Pat Garrett is tired of living by the gun, tired of his reputation as a lawful killer.
So he has left New Mexico and is California bound, with a planned stop-over in Abilene to marry his longtime love Lorna Pardee (Karin Booth).
But a friend of Billy the Kid’s tries to ambush him on his way into town. Lorna’s brother is wounded.
Next thing you know, the Cassidy gang sends five top guns to Abilene to dispatch of Garrett, fearing he’ll muddle up a big train holdup they’re planning with a cash prize of $500,000.
Two of the men wind up dead; the Sundance Kid winds up in jail.
And Garrett finds himself joining forces with Wyatt Earp (Buster Crabbe), Buffalo Bill (Malcolm Atterbury) and Bat Masterson (Gregory Walcott) in joining forces to bring down The Wild Bunch.
As for that wedding — well, it will have to be postponed, perhaps permanently if Cassidy and his friends have their way.
George Montgomery as Pat Garrett, determined to bring the outlaws to their knees in Badman’s Country (1958)
Buster Crabbe as Wyatt Earp and Gregory Walcott as Bat Masterson, arriving to help Pat Garrett deal with his outlaw problem in Badman’s Country (1958)
Review:
The film looks very dated and could care less about throwing around the name of every famous outlaw and lawman the script writers could think of. Somehow, it winds up being more entertaining than it should be.
That’s thanks to a couple of twists. Once he learns of the Cassidy gang’s plans, Garrett sends a telegraph telling them the $500,000 they hoped to steal has already arrived in Abilene.
His intention: Lure the gang into town where they’ll be easily to capture by his all-star band of lawmen.
Of course, that doesn’t make the town leaders of Abilene too happy. Trying to avoid a massacre of townsfolks, they decide to set free the men in jail. That doesn’t work out too well either.
Karin Booth as Lorna Pardee, ready to settle down in California with Pat Garrett in Badman’s Country (1958)
Malcolm Atterbury as Buffalo Bill, injured by a buffalo but ready to help Pat Garrett any way he can in Badman’s Country (1958)
Directed by:
Fred Sears
Cast:
George Montgomery … Pat Garrett
Neville Brand … Butch Cassidy
Buster Crabbe … Wyatt Earp
Karin Booth … Lorna Pardee
Gregory Walcott … Bat Masteron
Malcolm Atterbury …. Buffalo Bill
Russell Johnson … Sundance Kid
Richard Devon … Harvey Logan
Morris Ankrum … Mayor Coleman
Dan Riss … Marshal McAfee
William Bryant … Roy Pardee
Runtime: 68 min.
Title song: “Badman’s Country” performed by The Mellowmen
Neville Brand as Butch Cassidy, leader of the outlaw gang planning something big in Badman’s Country (1958)
Richard Devon as Harvey Logan and Russell Johnson as the Sundance Kid, contemplating a big job in Badman’s Country (1958)
Memorable lines:
Roy Pardee, as Pat Garrett bemoans his reputation as a killer: “What did they expect you to do? Bring in Billy the Kid and some of those other killers in pink ribbon?”
Doc Pardee, to his wounded son: “How’d it happen?”
Roy Pardee: “It was an accident. That’s all.”
Doc Pardee: “Of course. I’ve always wondered which gets there first — the accident or Pat Garrett.”
Buffalo Bill: “Most times, I need advice, Lorna. This time, I’d like to give some. Pat Garrett’s lived with a badge so long, it’s like already having a wife.
Lorna Pardee: “I think I know that.”
Buffalo Bill: “If you wanna be happy, the three of your have to be happy — you, Pat and the badge.”
Buffalo Bill, during the final shootout in town: “I sure wish they were buffalo. You can’t make a rug out of an outlaw.”
Buffalo Bill: “Doc, they say where they’re goin’ on their honeymoon.”
Doc: “All I could get out of Lorna was the strangest remark. She said the three of them were going to be very happy.”
Buffalo Bill: “That’s right. Lorna, Pat, and the badge.”
George Montgomery as Pat Garrett, in a saloon shoot-out with Sundance and his men in Badman’s Country (1958)
Morris Ankrum as Mayor Coleman, making a point as Wyatt Earp (Buster Crabbe) looks on in Badman’s Country (1958)
Dan Riss (center) as Marshal McAfee, talking to Pat Garrett (George Montgomery) and Lorna (Karin Booth) about brewing trouble in Badman’s Country (1958)
George Montgomery as Pat Garrett, listening in on the outlaw’s plans while held captive in their lair in Badman’s Country (1958)
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