Gore Vidal’s Billy the Kid *** (1989, Val Kilmer, Duncan Regehr, Wilford Brimley, Julie Carmen, Michael Parks, René Auberjonois) – Classic Movie Review 11,884

Director William A Graham’s 1989 American Western television film Gore Vidal’s Billy the Kid [Billy the Kid] stars Val Kilmer as William Bonney, Duncan Regehr as Pat Garrett, Wilford Brimley, Julie Carmen, Michael Parks and René Auberjonois.

Val Kilmer gives an attractive, though downbeat portrayal of William Bonney in this revisionist look at the legendary gunslinger outlaw. In 1879, he is 19 and settling down to life as a cowhand on the ranch of the only father he had ever known – John Tunstall. After Tunstall’s death at the hands of a corrupt land baron, Bonney makes a solemn vow: ‘I’ll get every sonofabitch who helped kill John if it’s the last thing I do’ – words that signalled the start of the violent Lincoln County ranch war.

During the next two years Bonney takes of on a crime and murder spree across the old West and becomes the most notorious outlaw in Western folklore. His close friend Pat Garrett (played by Duncan Regehr) is elected Sheriff of Lincoln County and tries harder and harder to bring him to justice.

The intelligent script by Gore Vidal and thoughtful handling by William A Graham produce an upmarket, good-looking TV film that impresses without exciting greatly. The film is recognised as one of the most historically accurate Billy the Kid films, though that is not saying much as most of them have taken plenty of liberties with history.

It is a third bite at this cherry: Vidal’s script started as a 50s TV play, which was later was filmed as The Left Handed Gun in 1958 with Paul Newman as the Kid, though Vidal disapproved of that far superior version, feeling the studio had butchered the material and wanted a more accurate rendition. Vidal pops up in the cast uncredited as a Preacher.

The cast are Val Kilmer as Billy the Kid (William Bonney), Duncan Regehr as Pat Garrett, Wilford Brimley as Governor Lew Wallace, Julie Carmen as Celsa, Albert Salmi as Mr Maxwell, Ned Vaughn as Charlie, Ric San Nicholas as Bell, Gore Vidal as Preacher, René Auberjonois as Tunstall’s cousin, John O’Hurley as Dolan, Michael Parks as Rynerson, Burr Steers as Billy Henchman, Tiny Wells as Cowman, and Red West as Joe Grant.

At the time of the original teleplay and film, it was thought Billy was left handed. But this was based on a photo inadvertently flipped when printed, and the error was only discovered many years later.

Filming took place in Tucson, Arizona; Sonoran Desert; Sierrita Mountains; Sedona Arizona; Continental, Arizona; Cascabel, Arizona; White Mountains, Sabino Canyon; Mescal, Arizona; Redington, Arizona; Mt. Lemmon; and San Pedro River.

© Derek Winnert 2022 Classic Movie Review 11,884

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