Billy the Kid (1941)

In 1880 New Mexico, during a feud between cattle growers, former childhood friends Billy the Kid and Jim Sherwood end-up working for opposite sides.

Directors:

David Miller, Frank Borzage (uncredited)

Writers:

Gene Fowler (screenplay), Howard Emmett Rogers (story)

Stars:

Robert Taylor, Brian Donlevy, Ian Hunter

Nominated for 1 Oscar.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Robert Taylor	...	Billy Bonney
Brian Donlevy	...	Jim Sherwood
Ian Hunter	...	Eric Keating
Mary Howard	...	Edith Keating
Gene Lockhart	...	Dan Hickey
Lon Chaney Jr.	...	'Spike' Hudson
Henry O'Neill	...	Tim Ward
Guinn 'Big Boy' Williams	...	Ed Bronson (as Guinn Williams)
Cy Kendall	...	Cass McAndrews - Sheriff
Ted Adams	...	'Buz' Cobb
Frank Conlan	...	Judge Blake
Frank Puglia	...	Pedro Gonzales
Mitchell Lewis	...	Bart Hodges
Dick Curtis	...	Kirby Claxton
Grant Withers	...	Ed Shanahan

Storyline

Billy Bonney is a hot-headed gunslinger who narrowly skirts a life of crime by being befriended and hired by a peaceful rancher, Eric Keating. When Keating is killed, Billy seeks revenge on the men who killed him, even if it means opposing his friend, Marshal Jim Sherwood.

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Plot Keywords:

leather jacket | leather | jacket | billy the kid character | character name as title | 

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Taglines:

BULLETS...HIS ONLY LAW! REVENGE... HIS ONLY RULE! (original ad - all caps)

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Genres:

Biography | Drama | Western

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Certificate:

Passed

Did You Know?

Trivia

This MGM Movie had Swedish Censorship number 63.152, and the movie was banned from showing at Swedish cinemas. MGM cut off 106 meters, and tried again this time the Censor number was 63.243, the Censor board cut another five meters, and it was allowed to be shown to everyone over 15 y/o.

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Goofs

[All goofs for this title are spoilers.]

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Quotes

Billy: Yeah, I'll play along, Hickey. You just keep four aces in the deck.

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Connections

Version of Billy the Kid (1930)

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Soundtracks

Viva La Vida
Written by Ormond Ruthven (as Ormond B. Ruthven) and Albert Mannheimer
Played on guitar and Sung by Frank Puglia (uncredited) (dubbed by Mario Costa) (uncredited)
Reprised several times

User Reviews

Gorgeous outdoor photography but dull screenplay...

BILLY THE KID's outdoor photography of handsome exterior settings gives this western a rugged flavor and ROBERT TAYLOR makes an acceptable Billy the Kid. MGM obviously wanted to toughen his appearance on screen as one of filmdom's handsomest male stars and chose to cast him in this rugged role. Most of the time his tough expression ranges from petulant to suspicious and not much else, but this was before his acting took on more dimension in other sturdier western roles.

However, nobody in the cast can overcome the fact that the screenplay is rather routine. BRIAN DONLEVY is sturdy as the Marshall who grew up with Billy and MARY BRIAN is fine as the love interest. GENE LOCKHART is effective as a cowardly villain and others in the cast give the story some flavor despite a screenplay full of western clichés.

Nice to look at, but easily forgettable as a story of Billy the Kid.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

30 May 1941 (USA)

Also Known As:

Der letzte Bandit

Filming Locations:

Double U Guest Ranch - 8600 E. Rockcliff Road, Tucson, Arizona, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$1,411,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

94 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Sound System)

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1