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) (as Pete Dexter), Thomas Babe (play)

Stars:

Jeff Bridges, Ellen Barkin, John Hurt

3 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Jeff Bridges	...	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

Maverick Writer and Director Walter Hill's version of the famous Wild Bill Hickok legend is a dreamscape western that is told entirely in flashback. Hickok's friend Charley Prince (Sir John Hurt) narrates the events of Wild Bill's life while sitting at Bill's graveside. Hickok is played by Jeff Bridges as a mean, high-spirited, but gallant outlaw. He wanders the West, adding to his reputation with some well-chosen gunfights, and he meets up with characters such as Calamity Jane (Ellen Barkin), who becomes his sidekick for a time. After becoming a legend, Hickok signs up for a stint with Buffalo Bill Cody's travelling variety show. Eventually, he falls in love with Susannah Moore (Diane Lane), and his love leads him to tragedy in the town of Deadwood, South Dakota.

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Plot Keywords:

black and white to color | two gun holster | gun holster | gun | holster | 

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Taglines:

Take a walk on the wild side.

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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

Did You Know?

Trivia

Jeff Bridges's father, Lloyd, played Wild Bill Hickok in a 1964 episode of The Great Adventure (1963).

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Goofs

The whole sequence with the hired gunmen is fiction. Jack McCall worked alone. His reason for killing Wild Bill is disputed but it was thought to be either being embarrassed by Will Bill paying for his breakfast that morning or being paid to do it by gamblers frightened that Wild Bill might become Deadwood's sheriff.

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Quotes

[Wild Bill and Calamity Jane are interrupted by Jack McCall during a romantic moment]
James Butler 'Wild Bill' Hickok: You inconsiderate bastard.

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Connections

Featured in At the Movies: White Man's Burden/Last Summer in the Hamptons/Wild Bill/The Journey of August King/Things to Do in Denver When You're Dead (1995)

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Soundtracks

Beautiful Dreamer
(uncredited)
Music by Stephen Foster

User Reviews

Better than average western, with some very nice touches.

I wasn't expecting much from this one, but Walter Hill's direction credit during the opening title sequence sucked me in - and I was glad it did.

A very capable cast and an interesting cinematic style gave this film a unique flavor, although some of the characters bordered on unbelievable at times.

Loved the interaction between Wild Bill and Calamity Jane on the saloon table, although the conversation seemed too modern for the late 1800s. But overall, the film was a great way to spend a Sunday afternoon, especially when compared with some of the lesser films available at the time.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English Sioux Cantonese

Release Date:

1 December 1995 (USA)

Also Known As:

Wild Bill

Filming Locations:

Santa Clarita, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$30,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$987,515, 3 December 1995

Gross USA:

$2,193,982

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$2,193,982

Company Credits

Production Co:

The Zanuck Company, United Artists

Technical Specs

Runtime:

98 min

Sound Mix:

DTS

Color:

Color Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1