Pat Garrett & Billy the Kid

The film takes us back to the year 1909, set against the dusty backdrop of Las Cruces, New Mexico—a time overshadowed by the untimely death of Pat Garrett, who is brutally ambushed by his own men, including the cunning John W. Poe.

Fast forward to 1881, we find William H. Bonney, famously known as Billy the Kid and portrayed by Kris Kristofferson, spending carefree days with his pals, indulging in the thrill of shooting chickens for fun. The calm is interrupted when history’s looming figure, Pat Garrett (played by James Coburn), arrives in town accompanied by Deputy Sheriff J. W. Bell (Matt Clark). While sharing drinks, Garrett reveals the community’s desire to see Billy exiled as he prepares to take on the role of Sheriff of Lincoln County.

Just six days later, as Garrett and his deputies besiege a farmhouse harboring Billy and his gang, chaos erupts in a fierce gunfight resulting in casualties on both sides, including Charlie Bowdre (Charles Martin Smith). Billy finds himself imprisoned, awaiting an execution for the death of Buckshot Roberts. Inside the Lincoln County Jail, he endures relentless torment from the self-righteous Deputy Bob Olinger (R.G. Armstrong), even as the gallows are constructed. Despite Garrett’s warnings to Olinger, tensions escalate until Billy seizes an opportunity—grabbing a hidden gun in the outhouse, he shoots Bell in the back and kills Olinger, quipping, >“Keep the change, Bob,” before making his escape.

Garrett, busy rallying his forces, meets with Governor Lew Wallace (Jason Robards), who introduces him to influential members of the Santa Fe Ring offering hefty rewards for capturing Billy. Garrett, refusing their upfront bribes, declares he will be successful as long as another cattle war does not ignite.

Meanwhile, Billy, taking refuge with his gang in Old Fort Sumner, faces three strangers gunning for him. With the unexpected assistance of a mysterious figure named Alias (Bob Dylan), who showcases his own lethal skills, Billy emerges victorious from the ambush.

Garrett teams up with the loyal Sheriff Colin Baker (Slim Pickens), but a confrontation with Billy’s old accomplices ends with tragic consequences—Baker is mortally wounded, leaving behind a grieving Katy Jurado as a distraught witness.

As the chase intensifies, Garrett and the glory-seeking John W. Poe head southwest to consult cattle baron John Chisum (Barry Sullivan). When information surfaces about Billy rustling cattle, he leaves for Mexico. A fortuitous meeting at the Horrell Trading Post spurs a showdown between Billy and Alamosa Bill, resulting in Billy claiming victory once again.

In a series of darker developments, Garrett, consumed by vengeance, corners Billy in a moment of intimacy with his girlfriend, leading to a fateful confrontation. Billy retrieves meat unaware that Garrett and his deputies lie in wait. In an eerily quiet standoff, Garrett makes the decisive move, shooting Billy and igniting a storm of emotions among the townfolk of Fort Sumner who come to mourn the notorious outlaw.

As Garrett rides out, the haunting image remains of a boy hurling stones at him, forever marking the end of an era defined by legend, betrayal, and gritty survival.

Last Updated: October 25, 2024 at 10:14