Granted, this production is something of a mess, but not as bad as some reviewers would make you think. At the very least it is entertaining.
Apparently, a big selling point were the risqué sexual situations (suggested rather than shown), mainly between Jack Buetel and Jane Russell's characters. Also, the camera's emphasis on Russell's bust. It all seems much tamer from a modern perspective, but it was scandalous at the time. Also, I'm not at all a fan of looking for homoerotic subtext in every friendship between males, but in this case I won't blame you if you see some of that between Billy the Kid and Doc Holliday. Doc's unexpected friendship towards Billy, Pat Garrett acting like a jealous lover...
The music is also weird at times, too loud and aggressive, and then adding comical sound effects as if this were a comedy, which it isn't. Just weird.
Having said all that, the story is quite entertaining, with badass western heroes and nice exterior shots. It happily disregards history, but that's par for the course in these old westerns. I liked all the actors, even Jack Buetel, who is often criticized for having little range but who seemed to me well-casted as this version of Billy the Kid, with the required beauty, charisma and youth.
I wouldn't call this a good movie, but it's interesting and entertaining.
Apparently, a big selling point were the risqué sexual situations (suggested rather than shown), mainly between Jack Buetel and Jane Russell's characters. Also, the camera's emphasis on Russell's bust. It all seems much tamer from a modern perspective, but it was scandalous at the time. Also, I'm not at all a fan of looking for homoerotic subtext in every friendship between males, but in this case I won't blame you if you see some of that between Billy the Kid and Doc Holliday. Doc's unexpected friendship towards Billy, Pat Garrett acting like a jealous lover...
The music is also weird at times, too loud and aggressive, and then adding comical sound effects as if this were a comedy, which it isn't. Just weird.
Having said all that, the story is quite entertaining, with badass western heroes and nice exterior shots. It happily disregards history, but that's par for the course in these old westerns. I liked all the actors, even Jack Buetel, who is often criticized for having little range but who seemed to me well-casted as this version of Billy the Kid, with the required beauty, charisma and youth.
I wouldn't call this a good movie, but it's interesting and entertaining.