The Left Handed Gun

5/7/19581h 42m

Theatrical Release (US)

~ I don't run. I don't hide. I go where I want. I do what I want. ~

Overview:

When a crooked sheriff murders his employer, William "Billy the Kid" Bonney decides to avenge the death by killing the man responsible, throwing the lives of everyone around him into turmoil, and endangering the General Amnesty set up by Governor Wallace to bring peace to the New Mexico Territory.

Director:

Arthur Penn

Status:

Released

Language:

English

Buget:

$700,000.00

Revenue:

$0.00

Key words:

revenge
cattleman
gun fight
pat garrett
corrupt sheriff
cowboys and outlaws

Cast

Paul Newman

~ as ~

Billy The Kid

Lita Milan

~ as ~

Celsa

John Dehner

~ as ~

Pat Garrett

Hurd Hatfield

~ as ~

Moultrie

James Congdon

~ as ~

Charlie Boudre

James Best

~ as ~

Tom Folliard

Colin Keith-Johnston

~ as ~

Tunstall

John Dierkes

~ as ~

McSween

Robert Anderson

~ as ~

Hill

Wally Brown

~ as ~

Deputy Moon

View full cast & crew

Reviews (1)

John Chard
Written 11 year(s) ago
7
The demythologised account of Billy The Kid.

Billy Bonney is taken in by kindly rancher John Tunstall, he starts to learn respect and education, but then Tunstall is cruelly murdered. Bonney having been robbed of the one man he respected, shows his darker side and vows to seek revenge on Tunstall's killers.

This was director Arthur Penn's debut feature film, and all the traits that were to mark his name in future pictures can be found in this very good, and troubling psychological western. Based upon a teleplay by Gore Vidal entitled The Death Of Billy The Kid, Penn ensures that any notions of William Bonney being a hero are well and truly vanquished with this damning portrayal of the legendary outlaw. That this point is rammed home is down to a quite wonderful performance from Paul Newman as Bonney, boyish ignorance and sadistic tendencies making odd bed fellows as Newman plays it weirdly perfect (the role had been earmarked for James Dean until his untimely death curtailed that happening). Backing Newman up is a fine performance from John Dehner as eventual nemesis of Bonney, Pat Garrett, showing nice touches of emotion from both sides of the coin. The rest of the cast do OK and nobody either harms or enhances the picture. This really is about its director and its leading man, both would go on to greater things, but this is a fine point of reference in their respective careers, a picture that both men can be rightly proud of. 7/10