I was so disappointed in Billy The Kid. This is beyond a joke when you know the true history of the Kid, a psychotic killer who dressed like a tramp. Robert Taylor in a black designer outfit, and 9 years older than the real kid looks ridiculous. In another western playing a different character, he might have got away with it but this is an embarrassment. The dialogue is all very predictable as well, any western hack could have written it. For reasons known only to MGM, who Taylor stuck to like glue, Pat Garrett, who shot Billy dead, becomes an entirely different named deputy, played by Brian Donlevy in a very bland way. Donlevy has been so much better in other movies. There's absolutely no tension in the direction and a good opportunity has been missed. There are far too many back projection scenes which always ruin these action films. There's one shot of Taylor, Donlevy and another actor, filmed over back projection, riding their horses and they look like mechanical studio horses. A real hoot. Robert Taylor did go on to make some good westerns, one in particular I remember was The Law and Jake Wade but I suppose he had to start somewhere, shame it was in this turkey. There's a girl in this played by an actress I'd never heard of and who didn't make any more pictures, and she seems to be attracted to Billy, but I can't imagine why as he's sombre throughout and only smiles at her in one scene I recall. This probably put her off acting I should think as the relationship goes nowhere and the chemistry is zero. Two good performances are registered, the best two, by Ian Hunter as the land owner who gives Billy a break, and Gene Lockhart as the greedy land grabbing villain. The colour photography is the only other decent aspect.
Review of Billy the Kid
