Pat Garrett & Billy the Kid

Pat Garrett & Billy the Kid

Year: 1973

Runtime: 122 min

Language: English

Director: Sam Peckinpah

BiographyDramaWestern

In the American West, Sheriff Pat Garrett faces a difficult decision when he’s tasked with bringing down the notorious outlaw Billy the Kid. Forced to pursue his former friend, Garrett grapples with divided loyalties as Billy proves elusive, utilizing his intelligence and finding unexpected support from a mysterious drifter and others sympathetic to his cause. The chase unfolds amidst the rugged landscape, testing the bonds of friendship and the meaning of justice.

Melancholic
Sad ending
Emotionally heavy
High intensity
Steady pacing
Moderate complexity

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Timeline & Setting – Pat Garrett & Billy the Kid (1973)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Pat Garrett & Billy the Kid (1973). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

1881-1909

The events span from 1881 to 1909, a period marked by the decline of the Wild West era and the rise of law enforcement. It was a time when outlaws like Billy the Kid became legends, embodying rebellion against an encroaching societal order. The tensions between those who sought justice and those who lived outside the law defined the turbulent landscape of this era.

Location

Las Cruces, New Mexico, Lincoln County, Old Fort Sumner

Las Cruces, New Mexico serves as the primary backdrop for the movie, embodying the rugged landscape and lawless spirit of the Wild West. The tensions of this small town reflect its role as a stage for legendary conflicts and infamous outlaws. Meanwhile, Lincoln County and Old Fort Sumner play crucial parts in the saga of Billy the Kid and Pat Garrett, showcasing the historical significance of these locales in the American frontier narrative.

🏜️ Desert 🌆 Town 🔫 Wild West

Last Updated: October 22, 2024 at 21:09

Main Characters – Pat Garrett & Billy the Kid (1973)

Meet the key characters of Pat Garrett & Billy the Kid (1973), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Billy the Kid (Kris Kristofferson)

Billy the Kid is portrayed as a charismatic yet reckless outlaw, whose carefree disposition masks a life of violence and survival. He embodies the rebellious spirit of the Wild West, driven by instinct and camaraderie. As he faces betrayal and relentless pursuit, his character reveals the complexities of freedom and the cost that comes with it.

🤠 Outlaw 🔫 Rebellious ⚡ Charismatic

Pat Garrett (James Coburn)

Pat Garrett serves as a complex figure torn between his duty as a lawman and his former friendship with Billy the Kid. His struggles highlight the moral dilemmas faced by those tasked with enforcing order in a chaotic world. As he transitions from friend to antagonist, Garrett’s character paints a tragic portrait of loyalty and vengeance.

👮 Lawman 🎩 Complex 🏇 Vengeful

Deputy Bob Olinger (R.G. Armstrong)

Deputy Bob Olinger represents the self-righteous enforcement of law, whose cruelty towards Billy escalates tensions to a breaking point. His unwavering stance and lack of empathy expose the darker sides of justice in the untamed frontier. Olinger's character ultimately becomes a casualty of the violent world he helps uphold.

👮‍♂️ Deputy ⚔️ Cruel 💢 Unyielding

Governor Lew Wallace (Jason Robards)

Governor Lew Wallace serves as a pivotal political figure seeking to mediate the violence between outlaws and lawmen. His character reflects the complexities of political power in a lawless environment, as he navigates the conflicting interests of the Santa Fe Ring and the need for order. Wallace’s influence showcases the intertwining of governance and violence in this turbulent time.

🏛️ Politician 📜 Mediator ⚖️ Ambiguous

Last Updated: October 22, 2024 at 21:09

Major Themes – Pat Garrett & Billy the Kid (1973)

Explore the central themes of Pat Garrett & Billy the Kid (1973), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

⚔️ Conflict

The movie explores the relentless conflict between law and lawlessness, embodied in the showdown between Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid. Their relationship oscillates between camaraderie and rivalry, resulting in tragic consequences that reflect the moral ambiguities of justice. This theme resonates deeply within the fabric of the Wild West narrative, illustrating the complexities of human relationships against a backdrop of violence.

💔 Betrayal

Betrayal is a central theme as characters navigate their loyalties and personal ethics amidst the violence of the frontier. Pat Garrett's transformation from friend to foe highlights the painful realities of choices driven by power and survival. The emotional toll of betrayal not only affects the central characters but also reverberates through the community they inhabit.

🌪️ Survival

The quest for survival takes precedence as Billy the Kid skillfully evades capture, showcasing his resilience and will to live free. In contrast, Pat Garrett's relentless pursuit illustrates the lengths individuals will go to secure their version of justice. This theme also reflects the broader struggle of those living on the edge of society, facing the harsh realities of their environment.

Last Updated: October 22, 2024 at 21:09

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Discover curated groups of movies connected by mood, themes, and story style. Browse collections built around emotion, atmosphere, and narrative focus to easily find films that match what you feel like watching right now.

Somber manhunt dramas like Pat Garrett & Billy the Kid

Stories where the hunter is tragically bound to the hunted.If you liked the grim pursuit and tragic friendship in Pat Garrett & Billy the Kid, explore more movies about fatalistic manhunts. These films feature similar stories of divided loyalties, the psychological cost of obsession, and bleak, emotionally heavy endings.

grimsomberfatalistictensebroodingdesolatelonely

Narrative Summary

The narrative follows a protagonist, often a lawman or soldier, tasked with hunting down a former friend or comrade. The journey is less about action and more about moral decay, as the hunter grapples with their duty and the fading memory of camaraderie, building inexorably toward a confrontation that feels both inevitable and hollow.

Why These Movies?

These films are grouped by their shared exploration of loyalty tested by duty, their melancholic and brooding tone, and their focus on the end of an era. They deliver a heavy emotional experience centered on betrayal and the high personal cost of justice.

Movies about the end of an era like Pat Garrett & Billy the Kid

Meditations on the violent closing of a wild chapter in history.For viewers who appreciated the elegiac tone of Pat Garrett & Billy the Kid, this thread collects films that mourn the end of a wild era. These similar movies capture a sense of loss, the death of mythic figures, and the bittersweet progress of civilization.

broodingelegiacdesolateoppressivesomberfatalisticmythic

Narrative Summary

These stories often follow the last holdouts of a disappearing world—outlaws, warriors, or pioneers—as they face their inevitable end. The plot is less about triumph and more about witnessing a sunset, emphasizing the melancholy beauty and violence of a time that cannot last.

Why These Movies?

This thread unites films through their shared, oppressive mood of inevitability and their thematic focus on legacy, death, and historical transition. They possess a steady, contemplative pacing that allows the audience to feel the weight of the changing times.

Unlock the Full Story of Pat Garrett & Billy the Kid

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Pat Garrett & Billy the Kid Summary

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Pat Garrett & Billy the Kid Summary

Pat Garrett & Billy the Kid Timeline

Track the full timeline of Pat Garrett & Billy the Kid with every major event arranged chronologically. Perfect for decoding non-linear storytelling, flashbacks, or parallel narratives with a clear scene-by-scene breakdown.

Pat Garrett & Billy the Kid Timeline

Pat Garrett & Billy the Kid Spoiler-Free Summary

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Pat Garrett & Billy the Kid Spoiler-Free Summary

More About Pat Garrett & Billy the Kid

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