Left Handed Gun The (1958)

Arthur Penn directed (his first film) this disappointing Western biography of William Bonney aka Billy the Kid featuring Paul Newman in the title role. Originally a television play by Gore Vidal it was adapted by screenwriter Leslie Stevens. Newman and his James Dean-like method acting seems to the problem here the film bogs down significantly in the last 15 minutes showing little more than the actor grasping his head with both hands pursing his lips staring forlornly into oblivion or otherwise showing his anguish – the last of his partners-in-crime buddies had been gunned down and even though he’d escaped from prison after his death (by hanging) sentence had been handed down it seems there’s nothing more he wants to do besides return ‘home’ to be gunned down by a friend; Pat Garrett (John Dehner) does the honors when another whose wife (Lita Milan) he’d diddled hesitates. Hurd Hatfield plays a journalist that idolizes the illiterate outlaw and his bandit friends Charlie (James Congdon) and Tom (James Best) who’d initially set out to avenge the murder of their Englishman boss (Colin Keith-Johnson) by rival cattlemen and a corrupt Sheriff. Most will recognize Wally Brown as Deputy Moon and Denver Pyle as Ollinger two of several lawmen killed by the gang. The film’s story takes place primarily in New Mexico territory Lincoln and a (fictional border town?) Madeira. The fact that it’s subsequently been discovered that Bonney was right-handed seems oddly appropriate.

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