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Encore's Western Channel just showed THE LEFT HANDED GUN (1958) today. Its stars Paul Newman and was directed by Arthur Penn. The story must be based on the actually stories of Billy the Kid because Sam Pekinpah's PAT GARRETT AND BILLY THE KID had pretty much the same story, but not exact. Pekinpah's film was bloodier than Penn's early version. Both were very good in their own way. Paul Newman in THE LEFT HANDED GUN is good as he did his best Marlon Brando style performance. Newman of coarse has his own screen presence. Only saw the second half of THE LEFT HANDED GUN and it's a quality production.

You really like westerns, don't you? How'd you get hooked on them? Has where you live, made a difference? I'm kinda curious. I never really gave them much serious interest other than knowing who is in what, and what happens.

Scottie

Well, without revealing to much about myself.  I've just found alot of films in this genre that I haven't seen. Most notable the speghetti western.

I have run out of Horror/Sci-Fi films to watch without buying or renting hard to find films over the internet. The Western has been the easiest genre to find new material to watch.

Film is a small part of a lifetime project that I'm working on. Its a quest or rather an investment of sorts and that's all I can say at this time. Thanks for asking ScottO.

Are you doing a crew psychological report?



of course---- just a moment-----just a moment--- I'm picking up a fault in the AE35 unit.

Hehe. I hope you at least credit the good people at this site in your work, especially Andrew for his work to create this monument to the lesser quality works of film.

Scott0

Yea, actually I have discoverd quite a few films that I have never heard of while browsing this messageboard. Sometimes I get off the topic of this site, but I just like the format Andrew is using. The messageboard is easy to post on and it has just enough traffic to keep it interesting and informative. I don't have the most insightful thoughts on film, but its the lasting impact of a film that interest me.

Enjoy your westerns, Scott. I enjoy them, too. I don't know how you developed your interest in them,  but, I developed my interest, because I grew up with them. If the reality show is the wave of today's TV, then the western was the wave of yesterday's TV, when I was growing up. Indeed, there were so many westerns on television, that there was a special Emmy just for the best western on television. And I can't think but yesterday's TV was better then today's TV.
As for "The Left Handed Gun," it is what is known as an existential western. Whether it is more or less an accurate portrayal of William (Billy the Kid) Bonney, I can't say, as.
there have been many films about the KId, some of which I have seen, and some I haven't, dating back to Tefft Johnson in "Billy the Kid" (1911) Some of the more notable ones being . . .
Jack Buetel "The Outlaw" (1943)
Chuck Courtney "Billy the Kid vs. Dracula" (1966)
Geoffrey Deuel "Chisum" (1970)
Emilio Estevez "Young Guns" (1988)
Kris Kristofferson "Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid" (1974)
Audie Murphy "The Kid from Texas" (1950)
Roy Rogers "Billy the Kid Returns" (1938)
Robert Taylor "Billy the Kd" (1941)
Donnie Wahlberg "Purgatory" (1999)
At ;least Murphy had the advantage of being more or less the same age as the real Billy the Kid. Plus like the real Billy, he was left handed.

BoyScoutKevin which of those films you listed do you think are the better movies about Billy the Kid?

Been wanting to see BILLY THE KID VS DRACULA. Bet its as poor as THEY SAVED HITLERS BRAIN.

I've got a copy of Billy the Kid vs. Dracula. I looooove it. John Carradine is so funny to see up close and looking a jagged as ever. Another "western" of the sort is Jesse James vs. Frankenstein's Daughters. Just as bad as Billy the Kid v. Dracula.

Scott0

I love western myths like Billy The kid, and I have tried to watch this one several times, but never could finished. Paul Newman's overacting here is too much for me. I haven't given up yet, though.

Yea, ScottO thats another one I've been hoping to see. BILLY THE KID VS FRANKENSTIENS DAUGHTER.  The only way to see those titles is to buy them.

Not for meeeeee!! My local store has all of these, and lots more. They don't integrate their westerns into the "action" or "drama" section of the store; they give westerns their own row (about 30 movies across and 4 rows tall). I tell you all, I live in luxury in renting unheard of movies. I really wish everyone here could see this place. It's amazing.

Scottie

Wow, sounds like a dream come true ScottO. Seems like I'm talking to myself on this thread. : )

Scott, I like "Chisum," if for no other reason then the cast. John Wayne, of course, and Forrest Tucker, Christopher George, Ben Johnson, Glenn Corbett, Andrew Prine, Bruce Cabot, Patric Knowles, Richard Jaeckel, Lynda Day George, John Agar, Ray Teal, Edward Faulkner, Hank Worden, Pedro Gonzales Gonzales, "Big John" Mitchum, brother of Robert and uncle of Chris, who also appears in the film, and Pedro Armendariz, Jr.
"Purgatory" is an interesting film. Sam Shepherd as Wild Bill Hickcock, Randy Quaid as Doc Holliday, J. D. Souther as Jesse James, and Eric Roberts. I always knew that God would look like R. G. Armstrong. There is more then one reason they called the town Purgatory.
Or, see it on television. I saw "Billy the Kid vs. Dracula" once on television.

Just a little useless info, Billy the Kid wasn't actually left-handed. The famous  
daguerreotype picture of him was published first as a mirror image, which is why the gun and holster are on his left side. Apparently, he was ambidextrous but primarily right handed.

This is totally unimportant trivia that only I find interesting but feel compelled to share anyway.

Hey Deej seen your picture and read your earlier post about going to the Middle East. Should be interesting. Well I haven't had a chance to watch any movies since Wedneday night due to the war in Iraq. Amazing, hopefully President Bush will continue his campaign that he promised just after 9/11. That anyone harboring or training terrorist will be dealt with. I'm not quoting exactly but I know I'm on the mark. Bush is a good President.

Deej thanks for the info on Billy the Kid. Strange how I've never heard of THE LEFT HANDED GUN till I rented it recently.

With all the news on TV I've had to hold back on my two recent rentals HOMBRE and CAPTAINS CORAGEOUS. Maybe when the news slows down.

BoyScoutKevin I've seen PURGATORY on the shelve and will put it on my list. Sounds like its worth viewing. Thanks.

Scott, I'd definitely go ahead with Captains Courageous! It's a pretty good flick. It's all about a spoiled little bastard who lerarns to grow up and be a man. With Spencer Tracy and Mickey Rooney in the cast, it's very similar to Boys Town(another good one).

Seen BOYS TOWN probably in the 70's. CAPTAINS COURAGEOUS is sitting on deck, along with HOMBRE. I'm going to have to pay for another 5 days as they have been sitting on the table since Tuesday.

Seen your website also Deej. What was your location during that photo?

The photo was taken outside of Brcko, Bosnia, near the Sava River on the border with Croatia. The Happiest Place on Earth!

 I very much enjoyed my year in Bosnia, and am trying wrangle another assignment there. I would especially like to live in Brcko again.

Deej what did you like most about Brcko, Bosnia? What made it interesting?

Brcko, while small, was just a pretty amazing place to live. The Town Centre had a variety of shops, bars, restaurants and hotels. I don't know anything about  architecture, but the buildings,those that weren't destroyed, sho is  purty. There was a great deal of fighting in the Brcko area during the war, so many of the houses are pocked with bullet holes, and many more were destroyed outright. But, the people have rebuilt nicely, and still seem to be in a building boom.

Most of the towns in Bosnia, are segregated along the lines of Bosnian(Muslim) and Serb. There is another town near Brcko called Brka that is completely Muslim. Brcko, however, is an integrated city with a population of Serbs, Muslims, and Croats. Unfortunately some of the sections of the town are still segregated, for instance the town centre seems to be pretty much Serbian.

All, and I mean ALL, of the people I met, were warm, humorous, and riotously fun to be with. The food is wonderful, mostly fried, but still kick ass. The best Cordon Bleau I ever had was in a restaurant called the Holiday Tavern in Brka, about 5 miles from Brcko.

Another attractive feature of living in Brcko, is it's close proximity to two different borders. This was not good during the war, but for purely tourist reasons, it's wonderful. Brcko is right on the border with Croatia, just seperated by the Sava, and only a few Km east of the border with Serbia(former Yugoslavia). Zagreb, the capital of Croatia is only about 2hrs drive to the north-west, and Belgrade only about 2hrs to the north-east. Both of these towns are capitols, so more accustomed to international visitors, both are large, and both are historic, so in my opinion, they make great spots to visit on vacation or leave, also they have airports which are more reliable than the one in Sarajevo. There was some bad feeling in Belgrade, because of the Nato bombings in the late 90's. Totally understandable, but still, I've never felt threatened there, or really anywhere else in the Balkans.

Of all of the places I've been stationed during military service and my current occupation, I'd have to say I was most impressed with Bosnia, and the Balkan region in general. I've even thought of retiring there, though hopefully that's many years away.

Okay, sorry Scott. I'm sure that was a much more long winded answer than you wanted. What can I say. one...I'm long winded.... two, I love the area. Thanks for your interest!

Sounds like great memories. If I had the time and money all I would do is travel. Well, when I find myself in Brcko I'll tell them you said "hello" Deej.  I bet you could get a good deal on a home there. What's the value of your average home in Brcko?

I rented my apartment for 300 KM(Bosnian convertable Marks)which is roughly $150.00 per month, It was a 2 bedroom near the town centre. The economy is still recovering from the war, the unemployment rate is 40-50%. Goods and services are incredibly inexpensive, and so a small amount of American cash, converted into KM or Euros will go a long way.I don't think the low prices are strictly an effect of the poor economy though that certainly is a factor. I was able buy a good car for about $750.00, and although I could take my meals free of charge on one of the US army bases in the area, it was far more enjoyable and very inexpensive to visit a local restaurant.  Even the larger cities in neighboring Croatia and Serbia are inexpensive to visit. I was able to spend an outstanding weekend in Belgrade, including lodging, food, and (much)drink, for about $200.00.

There is, of course, crime and corruption, but the criminals try very hard not to target Western Europeans and Americans, this is probably due to the presence of US, British, and French troops in the area, as well as the International Police Task Force. So, the Balkans are a fairly safe place to visit, no more dangerous than Italy or France. The only real short coming is ineffectual and corrupt police, they tend to stop and fine motorists with expensive cars, and the border guards usually expect a gratuity. I found that a DOD and UN badge resolved the situation, but a tourist might want to bring a little extra cash. Only a little extra, they're corrupt, but not greedy.

PS. If you do visit, the only place to find Guinness is at the Three Carrots, an "Irish" pub in Belgrade.

How much can you buy a home or apartmetn building?