	....	stunts (uncredited)
Bob Herron	....	stunts (uncredited)
Kim Kahana	....	stunts (uncredited)
George Orrison	....	stunts (uncredited)
Walter Scott	....	stunts (uncredited)
Buddy Van Horn	....	stunt double (uncredited)
Autry Ward	....	stunts (uncredited)

Casting Department
Frank Kennedy	....	extras casting (uncredited)

Other crew
Chuck Queenan	....	unit publicist (uncredited)
Jack N. Young	....	location manager (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Universal Pictures (as A Universal Picture)
• Malpaso Company, The (as A Malpaso Company Production) (as A Universal-Malpaso Company Picture also)

Distributors

• Universal Pictures (1972) (USA) (theatrical)
• Cinema Internazional Corporation (1972) (West Germany) (theatrical)
• National Broadcasting Company (NBC) (1974) (USA) (TV) (pan/scan)
• MCA Home Video (1987) (USA) (VHS) (pan and scan)
• MCA/Universal Home Video (1991) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• Universal Home Entertainment (1998) (USA) (DVD)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2003) (Germany) (DVD) (DVD premiere)
• Universal Home Video (2003) (Brazil) (DVD)
• Universal Pictures Benelux (2003) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Universal Pictures Home Entertainment (2007) (Germany) (DVD) (DVD re-release)
• CIC Vídeo (19??) (Brazil) (VHS)

Other Companies

• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  camera cranes (uncredited)
• Cinematique  cosmetics by
• Forest Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture  locatiions through the cooperation of (as The Forest Service U S D A Inyo National Forest)
• Universal Title  titles & optical effects

Also Known As:

Runtime:

88 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Spanish

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Certification:

Australia:M | Finland:K-16 | Norway:15 | Norway:16 (1972) | Sweden:15 | USA:PG | UK:15 (video rating) (1987) (1993) (2003) | UK:AA (original rating) | Iceland:16 | Spain:13 | West Germany:16 (nf) | Germany:16 (DVD rating) | UK:15 (tv rating)

Filming Locations:

Alabama Hills, Lone Pine, California, USA

Company:

Universal Pictures

Trivia:

The custom Savage 99 that Frank Harlan carries is a left hand model.

Goofs:

Anachronisms: During the shootout, when we see the men on top of the buildings, we see the American flag in the background with fifty states. In Joe Kidd's time, there should have been forty-five states at most.

Quotes:

Luis Chama:I do not care what you to think. I keep you for cold nights and days when there's nothing to do. Not to hear you talk.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Major Movie Star (2008)

As memorable as a Hopalong Cassidy B-flick

Everything about "Joe Kidd" suggests quality of the highest order. Here you've got Clint Eastwood co-starring with Robert Duvall (in one of his first post-"Godfather" roles), to say nothing of an excellent supporting cast that includes John Saxon, in a western directed by John Sturges whose name I will always utter with reverence because he gave us "The Great Escape." And it's based on an Elmore Leonard novel. Prepare to be impressed.

"Joe Kidd" opens well with Clint Eastwood all duded up in the most splendid threads he ever wore in a movie. In no time at all, though, it all goes rapidly downhill, becoming as memorable as a Hopalong Cassidy B-flick. Everyone involved acknowledged it was a disappointment, but why? Patrick McGilligan's recent bio of Eastwood (which is close to a hatchet job) suggests Sturges had succumbed to alcohol by then and simply wasn't up to the job, but star and co-producer Eastwood, humble in the presence of a man who directed so many fine films, was reluctant to usurp the reins. The movie's inferior reputation may now be in its favor. Having read so many bad reviews of the film, Eastwood fans who haven't seen it yet may have such low expectations that it may seem better than it is. If so, enjoy.