Young Guns (1988)

A group of young gunmen, led by Billy the Kid, become deputies to avenge the murder of the rancher who became their benefactor. But when Billy takes their authority too far, they become the hunted.

Director:

Christopher Cain

Writer:

John Fusco

Stars:

Emilio Estevez, Kiefer Sutherland, Lou Diamond Phillips

1 win & 2 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Emilio Estevez	...	William H. Bonney
Kiefer Sutherland	...	Doc Scurlock
Lou Diamond Phillips	...	Chavez y Chavez
Charlie Sheen	...	Dick Brewer
Dermot Mulroney	...	Dirty Steve Stephens
Casey Siemaszko	...	Charley Bowdre
Terence Stamp	...	John Tunstall
Jack Palance	...	L. G. Murphy
Terry O'Quinn	...	Alex McSween
Sharon Thomas Cain	...	Susan McSween (as Sharon Thomas)
Geoffrey Blake	...	J. McCloskey
Alice Carter	...	Yen Sun
Brian Keith	...	Buckshot Roberts
Thomas Callaway	...	Texas Joe Grant (as Tom Callaway)
Patrick Wayne	...	Pat Garrett

Storyline

1878 in New Mexico: John Tunstall picks up young gun men from the road to have them work on his ranch, but also to teach them reading and to civilize them. However he's a thorn in the side of the rich rancher Murphy, as he's a competitor in selling cattle. One day he's shot by Murphy's men. Judge Wilson can't do anything, since Sheriff Brady is one of Murphy's men. But attorney Alex persuades him to constitute Tunstall's young friends to Deputies and give them warrants of arrest for the murderers. Instead of arresting them, William Bonney just shoots them down. Soon the 5 guys become famous and William gets the name "Billie the Kid" - but they're also chased by dozens of Murphy's men and the army. The people however honor him as fighter for justice.

---

Plot Keywords:

peyote | interracial romance | campfire | antihero | villain | 

---

Taglines:

Don't count the odds, count the bodies.

---

Genres:

Action | Western

---

Certificate:

R

Did You Know?

Trivia

Dialogue by Casey Siemaszko's character is sampled in the1994 hip-hop song "Regulate" by Warren G and Nate Dogg,. According to the DVD commentary, Siemaszko had no clue that that had happened, and had never heard of the song.

---

Goofs

The men in the cantina sing "When Irish Eyes Are Smiling," which was written 34 years after the events of the film took place. The composer of the music, Ernest R. Ball, was born the year of the same events.

---

Quotes

"Dirty Steve" Stephens: Damn good riding with you, Chavez.
Chavez: Many nights, my friend... Many nights I've put a blade to your throat while you were sleeping. Glad I never killed you, Steve. You're all right...

---

Connections

Referenced in Freddy's Nightmares: The Light at the End of the Tunnel (1989)

---

Soundtracks

Auld Lang Syne
(uncredited)
Written by Robert Burns
[Sung at New Year's Eve dance]

User Reviews

Regulators! Mount up!

"Young Guns" was not only a spectacular movie, it was also the source of the sampled lines in the mid-90's hit rap song "Regulators" by Warren G featuring Nate Dogg. The Regulators were a group of young men taken in by John Tunstall (Terence Stamp). He educated them and used them to protect his financial interests. When he was killed by L.G. Murphy's men, Billy the Kid (Emilio Estevez) sort of decided for all of the Regulators that they would avenge Tunstall.

Billy the Kid was fantastically fearless and not just a little bit crazy. Insurmountable odds and a rising bounty on his head didn't bother him one iota. In fact, it probably made him more fearless and crazy. He brought the movie to life and helped to give us the classic Western final gun battle.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

12 August 1988 (USA)

Also Known As:

Young Guns

Filming Locations:

Old Tucson - 201 S. Kinney Road, Tucson, Arizona, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$13,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$7,011,393, 14 August 1988

Gross USA:

$45,661,556

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$45,661,556

Company Credits

Production Co:

Morgan Creek Entertainment, Twentieth Century Fox

Technical Specs

Runtime:

107 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1