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Better Late Then Never

The biggest problem with this movie is it’s a little better than you think it might be, which somehow makes it worse. As in, it takes itself a bit too seriously, which makes most of the movie feel kind of dull.

Too bad the movie didn't have Hollywood bad boy Tom Neal playing Pat Garret. That way we could have had a face-off between two of the tougher actors in Tinsel Town. Barry, of course, could be as intense as a forest fire, if called upon. Here, however, he tries to display a charming affable side that undercuts needed tension. Unfortunately, Neal's apparently along for the ride with nothing much to do. However, he could do intense tough guys on screen as well as in real life (ask poor Franchot Tone). A showdown between them would have real potential. As it is, Robert Lowery's Garret is little other than a blandly handsome presence.The movie itself lacks drama, spending more time on riding aimlessly around Vasquez Rocks, just north of LA, instead of building up the plot. Then too, the climax, which should be a highlight, is staged more like an afterthought—was cheapjack Lippert running out of film. Anyway, this is one of the least of the many efforts at mining one of the West's biggest legends. Too bad.(In Passing— Besides being an eye-catcher, the exotically slanting Vasquez Rocks was popular in these budget westerns mainly because they're in LA County. Because of that, production companies don't have to pay extra location fees to cast and crew.)

The title of "I Shot Billy the Kid" pretty much says it all. Told from the perspective of Sheriff Pat Garrett (Robert Lowery) in flashback, the film covers the last three years of Billy the Kid's (Don Barry) life. It's billed as a "Don Barry Production".It starts out with a shootout from the Lincoln County Wars between the Murphys and the McSweens. Billy escapes to New Mexico and begins a series of robberies and killings. One day he saves Garrett from an Indian attack and the two become friends. After he becomes sheriff, Garrett tries fruitlessly to get Billy to reform even to the point of having him meet with Governor Lew Wallace (Claude Stroud) to seek amnesty.When the governor's amnesty is delayed, Billy feels he has been double crossed by Garrett and continues in his sinful ways. Faced with Billy's apparent unwillingness to reform, Garrett is forced to go after him and.........................................If you have a feeling of deja vu when watching this film, join the club. Although this little 57 minute low budget actioner precedes both "Chisum" (1970) and Peckinpah's "Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid" (1973) by some 20 years, you'll see elements of both films in this one. The Lincoln County wars were the subject of "Chisum" and the pursuit and killing of Billy are covered in the the Peckinpah film in much the same way they are presented here (minus the budget).The characters of Vicenti (Wally Vernon), Billy's love, Francesca (Wendy Lee)and the taunting deputy, Bob Ollinger (John Merton) are all similar to those in the Peckinpah film. Could it be that Peckinpah borrowed some of his ideas from this little programmer? Nah.Tom Neal has a small role as Billy's pal Charley Bowdrey and has really nothing to do. Barry, as were most of the actors who played the role, was really too old to play Billy who was in his late teens/early twenties when this story takes place. Nevertheless, Barry does OK even though he was almost 20 years too old to play the part. I always preferred him more as the villain rather than the hero. Once again there are endless running shots of various characters riding along the road to somewhere or other as was the case in many of these films.Interesting in view of its similarity to the later films.

Yes, I know. Low budget shoot 'em up. Don Barry more than twice as old as the Kid lived to be.My uncle was a Western fan back in the late forties/early fifties. We used to go movies on Friday nights, (Durango Kid, Red Ryder, Rocky Lane, etc). I was hooked for life. I love the old westerns. I remember when we first got a TV. There was a dinnertime western movie program called "Stagecoach Theater". (Johnny Mack Brown, Buster Crabbe, Bob Steele, Hoot Gibson, Tim McCoy, Tex Ritter, Buck Jones).I remember watching "I Shot Billy the Kid" with my father late one night. I have been trying to find a copy for years without success. Can anyone help?

Don (Barry) dons the role of the young rebel outlaw of the Southwest. Barry is probably twice the age that Billy ever lived to be...and history is played with fast and loose in this low budget quickie produced by theatre owner/producer Lippert. Plenty of action, and Barry's screen presence make this one acceptable viewing.