Pat Garrett & Billy the Kid

(USA, 1973; original theatrical version, 106 min; 1988 Turner Preview version, 121 min; 2005 special edition, 114 min)

Now the sheriff of Lincoln and working for a cattle baron, Pat Garrett is obliged to chase his old friend Billy The Kid on charges of cattle rustling. Lyrical, unusual western whose history of production troubles has often hidden its poignant take on the end of the Wild West. The shooting and editing of the film was fraught with bitter battles between director Sam Peckinpah and MGM head James Aubrey; the theatrically released version was a compromise between the director’s vision and the studio’s demands. Later home video releases have attempted to reconstruct the film to Peckinpah’s original vision, first through a 1988 longer, 121m “preview version” corresponding to the director’s first cut submitted to MGM that became the only “official” version available, then in a 2005 114m “special edition” that attempts to present the film as Peckinpah would have cut it, had he had a longer editing time.

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer presents a Gordon Carroll/Sam Peckinpah production. Starring James Coburn, Kris Kristofferson, Bob Dylan; also starring Richard Jaeckel, Katy Jurado, Chill Wills, Barry Sullivan; and also starring Jason Robards. Directed by Sam Peckinpah; produced by Gordon Carroll; written by Rudolph Wurlitzer; music by Bob Dylan; director of photography, John Coquillon; art director, Ted Haworth; wardrobe, Michael Butler; film editors, Roger Spottiswoode, Garth Craven, Robert L. Wolfe, Richard Halsey, David Berlatsky, Tony de Zarraga.

Comments

Popular Posts