Wild Bill (1995)

Director:

Walter Hill

Writers (WGA):

Peter Dexter (book)
Thomas Babe (play)

Release Date:

1 December 1995 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Biography | Western

Tagline:

A legend never dies.

Plot:

Wild Bill Hickok, famed lawman and gunman of the Old West, is haunted by his past and his reputation...

Plot Keywords:

Opium | Calamity Jane | Sex On Table | Face Slap | 1870s

Cast

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

MPAA:

Rated R for wild West violence and a sex scene.

Runtime:

98 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Sioux | Cantonese

Color:

Black and White | Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS

Certification:

Argentina:13 | Canada:R (Ontario) | Iceland:16 | Australia:M | Finland:K-16 (video premiere) | Norway:15 (video premiere) | Portugal:M/12 (video premiere) | Spain:13 | USA:R | Germany:16 | UK:15 | Singapore:NC-16

Filming Locations:

Angeles National Forest, California, USA

Company:

United Artists

Trivia:

More than 30 years earlier, the part of Wild Bill Hickok was played by Jeff Bridges' father, Lloyd Bridges, in a 1964 episode of the television series _"The Great Adventure" (1963)_.

Goofs:

Continuity: In the scene where Calamity Jane is making an Eggnog in the milkshake machine for an opium hung-over Wild Bill, she is seen cranking the machine in opposite directions in the cuts back and forth between her and Bill.

Quotes:

[Jane surprises Bill by giving him a wet sloppy kiss]
Calamity Jane: Just for old times' sake.
[Bill wipes off his mouth]
Calamity Jane: You wipin' it off?
James Butler 'Wild Bill' Hickok: No. I'm rubbin' it in.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Last Man Standing (1996/I)

As Close To History As One Gets For 'Wild Bill' Hickok

Making a movie about a legend is a tricky situation; it is worse when the pages of history are filled with myth. There is no doubt that 'Wild Bill' Hickok was a lawman, gunman and Western legend. There is the problem. He was so famous that numerous sources sought to make their fortunes on stories embellished for sales. The most notable was the "dime novel." The makers of this movie did as good a job as anyone has it trying to tell the true story of this legend.

There are scenes not found in Bill's history, but they are historical for the time. The classic Western model is not in play. Indians, Chinese, black cowboys, ... etc are muti-dimensional characters. The added scenes flow the story and add depth. Even with numerous flash backs the story flows well.

Jeff Bridges as "James Butler 'Wild Bill' Hickok" and Ellen Barkin " as "Calamity Jane" do great jobs with the main characters. Bridges while in costume actually resembles the pictures of the real "Wild Bill." The romantic relationship between these Western notables and its development is well done. The interplay sets this movie apart from most Westerns, and adds appeal to those who might not be Western fans.

Two of the best pieces of acting are by actors with smaller parts in the film. Watch for Keith Carradine as "Buffalo Bill Cody" and John Hurt as "Charley Prince," Bill's friend and the character narrating the film.

James Gammon (I) does a good character role as "California Joe."

If you like Western history, this is a great film. If you want a classic Western flick and non-stop action, you may find it slow. For anything more accurate you'll need to go the library; to date, this is the best film on Hickok.