The film starts 11 July 1879 in Lincoln County, New Mexico Territory. A group of men who work for Major Harper, led by gunslinger Minniger, attempt to arrest rancher Alexander Kain and his English partner Jameson. They are stopped by William Bonney, aka Billy the Kid, who shoots and injures them.
Jameson offers Billy a job as a ranch hand. A drunken group of Harper's men attack the ranch and kill Jameson. Billy goes on a killing rampage, encouraged by the manipulative Kain, who publicly decries Billy's efforts. Governor Lew Wallace offers Billy a pardon which he turns down. Pat Garrett is sent to catch Billy.
There's been a few actors who played Billy the kid before the release of this Universal western and a few after, but not many of them look like a "kid" (certainly not Robert Taylor), but Audie Murphy looks like a kid- he actually comes across as a juvenile delinquent, a troubled young man. For a man green behind the ears - acting wise- he does remarkably well, balancing the innocence and the deadliness quite well. His fast gun skills is really in display here - Hugh O'Brian who boasted he was a fast gun had challenged Audie to a draw, and Audie would only comply if they use real bullets! Needless to say, Hugh backed off.)
I am not a big fan of Billy the kid westerns, but this, for me, is a definitive one - it's fast-paced, has plenty of gunplay and an absorbing plot.
Jameson offers Billy a job as a ranch hand. A drunken group of Harper's men attack the ranch and kill Jameson. Billy goes on a killing rampage, encouraged by the manipulative Kain, who publicly decries Billy's efforts. Governor Lew Wallace offers Billy a pardon which he turns down. Pat Garrett is sent to catch Billy.
There's been a few actors who played Billy the kid before the release of this Universal western and a few after, but not many of them look like a "kid" (certainly not Robert Taylor), but Audie Murphy looks like a kid- he actually comes across as a juvenile delinquent, a troubled young man. For a man green behind the ears - acting wise- he does remarkably well, balancing the innocence and the deadliness quite well. His fast gun skills is really in display here - Hugh O'Brian who boasted he was a fast gun had challenged Audie to a draw, and Audie would only comply if they use real bullets! Needless to say, Hugh backed off.)
I am not a big fan of Billy the kid westerns, but this, for me, is a definitive one - it's fast-paced, has plenty of gunplay and an absorbing plot.