THE OUTLAW
US, 1943, 126 minutes, Black and white.
Jack Beutel, Jane Russell, Thomas Mitchell, Walter Huston.
Directed by Howard Hughes.
The Outlaw is a very odd western about Doc Holliday, Billy the Kid and Pat Garrett. It is also notorious because it was held up by censorship questions for many years during World War Two - the focus being on Jane Russell and her cleavage.
The film was re-edited and released after World War Two. It is not a particularly good western. The screenplay was written by Jules Furthman, photographed by Gregg Toland, an expert in black and white photography, with a score by Victor Young (including steals from classics as well as his own score). It was produced and directed by Howard Hughes - with Jane Russell as his then protégé.
The film is very talkative, an emphasis on close-ups and discussions rather than action. Thomas Mitchell is an elderly Pat Garrett. Walter Huston is persuasive as Doc Holliday. Jane Russell smoulders as Rio and Jack Beutel is an ambiguous Billy the Kid.
The film is difficult to sit through - but is interesting for all kind of historical reasons as well as contributing to the legends about the West and its characters.
1. The impact of the film? Its quality as a western? Its presentation of the western legends? The controversy about the film - and about Jane Russell and her wardrobe? Should the film have been censored, banned for years?
2. Black and white photography, western locations? Howard Hughes's directing style - focus on conversations and close-ups? The musical score?
3. The title, the folklore about Pat Garrett, Doc Holliday and Billy the Kid?
4. The dramatic impact of the film with the conversations, themes, the West, law and order, outlaws, the law of the gun, horses? The importance of relationships? The triangle between the men and their affection for each other, the thwarting of affection? The place of Rio - on the outer?
5. The reputation of Doc Holliday? His arriving in Lincoln, New Mexico, friendship with Pat Garrett? Searching for his horse, the encounter with Billy? Admiration for him? Their talking, the threats to Billy in the bar? Doc taking sides, the clash with Pat Garrett? Going off, Billy's being wounded? Rio looking after him? Doc's return, the confrontation between the three? The challenge to the use of guns? Doc shooting Billy's hand and ears? The reconciliation between the two? Doc's death after the chase with the Indians? Pat Garrett's bitterness? The tomb - with Billy the Kid's name on it?
6. Billy the Kid, his reputation, taking Doc's horse, his honesty? Clash with Pat Garrett? The shoot-out in the bar by the gunfighter who wanted to get him? His being wounded? Being tended by Rio - after her attempt on him because of her brother's death? In love with Rio, the marriage? Doc taking this? Their going off, Billy tying up Rio, tricking Doc and Garrett? The final confrontation, his being shot at? Friendship with Doc, clash with Garrett? Tying Garrett up and going off?
7. Pat Garrett, his reputation, Doc's surprise at his being the sheriff? Wanting law and order? Clash with Billy, wanting to arrest him? His deputies? The jealousy of Doc? The clash with Billy? The pursuit, in the desert, the triangle and their discussions, the tempting of Billy to violence and use of the gun? Garrett tied up and left in the desert?
8. Rio, sullen half-breed, attack on Billy, looking after him, Doc's girl, in love, going off with Billy, being tied up - the bait for Doc and Garrett? Watching the triangle? Going off with Billy?
9. The Indian woman, her looking after Rio, after Billy, warning Rio at Doc's return?
10. The episode with the Indians, the pursuit, action sequences, the threat?
11. The overall impact of the film as a western? Psychological western? Exploration of the legends?
