The title of "I Shot Billy the Kid" pretty much says it all. Told from the perspective of Sheriff Pat Garrett (Robert Lowery) in flashback, the film covers the last three years of Billy the Kid's (Don Barry) life. It's billed as a "Don Barry Production".
It starts out with a shootout from the Lincoln County Wars between the Murphys and the McSweens. Billy escapes to New Mexico and begins a series of robberies and killings. One day he saves Garrett from an Indian attack and the two become friends. After he becomes sheriff, Garrett tries fruitlessly to get Billy to reform even to the point of having him meet with Governor Lew Wallace (Claude Stroud) to seek amnesty.
When the governor's amnesty is delayed, Billy feels he has been double crossed by Garrett and continues in his sinful ways. Faced with Billy's apparent unwillingness to reform, Garrett is forced to go after him and.........................................
If you have a feeling of deja vu when watching this film, join the club. Although this little 57 minute low budget actioner precedes both "Chisum" (1970) and Peckinpah's "Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid" (1973) by some 20 years, you'll see elements of both films in this one. The Lincoln County wars were the subject of "Chisum" and the pursuit and killing of Billy are covered in the the Peckinpah film in much the same way they are presented here (minus the budget).
The characters of Vicenti (Wally Vernon), Billy's love, Francesca (Wendy Lee)and the taunting deputy, Bob Ollinger (John Merton) are all similar to those in the Peckinpah film. Could it be that Peckinpah borrowed some of his ideas from this little programmer? Nah.
Tom Neal has a small role as Billy's pal Charley Bowdrey and has really nothing to do. Barry, as were most of the actors who played the role, was really too old to play Billy who was in his late teens/early twenties when this story takes place. Nevertheless, Barry does OK even though he was almost 20 years too old to play the part. I always preferred him more as the villain rather than the hero. Once again there are endless running shots of various characters riding along the road to somewhere or other as was the case in many of these films.
Interesting in view of its similarity to the later films.
It starts out with a shootout from the Lincoln County Wars between the Murphys and the McSweens. Billy escapes to New Mexico and begins a series of robberies and killings. One day he saves Garrett from an Indian attack and the two become friends. After he becomes sheriff, Garrett tries fruitlessly to get Billy to reform even to the point of having him meet with Governor Lew Wallace (Claude Stroud) to seek amnesty.
When the governor's amnesty is delayed, Billy feels he has been double crossed by Garrett and continues in his sinful ways. Faced with Billy's apparent unwillingness to reform, Garrett is forced to go after him and.........................................
If you have a feeling of deja vu when watching this film, join the club. Although this little 57 minute low budget actioner precedes both "Chisum" (1970) and Peckinpah's "Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid" (1973) by some 20 years, you'll see elements of both films in this one. The Lincoln County wars were the subject of "Chisum" and the pursuit and killing of Billy are covered in the the Peckinpah film in much the same way they are presented here (minus the budget).
The characters of Vicenti (Wally Vernon), Billy's love, Francesca (Wendy Lee)and the taunting deputy, Bob Ollinger (John Merton) are all similar to those in the Peckinpah film. Could it be that Peckinpah borrowed some of his ideas from this little programmer? Nah.
Tom Neal has a small role as Billy's pal Charley Bowdrey and has really nothing to do. Barry, as were most of the actors who played the role, was really too old to play Billy who was in his late teens/early twenties when this story takes place. Nevertheless, Barry does OK even though he was almost 20 years too old to play the part. I always preferred him more as the villain rather than the hero. Once again there are endless running shots of various characters riding along the road to somewhere or other as was the case in many of these films.
Interesting in view of its similarity to the later films.
