Pat Garrett & Billy the Kid (1973)

82% of critics liked it
(17 reviews)
81% of users liked it
(7,096 ratings)

A former friend betrays a legendary outlaw in Sam Peckinpah's final Western. Holed up in Fort Sumner with his gang between cattle rustlings, Billy the Kid (Kris Kristofferson) ignores the advice of comrade-turned-lawman Pat Garrett (James Coburn) to escape to Mexico, and he winds up in jail in… More A former friend betrays a legendary outlaw in Sam Peckinpah's final Western. Holed up in Fort Sumner with his gang between cattle rustlings, Billy the Kid (Kris Kristofferson) ignores the advice of comrade-turned-lawman Pat Garrett (James Coburn) to escape to Mexico, and he winds up in jail in Lincoln, New Mexico. After Billy theatrically escapes, inspiring enigmatic Lincoln resident Alias (Bob Dylan) to join him, the governor (Jason Robards Jr.) and cattle baron Chisum (Barry Sullivan) requisition Garrett to form a posse and hunt him down. Rather than flee to Mexico when he can, Billy heads back to Fort Sumner, meeting his final destiny at the hands of his friend Pat, who, two decades later, is forced to face the consequences of his own Faustian pact with progress. With a script by Rudolph Wurlitzer, Peckinpah uses the historical basis of Billy's death to eulogize the West dreamily yet violently as it is desecrated by corrupt capitalists. Both Pat and Billy know that their time is passing, as surely as Garrett's posse knows that they are participating in a legend. Using familiar Western players like Slim Pickens and Katy Jurado, Peckinpah underscores the West's existence as a media myth, and he even appears himself as a coffin maker. Just as the bloodletting of Peckinpah's earlier The Wild Bunch (1969) invoked the Vietnam War, the casting of Kristofferson and Dylan alluded to the chaotic late '60s/early '70s present; the counterculture has little place in a corporate future. Also like The Wild Bunch, Pat Garrett was truncated by its studio; the cuts did nothing to help its box office. Key scenes, particularly the framing story of Garrett's fate, have since been restored to the home-video version. In this director's cut, Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid stands as one of Peckinpah's most beautiful and complex films, killing the Western myth even as he salutes it. ~ Lucia Bozzola, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: R, 1 hr. 46 min.
Directed By: Sam Peckinpah
Written By: Rudy Wurlitzer
Genres: Western, Classics

In Theaters: May 23, 1973 Wide
On DVD: Jan 10, 2006
Studio: MGM Home Entertainment

Critic Reviews

Douglas Pratt, Hollywood Reporter
A richer, more rewarding experience.
Vincent Canby, New York Times
The mushy pretensions of Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid suggest either that [Peckinpah] has begun to take talk about his genius too seriously (it can happen to the best) or that he has fallen in with bad company.
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times
It's a movie that exists almost entirely on one note -- a low, melancholy one -- and achieves what I thought would have been impossible for him Peckinpah: he's boring.
Jeffrey M. Anderson, Combustible Celluloid
Regardless of length, this is one of Peckinpah's most deeply-felt films, a true meeting of two like souls.
Andrew L. Urban, Urban Cinefile
It's one of the great tragic true stories of the old wild West, the story of two outlaw friends ending up enemies as one turns over and becomes a lawman - expressly for the purpose of hunting down his friend.
Clint Morris, Moviehole
One of the best westerns of the 70s, if not all time.
Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
Bitter take take on the mythical Old West.
Tim Brayton, Antagony & Ecstasy
One of the most bittersweet films of Peckinpah's career.
Tom Block, culturevulture.net
...it could've %u2014 should've %u2014 been [Peckinpah's] third or fourth masterpiece (that depends on who's doing the counting), and the movie he'd been building towards his entire career.
, TV Guide's Movie Guide
The film is visually stunning, and Peckinpah makes great use of his Durango, Mexico, locations.

Read all 10 critic reviews

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

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Featured Audience Ratings

Graham J

A good film though it has many flaws. When it's good, it's great.
Randy T

Patented Peckinpah western with a dream cast that includes James Coburn, Kris Kristofferson, Bob Dylan, Chill Wills, Jason Robards, Rita Coolidge, Jack Elam, Slim Pickens and Bruce Dern.
Pierluigi P

A tale of honor, loneliness and betrayed friendship in Peckinpah's fashion. Bob Dylan's masterful and heart felt songs amplify the whole spectrum of this solemn and poetic farewell to a hero among criminals.
Conner R

Such a beautiful movie, Sam Peckinpah captured the freedom and youth that Billy the Kid Represents. Nothing before or since has managed to properly tell the story of the two characters. James Coburn and Kris Kristofferson are perfect and give performances that are so unique and… More
Such a beautiful movie, Sam Peckinpah captured the freedom and youth that Billy the Kid Represents. Nothing before or since has managed to properly tell the story of the two characters. James Coburn and Kris Kristofferson are perfect and give performances that are so unique and powerful, the movie is so effective in many ways due to their chemistry and effectiveness onscreen. The music by Bob Dylan also plays a huge part in the movie, the use of Knockin' On Heaven's Door in the shootout is just utter brilliance.
Luke B

A really fascinating portrayal of friendship in the old west. Or should that be new west as it has many contemporary (for the 70's) influences. It takes the story of the two titans of their time and creates a relatable story of betrayal. Garrett may be the "good guy" in… More
A really fascinating portrayal of friendship in the old west. Or should that be new west as it has many contemporary (for the 70's) influences. It takes the story of the two titans of their time and creates a relatable story of betrayal. Garrett may be the "good guy" in that he chases down criminals, but he does is for a bad man. Thus, his actions are tainted with the same brush that tars those he wishes to apprehend. The performances are so natural that the dialogue plays out like friendly chats. Dylan adds a curious performance and a wonderful set of songs and music. Finally Peckinpah's often brutal violence and action doesn't quite reach the levels of The Wild Bunch, but i never detracts from a very interesting and excellently made film.
Tim S

One of my favorite westerns of all time. This is Sam Peckinpah's masterpiece. The entire cast is great, especially Coburn and Kristoferson. The music fits and it's beautifully shot. The scene between Slim Pickens and his wife while Knockin on Heaven's Door plays in the… More
One of my favorite westerns of all time. This is Sam Peckinpah's masterpiece. The entire cast is great, especially Coburn and Kristoferson. The music fits and it's beautifully shot. The scene between Slim Pickens and his wife while Knockin on Heaven's Door plays in the background is one of the best death scenes I have ever seen.
Ken S

If you want to see one of the greatest pieces of editing in film history watch the opening of this film in it's Turner preview cut. Breathtaking.
Adam M

believes in a bleak, violent, unfair life where loyalty falls cheap and the coldest bastard survives; hypnotic but makes you alert and sympathetic to whatever is not contemptible about the characters
xGary X

This tale of two friends whose lives on opposing sides of the law collide is Peckinpah's grim eulogy for the death of the west, and an intelligent and thoughtful allegorical character study. Punctuated by extreme violence in his inimitable style, it's a quality western that… More
This tale of two friends whose lives on opposing sides of the law collide is Peckinpah's grim eulogy for the death of the west, and an intelligent and thoughtful allegorical character study. Punctuated by extreme violence in his inimitable style, it's a quality western that will appeal to his fans greatly.
Jeffrey M

An absolutely phenomenal western. Blows Peckinpah's The Wild Bunch out of the water. How could you not love a movie whose soundtrack is solely provided by Bob Dylan, who also stars in it? James Coburn is chilling, and Kris Kristofferson excels. The dark, lyrical atmosphere of the… More
An absolutely phenomenal western. Blows Peckinpah's The Wild Bunch out of the water. How could you not love a movie whose soundtrack is solely provided by Bob Dylan, who also stars in it? James Coburn is chilling, and Kris Kristofferson excels. The dark, lyrical atmosphere of the film is absolutely absorbing. There have been numerous takes on the Pat Garrett vs. Billy the Kid story, and this is certainly the finest. Deserves to be in the conversation among the top westerns of all time. Note: This applies to the 88' Turner version aka the Director's Cut, which by all accounts is the best version
William G

Bob Dylan sticks out in good Western from a genre great.
Jonny C

Great movie. Like The Wild Bunch director Sam Peckinpah gives you the difficult choice of which character's side to take. The performances from Coburn and Kristofferson are excellent, and they're complemented by Bob Dylan's wonderful soundtrack. Although it's… More
Great movie. Like The Wild Bunch director Sam Peckinpah gives you the difficult choice of which character's side to take. The performances from Coburn and Kristofferson are excellent, and they're complemented by Bob Dylan's wonderful soundtrack. Although it's filled with powerful scenes, I thought some of the editing was shocking. But it's still a great western, and a most see for fans of the genre.
MJS M

Slow, meandering, undeniably flawed? and yet, at its heart, I think there?s something truly profound going on at the center of his film. It?s a movie with no definitive cut, the theatrical cut was a butchery, the 1988 ?director?s cut? had more scenes but was sort of a mess, and the… More
Slow, meandering, undeniably flawed? and yet, at its heart, I think there?s something truly profound going on at the center of his film. It?s a movie with no definitive cut, the theatrical cut was a butchery, the 1988 ?director?s cut? had more scenes but was sort of a mess, and the new special edition does not have Peckinpah?s approval. Either way, there are scenes of true power in this film, a showdown in which both parties cheat, an altercation between Pat Garret and a man on a raft, and most famously a scene where Slim Pickens dies to the tune of Bob Dylan?s Knockin? on Heaven?s Door. I interpret the film as yet another elaborate allegory, this time about the end of the 60s counterculture.

Read all 13 featured audience ratings

Cast

            James Coburn as Pat Garrett

            Kris Kristofferson as Billy the Kid

            Bob Dylan as Alias

            Rutanya Alda as Ruthie Lee

            R.G. Armstrong as Deputy Ollinger

            Luke Askew as Eno

            John Beck as Poe

            Richard Bright as Holly

            Claudia Bryar as Mrs. Horrell

            Elisha Cook Jr. as Cody

            Rita Coolidge as Maria

            Jack Dodson as Howland

            Jack Elam as Alamosa Bill

            Gene Evans as Mr. Horrell

            Paul Fix as Maxwell

            Richard Jaeckel as Sheriff Kip McKinney

            Jason Robards as Governor Wallace

            Katy Jurado as Mrs. Baker

            Michael T. Mikler as Denver

            Slim Pickens as Sheriff Baker

            Jorge Russek as Silva

            Harry Dean Stanton as Luke

            Barry Sullivan as Chisum

            Dub Taylor as Josh

            Chill Wills as Lemuel

            Rudolph Wurlitzer as Tom O'Folliard

            Matt Clark as J.W. Bell

            Emilio Fernandez as Paco

            L.Q. Jones as Black Harris

            Sam Peckinpah as Will

            Charles Martin Smith as Bowdre

            Aurora Clavel as Ida Garrett

            Don Levy as Sackett

            Donnie Fritts as Beaver

            Walter Kelley as Rupert

            John Davis Chandler as Norris

            Pat Garrett & Billy the Kid
            
            John Beck (II)
            
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Pat Garrett & Billy the Kid (1973)

Critic Reviews

Featured Audience Ratings

Cast

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