THE OUTLAW
1943

Scandalous for it's time, "The Outlaw", directed by Howard Hughes, is the story of Billy the Kid, Doc Holiday, and Pat Garrett. Notable for being the first American film that defied the "Production Code" of the Hays Office, which dictated what could and could not be shown on screen.

"The controversy surrounding the film and its advertising campaign was to become a watershed moment for changing attitudes towards censorship in Hollywood. Briefly released for one week in 1943, The Outlaw was rapidly withdrawn from cinemas when the ‘Hays Office’, the censorship authority wing of The Motion Picture Producers and Distributors of America, ruled that the film had broken too many of the decency “codes” – despite the fact that Hughes had already cut 37 scenes from the film.

You're not going to watch this for its historical accuracy. Nevertheless, it's an entertaining, and not too unbelievable, take on the story of Billy the Kidd, (though its very doubtful that Doc Holiday and Pat Garrett ever actually met).

PLOT:
Newly appointed sheriff Pat Garrett is pleased when his old friend Doc Holliday arrives in Lincoln, New Mexico on the stage. Doc is trailing his stolen horse, and it is discovered in the possession of Billy the Kid. In a surprising turnaround, Billy and Doc become friends. This causes the friendship between Doc and Pat to cool. The odd relationship between Doc and Billy grows stranger when Doc hides Billy at his girl, Rio's, place after Billy is shot. She falls for Billy, although he treats her very badly. The interaction between these four is played out against an Indian attack before a final showdown...

CAST:
Jack Buetel ... Billy the  Kid
Jane Russell ... Rio McDonald
Thomas Mitchell ... Pat Garrett
Walter Huston ... Doc Holliday
Mimi Aguglia ... Guadalupe
Joe Sawyer ... Charley Woodruff
Gene Rizzi ... Stranger who draws on The Kid

Directors: Howard Hughes, Howard Hawks (uncredited)

Running time: 116 minutes