Billy Two Hats (1974)

After a bank robbery, runaway Scottish outlaw Arch Deans and his young half breed Kiowa partner Billy Two Hats develop a father-son relationship but Sheriff Henry Gifford is determined to capture or kill them.

Director:

Ted Kotcheff

Writer:

Alan Sharp

Stars:

Gregory Peck, Desi Arnaz Jr., Jack Warden

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Gregory Peck	...	Arch Deans
Desi Arnaz Jr.	...	Billy Two Hats
Jack Warden	...	Sheriff Henry Gifford
David Huddleston	...	Copeland, Saloon Owner
Sian Barbara Allen	...	Esther Spencer
John Pearce	...	Spencer
Dawn Little Sky	...	Copeland's Squaw
Vincent St. Cyr	...	Indian Leader (as W. Vincent St. Cyr)
Henry Medicine Hat	...	Indian
Zeev Berlinsky	...	Indian (as Zev Berlinsky)
Antony Scott	...	Indian

Storyline

When someone gets killed during a bank robbery by Deans, half-breed Billy Two Hats and their partner, the robbers flee. Sheriff Gifford tracks the robbers, killing one of them and capturing Billy. Deans escapes, but during a successful plot to free Billy from the Sheriff, Deans is shot, leaving him unable to walk or ride a horse. Billy, not wanting to abandon his friend, builds an Indian cot to drag Deans behind the horse. With the Sheriff hot on their trail, Deans and Billy try to stay one step ahead of the many obstacles which threaten their lives and freedom.

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Plot Keywords:

kiowa indian | rifle | san carlos reservation | san carlos arizona | san carlos reservation arizona | 

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Taglines:

Against the Law...Against the Odds...Against the Land Itself

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Genres:

Romance | Western

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Certificate:

PG

Did You Know?

Trivia

Contains a long scene with long-shot 'Buffalo Rifle', Sharps rifle and illustrates accuracy of it.

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Quotes

Sheriff Henry Gifford: Drink and tobacco. Can't beat 'em.

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Connections

Featured in A New Breed: Ted Kotcheff Remembers Billy Two Hats (2015)

User Reviews

Not bad for a western

This movie gets broadcast so often that I am surprised there are no other comments. All the performances are excellent, the typical plot of pursuit of the outlaws is well handled, and the racism theme that would probably not fly if the movie were made today is realistically dealt with.

The surprise is Desi Arnaz Jr. in one of his few roles. No great acting is required of him, but he does a very creditable job, and the already handsome young man is smashing in his dark Indian make-up.

Details

Country:

USA UK Israel

Language:

English

Release Date:

7 March 1974 (West Germany)

Also Known As:

Billy Two Hats

Filming Locations:

Parker, Arizona, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$1,100,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Algonquin

Technical Specs

Runtime:

99 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1