The Left-Handed Gun (1958)
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The Left Handed Gun was adapted by Gore Vidal from his own TV play, The Death of Billy the Kid. 33-year-old Paul Newman stars as 21-year-old William Bonney, the hotheaded gunslinger known as Billy the Kid. Avoiding the usual Hollywood glamourization of this controversial character, Newman portays Bonney pretty much as he was: an illiterate, homicidal cretin. Treated with kindness for the first time in his life by rancher Tunstall (Colin Keith-Johnston), Bonney becomes devoted to the rancher; in fact, it is virtually a love affair. Soon after, however, Tunstall is killed, prompting Bonney to go on a murderous spree. In the end, Bonney must face down the other important father-figure in his life, Pat Garrett (John Dehner). In case anyone should miss the Freudian subtext in The Left Handed Gun, the closeups of Bonney fondling his six-shooter will make things crystal clear. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Complete Cast:
- Paul Newman - William 'Billy the Kid' Bonney
- Hurd Hatfield - Moultrie
- James Best - Tom Folliard
- Colin Keith-Johnston - Tunstall
- Bob Anderson - Hill
- Ainslie Pryor - Joe Grant
- Denver Pyle - Ollinger
- Nestor Paiva - Maxwell
- Robert Foulk - Brady
- Lita Milan - Celsa
- James Congdon - Charlie Boudre
- John Dehner - Pat Garrett
- John Dierkes - McSween
- Wally Brown - Moon
- Martin Garralaga - Saval
- Paul L. Smith - Smith
- Jo Summers - Mrs. Garrett
- Robert Anderson - Hill
- Director(s):
- Arthur Penn
- Writer(s):
- Leslie Stevens
- Producer(s):
- Fred Coe
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