Wild Bill (1995)

The early career of legendary lawman Wild Bill Hickock is telescoped and culminates in his relocation in Deadwood and a reunion with Calamity Jane.

Director:

Walter Hill

Writers:

Peter Dexter (book), Thomas Babe (play),

Stars:

Jeff Bridges, Ellen Barkin, John Hurt

1 win.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Jeff Bridges	...	James Butler 'Wild Bill' Hickok
Ellen Barkin	...	Calamity Jane
John Hurt	...	Charley Prince
Diane Lane	...	Susannah Moore
Keith Carradine	...	Buffalo Bill Cody
David Arquette	...	Jack McCall
Christina Applegate	...	Lurline Newcomb
Bruce Dern	...	Will Plummer
James Gammon	...	California Joe
Marjoe Gortner	...	Preacher
James Remar	...	Donnie Lonigan
Karen Huie	...	Song Lew
Steve Reevis	...	Sioux Chief
Robert Knott	...	Dave Tutt
Pato Hoffmann	...	Cheyenne Leader

Storyline

Wild Bill Hickok, famed lawman and gunman of the Old West, is haunted by his past and his reputation. He is loved by, but cannot love, Calamity Jane. Dogging his trail is young Jack McCall, who blames Bill for abandoning the boy's mother and destroying her life. McCall has sworn to kill Bill, and Bill's ghosts, his failing eyesight, and his fondness for opium may make McCall's task easier.

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Plot Keywords:

calamity jane | opium | funeral | split lip | deadwood south dakota | 

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Taglines:

The Name Is Legendary. The Man Is Real.

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Genres:

Action | Biography | Western

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for wild West violence and a sex scene

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English Sioux Cantonese

Release Date:

1 December 1995 (USA)

Also Known As:

Divlji Bil

Filming Locations:

Santa Clarita, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$30,000,000 (estimated)

Gross:

$2,167,808 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

United Artists, Zanuck Company, The

Technical Specs

Runtime:

98 min

Sound Mix:

DTS

Color:

Black and White Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Keith Carradine, who played Buffalo Bill Cody, took the part of Wild Bill Hickock on HBO's TV series Deadwood, the first episode of which (Deadwood: Deadwood)Walter Hill also directed.

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Goofs

Deadwood is in a gulch in the Black Hills and is surrounded by cliffs on both sides.

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Quotes

Carl Mann: What kind of whiskey do you favor?
James Butler 'Wild Bill' Hickok: Carl, I prefer it in a glass. Other than that, it's all good.

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Connections

Referenced in Last Man Standing (1996)

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Soundtracks

"Battle Hymn of the Republic"

User Reviews

Nice Movie but historically VERY inaccurate

Now I'm not going to go into a tirade how inaccurate the movie was historically, but you'd think with the cast they had paid damned good money to take part in the movie that they would have found a way to tell Wild Bill's story in a more factual yet exciting way that keeps the nuance of the Romantic Western Period in tact.

The gun fights were incredible, the props and backgrounds were amazing and the portrayal of the old Deadwood mining camp were simply Breath taking.

I personally enjoyed how the movie would weave in and out of Wild Bill's past through his opium induced dreams... the characters were very believable but the story just didn't add up to the facts that surrounded Wild Bill's death.

I would also take exception to the HBO series Deadwood concerning Wild Bill's death also, it's a shame that somebody in the movie business, ANYBODY, would come up with a more accurate portrayal of the man, his life and his untimely death.

With all that being said, it was a beautiful movie visually.