Johnny Mack Brown plays Billy the Kid in this version of the oft-told tale. Sharp-shooting Billy takes a job with a rancher named Tunston. Tunston is killed in a range war. Billy vows to kill all responsible.
This version features a surprisingly well-done assault on the Tunston ranch, where Billy and his friends hold out for days before making a desperate dash for safety from a flaming building.
It also features romance for Billy. Tunston is killed on his wedding day. His pretty fiance, Claire Randall (Kay Johnson) takes a liking to Billy. They wind up in love.
As for the other key characters, James Marcus plays Col. Donovan, who controls Lincoln County and steals from anyone who dares defy his authority. Bob Ballinger is his right-hand man — the one who continues the feud with Billy after Donovan’s death.
And Wallace Beery co-stars with Brown as Pat Garrett, the lawman in charge of bringing Billy to justice.
Review:
Those making the film went out of their way to make the film look realistic. It was shot in Lincoln County. Brown supposedly used William Bonney’s actual guns.
But those making the film also ignored history. In fact, the film opens with a written address from the governor of New Mexico, contending that Billy was justified in all he did. The film then goes on to portray him as a good-natured, avenging hero, determined to bring law and order to Lincoln County in his own way.
The film was the last prestige Western Brown made. It isn’t hard to see why. His is a one-note performance. He grins and swaggers through every scene — none more so than when fleeing from the aforementioned flaming building. He calming lights a cigarette from a falling beam, looks skyward, smiles and says ‘Thanks.’ Then he runs for safety, picking off bad guys along the way. He hops on his horse and rides away facing backwards, continuing to fire as he rides off. This is one of the many 1930s films that badly shows its age.
Directed by:
King Vidor
Cast:
Johnny Mack Brown … Billy the Kid
Wallace Beery … Pat Garrett
Kay Johnson … Claire Randall
Karl Dane … Swenson
Wyndham Standing … Jack Tunston
Russell Simpson … Angus McSween
Blanche Friderici … Mrs. McSween
Warner Richmond … Bob Ballinger
James Marcus … Col. Donovan
Roscoe Ates … Old Stuff
Chris-Pin Martin … Santiago
Nelson McDowell … Hatfield
Jack Carlyle … Dick Brewer
John Beck … Butterworth
Marguerita Padula … Nicky Whoosiz
Runtime: 93 min.
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