GORE VIDAL'S BILLY THE KID

US, 1989, 96 minutes, Colour.
Val Kilmer, Wilford Brimley, Duncan Regehr, Albert Salmi, Michael Parks, Rene Auberjonois.
Directed by William A.Graham.

Gore Vidal's Billy the Kid is a telemovie written by the novelist and historian, giving a benign interpretation of the career and death of William Bonney.

There has been a long tradition of film interpretations of Billy the Kid - as legend, offbeat interpretations, ugly interpretations. They range from Robert Taylor in David Miller's Billy the Kid, Paul Newman in Arthur Penn's Left- Handed Gun, Michael J. Pollard in the debunking Dirty Little Billy, Pete Deuel in John Wayne's Chisum, Emilio Estevez as a psychotic in Young Guns. The story of Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid, which is taken up here, was also interpreted grimly by Sam, Peckinpah in Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid with Bob Dylan and Kris Kristofferson in the respective roles.

This film is a handsome looking picture of the west. Val Kilmer (Top Gun, Real Genius, Willow) is a boyish Billy; left on his own, a good shot, killing, as he says, only those who need to be killed. Pat Garrett is a reformed gunslinger who wants office under General Lew Wallace (Wilford Brimley) and pursues Billy in the name of the law. Duncan Regehr is Pat Garrett.

The film re-creates the familiar story of Billy the Kid, focuses on him and his youthfulness, his becoming a legend - as well as an administrator and a victim of justice in the west. Direction is by frequent telemovie director William A. Graham.

The legend of Billy the Kid, the range of versions and interpretations? Gore Vidal and his expertise in novel-writing, plays, screenplays and history of the United States?

2. The picture of the west, New Mexico, the country, the towns, the saloons, location photography, musical score?

3. Gore Vidal's interpretation, interest in the west, comparisons of Billy with other gunfighters, his stance in favour of Billy?

4. Val Kilmer's interpretation: young and boyish, cattle-rustling and branding, his reputation, the death of his parents, his betting from the age of 12, shooting, surviving? His group of young friends?

5. Tunstall and his support of the boys, his ranch? Dolan's hostility? Going unarmed and being shot dead? Billy seeing it, being able to prevent it, his revenge? The shooting of Sheriff Brady? The funeral, the cousin and his relationship with Tunstall, with Billy?

6. Billy and the law, the friendship with Pat Garrett, his wedding? Billy and the change, In the saloon with the gunslinger who wanted to bet about a dead man and Billy's killing him after removing the bullets? Maxwell? Going to the governor, agreeing to testify against Dolan, the courtroom sequences and the attack on Billy, the lawyer being bought by Dolan? The visit of Lew Wallace, Billy's attack on him, his fighting the war, and the differences between the Civil War and war in the west?

7. His escape (the governor allowing him)? Going to the family, his girlfriend, the intimate sequences between them? Pat Garrett and his decision to chase? The fights and skirmishes, Tommy being killed? With Charlie? Billy being taken, the gun in the lavatory put there by the girl? His flight, in the bar, the discussion with Tunstall's cousin, Tunstall's cousin giving him the information, Pat Garrett shooting him?

8. The west, the origins of the west, lawlessness and justice, killing? Billy and others victims or not?

9. Portrait of Pat Garrett, his past, the bond with Billy, talking with him, the wedding, taking office, the deals with the governor, settling down, the relentless pursuit of Billy, the skirmishes, taking him, killing him?

10. The governor, his experience in the Civil War, the author of Ben Hur? Dolan and his power, buying people, henchmen? The governor against Dolan, talking to Billy, persuading him to testify, the failure and the condemn¬ation of Billy, Billy telling him off, his urging Pat Garrett to pursue him?

11. Tunstall's cousin, poor, drinking, admiring Billy, his flowery speaking style, the ultimate betrayal?

12. Billy and his friends, their youthfulness, deaths?

13. Dolan, his power, Sheriff Brady, buying the lawyer?

14. A picture of the 19th century West? And one of its most famous legends?