I Shot Billy the Kid (1950) Online
Another in the series of Don Barry starring films (who NEVER used Don 'Red' Barry as his billing except in his series of Republic westerns from 1940-44 and the serial "The Adventures of Red Ryder"), financed by Robert L. Lippert and produced by William Berke all as A Donald Barry Production in the late 40's and early 50's, this one pretty much follows the semi-inaccuracies and myths found in the vast majority of the films about Billy the Kid, while adding a narration - a trend found in many B-westerns of this period evidently under the mistaken impression it would add some class to the proceedings. It didn't. And having a 38-year-old actor play an outlaw who died when he was 21 gave Barry an opportunity to darken his hair to nearly black and pull out, what appears to be, the forelock hairpiece he used for the Red Ryder serial in 1940 to make him look more like the character as drawn by Fred Harman. It didn't make him look much like the real Billy the Kid, though.
Complete credited cast: | |||
Don 'Red' Barry | - | William H. Bonney - aka Billy the Kid (as Don Barry) | |
Robert Lowery | - | Sheriff Pat Garrett | |
Wally Vernon | - | Vicente | |
Tom Neal | - | Charley Bowdry | |
Wendie Lee | - | Francesca | |
Claude Stroud | - | Gen. Lew Wallace - New Mexico Governor | |
John Merton | - | Bob Ollinger - Deputy (as John Morton) | |
Henry Marco | - | Juan - Francesca's Brother | |
Bill Kennedy | - | Deputy John Poe | |
Archie Twitchell | - | Saloon Tough Slapped by Billy | |
Jack Perrin | - | Deputy Mack | |
Richard Farmer | - | Alec McSween | |
Felice Richmond | - | Mexican Girl | |
Jack Geddes | - | Sheriff Brady |
Although the film claims Billy killed 22 men and varying popular accounts put his death toll as high as 26, most historians believe the actual number to be between four and nine.
Although Billy was only 22 at the time of his death, star Donald Barry shows a growing paunch and looks every bit his 38 years. In reality, Billy was 21 when he was killed.
The infamous incident involving Billy the Kid and Joe Grant in the Fort Sumner saloon is portrayed differently here. Grant's misfire is generally believed to have been caused by his firing the traditionally cautionary empty chamber. Billy reacted by fatally shooting him in the chin. In this film Billy uses sleight of hand to remove the bullets from Grant's gun prior to his firing it, contemptuously giving him a backhanded slap across his mouth and chin after the misfire, and leaving the saloon without killing him.
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