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James Coburn, Kris Kristofferson, Bob Dylan, Rutanya Alda, R.G. Armstrong ... see more see more... , Luke Askew , John Beck , Richard Bright , Claudia Bryar , Elisha Cook Jr. , Rita Coolidge , Jack Dodson , Jack Elam , Gene Evans , Paul Fix , Richard Jaeckel , Jason Robards , Katy Jurado , Michael T. Mikler , Slim Pickens , Jorge Russek , Harry Dean Stanton , Barry Sullivan , Dub Taylor , Chill Wills , Rudolph Wurlitzer , Matt Clark , Emilio Fernandez , L.Q. Jones , Sam Peckinpah , Charles Martin Smith , Aurora Clavel , Don Levy , Donnie Fritts , Walter Kelley , John Davis Chandler , Pat Garrett & Billy the Kid , John Beck (II)

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 co... read more read more...mrade-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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17 critics

R, 1 hr. 46 min.

Directed by: Sam Peckinpah

Release Date: May 23, 1973

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DVD Release Date: January 10, 2006

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Stats: 490 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (490)

  • cosmo313
    March 29, 2012
    cosmo313
    Disclaimer: I saw the 1988 Turner Preview version of this film, which is 122 minutes long, and, unlike the compromised theatrical version, is supposedly the closest thing to Peckinpah's original intention for this film, which was a very troubled production.

    That being said, I'm ... read morestill very mixed on this film. I wanna say that I really enjoyed it, and that I do kinda recommend it, but at the same time, it's still a flawed film, even if this version is apparently better than the original. So, I have some hesitation fully recommending it, but still think that you might wanna at least try to give it a watch, since there are some good elements.

    The stroy here is a rendition of the classic story about legendary outlaw, and his relationship to his former friends turned enemy lawman Pat Garrett. It was Peckinpah's final western, and, like many westerns made in the 70s, it's very reflective of the time ot was made, and reeks of very melancholy and elegiac overtones.

    This is a lyrical and somewhat poetic film, and I like that there is a blend of action and character development, but the way it's done, it's like, damn, who knew that Peckinpah could actually be kinda boring? Boring shouldn't really be associated with Bloody Sam unless you also throw in the word "not".

    Yet, there it is. This film is pretty slow, and though it is only 122 minutes, it feels a lot longer. I find it odd that this version is apparently what Sam was really going for, but hey, I never knew him personally, so maybe I shouldn't judge him too harshly. I love the cinematography though, because it is excellent, and the washed out grainy look is very fitting, The film has a very notable and talented cast, but their performances, though not bad, are kinda underwhelming, and do leave something to be desired. Bob Dylan's score, likewise, though not terrible, is also not as epic as it could have been.

    When Andrew Dominik made his Jesse James film, which is very similar to this, I loved it. Maybe it's because I wasn't used to his work, and had nothing to compare it to, like I do with this one. Perhaps I shouldn't be doing that, but hey, I don't know what to say. There are some really great moments, but I think the film could have just told this eic tale in a less meandering and heady fashion.
  • fb1664868775
    October 28, 2011
    fb1664868775
    A good film though it has many flaws. When it's good, it's great.
  • flixsterman
    March 10, 2011
    flixsterman
    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.
  • pier007
    July 9, 2010
    pier007
    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.
  • ythelastman89
    July 5, 2010
    ythelastman89
    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 p... read moreowerful, 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.
  • kiriyamakazou
    February 7, 2009
    kiriyamakazou
    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 c... read morehases 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.
  • tsigur
    November 16, 2008
    tsigur
    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... read more is one of the best death scenes I have ever seen.
  • kenstachnik
    May 19, 2008
    kenstachnik
    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.
  • adammahler1
    June 21, 2007
    adammahler1
    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
  • garyX
    April 9, 2007
    garyX
    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 ... read moreappeal to his fans greatly.

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Critic Reviews

Douglas Pratt
February 23, 2006
Douglas Pratt, Hollywood Reporter

A richer, more rewarding experience.

Vincent Canby
May 9, 2005
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 b... Full Review

Roger Ebert
October 23, 2004
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. Full Review

Jeffrey M. Anderson
September 10, 2010
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. Full Review

Andrew L. Urban
August 9, 2008
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... Full Review

Clint Morris
April 19, 2008
Clint Morris, Moviehole

One of the best westerns of the 70s, if not all time. Full Review

Dennis Schwartz
April 4, 2008
Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews

Bitter take take on the mythical Old West. Full Review

Tim Brayton
December 3, 2007
Tim Brayton, Antagony & Ecstasy

One of the most bittersweet films of Peckinpah's career. Full Review

Tom Block
November 19, 2006
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. Full Review

August 30, 2006
TV Guide's Movie Guide

The film is visually stunning, and Peckinpah makes great use of his Durango, Mexico, locations. Full Review

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Pat Garrett & Billy the Kid Trivia

  • Movie that had Bob Dylan along with Kris Kristopherson that Dylan wrote and did the hit song Knocking on Heaven's Door and was directed by Sam Peckinpah?  Answer »
  • In which western film did Bob Dylan costar as well as write the musical score?  Answer »
  • Who had the role of Alias in Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid?  Answer »
  • Bob Dylan starred in and wrote the music for Sam Peckinpah's western Pat Garrett & Billy the Kid?  Answer »
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