THE OUTLAW
DIRECTED BY HOWARD HUGHES/HOWARD HAWKS
MUSIC BY VICTOR YOUNG
HOWARD HUGHES PRODUCTIONS
RKO RADIO PICTURES
INFORMATION FROM IMDb
Plot Summary
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. Interaction between these four is played out against an Indian attack before a final showdown reduces the group's number.
Written by Ron Kerrigan
Cast
Jack Buetel ... Billy the Kid (as Jack Beutel)
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
and many more...
Directed
Howard Hughes
Howard Hawks ... (uncredited)
Writing Credits
Jules Furthman ... (screenplay)
Howard Hawks ... (uncredited)
Ben Hecht ... (uncredited)
Produced
Howard Hughes
Music
Victor Young
Cinematography
Gregg Toland
Lucien Ballard ... (uncredited)
Trivia
Jane Russell got the role after a nationwide search by Howard Hughes for a busty actress.
In his book "Hollywood", Garson Kanin wrote that one day in New York, he and George S. Kaufman were walking down Broadway and counted five billboards with an alluring picture of Jane Russell advertising this film, prompting Kaufman to remark: "They ought to call it 'A Sale of Two Titties'".
Howard Hawks started as director but quit after two weeks, ostensibly to direct Sergeant York (1941). However, Howard Hughes, who had the dailies flown to Los Angeles daily, had complained that Hawks was not spending enough time filming, which probably precipitated his leaving. Hughes took over as director in December 1940 and announced all scenes would be re-shot by Gregg Toland, who replaced the original cinematographer, Lucien Ballard. However, screenwriter Jules Furthman filled in for Hughes as director on 31 December 1940 and often thereafter.
Once they'd found Jane Russell, Howard Hughes and his aircraft engineers designed a special cantilevered bra to enhance the appearance of her bust. She never wore it, but this movie was the reason the famous bra was designed.
Film debut of Jane Russell.
This film seriously hampered the career of co-star Jack Buetel. As a result of his contractual arrangement with producer Howard Hughes, he did not appear in another film for seven years. Though a regular on TV's Judge Roy Bean (1956) and quite a few other roles, he retired from films in 1961 at age 46.
Although the film was finished and copyrighted in February 1941, it was not shown theatrically for another two years, mostly because of censorship problems that required cuts and revisions. By May 1941 the Production Code Authority (PCA; the industry censors) agreed to approve the film, but Howard Hughes found that many state censor boards wanted a lot more cuts then he was willing to make, so he shelved the film until 5 February 1943, when it was finally shown theatrically in San Francisco in the 115-minute version that we essentially see today. It caused quite a sensation, especially since Jane Russell and Jack Buetel performed a 20-minute scene that was cut from the film after each showing. More hassles about its possible release in New York caused Hughes to shelve the picture once again.
The first American film that defied the "Production Code" of the Hays Office, which dictated what could and could not be shown on screen.
Film debut of Ben Johnson.
Howard Hawks wanted Albert R. Broccoli to work as an assistant director on the film, but when Howard Hughes heard it he said: "I can't give a good friend a job, the studio will be very upset with me!" But Hawks replied: "I want Cubby!" (Albert R "Cubby" Broccoli, who later became famous for the 'James Bond' films).
When re-released in San Francisco on 23 April 1946, the theater owner was arrested for showing a film "offensive to decency." The MPAA maintained that Howard Hughes switched prints and did not show the version that was approved. Hughes resigned from the MPAA and filed a $1,000,000 lawsuit demanding triple damages. He lost the suit and all the appeals. Despite the legal battles and many bans, United Artists continued to roadshow the film in 1946 and 1947 and it set records almost everywhere it was shown. Originally banned in New York, it was finally shown on 11 September 1947 when the ban was lifted.
Arthur Loft is credited as "Swanson" in studio records, but that role was played by Edward Peil Sr., and Loft was not seen in the movie. Modern sources also list the following actors (with their character names) as cast members: Nina Quartero (Chita), Frank Darien (Shorty), Carl Stockdale (Minister), Ed Brady (Deputy), Dick Elliott (Salesman) and John Sheehan (Salesman). None of these actors were identifiable in the movie, but may have been in sequences which were cut. Some of these characters may have been in a coach, which is seen coming to town in extreme long-shot.
Goofs
Continuity
When Guadalupe (the older woman) first appears in the shack where Rio is tending to Billy, she has two long plaited pig-tails. Things continue in real-time and after a few views of her with pig-tails, she suddenly appears after a cut with her hair up in a bun at the back.
Doc Holliday changes position several times between shots during his first conversation with Billy the Kid.
Crew or equipment visible
(at around 1 min) As Doc and The Kid are leaving the stable, they both walk into the camera shadow on the right side of the screen.
Errors in geography
Joshua trees (Yucca brevifolia) appear in several scenes. Joshua tree occurs in southeastern California (mostly, southern Nevada, northwestern Arizona, and extreme southwestern Utah, but not in New Mexico, where the story takes place.
Factual errors
The date on the grave in which Doc Holliday is buried, which reads 'Here lies Billy the Kid', is July 13, 1881. The real Doc Holliday participated in events of the famous Gunfight at OK Corral on October 26th, 1881.
Billy the Kid was killed by Pat Garrett in 1881, but Doc Holliday died in bed of tuberculosis in 1887.
The grave marker at the end of the film gives July 13th as the date Billy was killed. In fact he died on 14th July.
Miscellaneous
In the final scene you can see a car pass on the distance, from left to right.
Filming Locations
Red Rock Canyon State Park - Highway 14, Cantil, California, USA
Socorro, New Mexico, USA (second unit)
Tuba City, Arizona, USA
Yuma, Arizona, USA
General Service Studios - 1040 N. Las Palmas, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA (studio)
Samuel Goldwyn Studios - 7200 Santa Monica Boulevard, West Hollywood, California, USA (studio)
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