The Outlaw

G

Released Feb 5, 1943

1h 43m

Western

List

71%

Tomatometer

14 Reviews

31%

Audience Score

1,000+ Ratings

The life of legendary outlaw Billy the Kid, including his partnership with Doc Holliday and his clashes with lawman Pat Garrett. The film was notorious in its day because of producer/director Howard Hughes concentration on newcomer Jane Russell's cleavage, and national release in America was delayed by some years.

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Jonathan Rosenbaum

Chicago Reader

One of the weirdest westerns of all time, reflecting the eccentricities of its producer and credited director, Howard Hughes.

Jan 1, 2000

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André Bazin

Revue du Cinema

One of the most erotic films ever made and one of the most sensational scripts ever filmed by Hollywood.

Dec 9, 2021

Full Review

Red Kann

Motion Picture Herald (Exhibitors Herald)

It is full of unintentional laughs, dialogue which is frequently outlandish and appallingly bad and because it is loaded with comedy situations which might have been funny on paper, but are not on film.

Dec 9, 2021

Full Review

Film Daily Staff

The Film Daily

Howard Hughes is deserving of a full measure of praise for his dual enactment of the roles of producer-director.

Dec 9, 2021

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Dudley Early

Austin American-Statesman

It is safe to Outlaw hadn't had the reams publicity due to the censorship fight over certain scenes, it would have passed practically unnoticed.

Jun 19, 2020

Full Review

Mattie Lucas

From the Front Row

The leads are all capable but none of them seem to be acting in the same movie, as if Hughes couldn't decide what movie he really wanted to make.

Rated: 2/4

Jun 3, 2019

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Blu B

I don't think this is anywhere close to the worst Western ever made but it defintely is one of the worst I've seen. Everything is just supbar about it with the highlight being the wooden stilted borderline miscast acting across the board. Jack Buetel is not good at all as Billy the Kid. He feels robotic and stiff the entire time. Huston as Doc Holliday feels like your watching your grandpa pretend to be a cowboy. Russell is either over the top or emotionless. No one has any chemistry in this at all. Mitchell is just ok as well. The direction leaves a lot to be desired also. Nothing really stands out, the camerawork is basic, and the action scenes aren't done that well and are kind of hard to tell what is even happening. The music feels out of place at times also when it changes tone on a dime and goes from serious/dramactic to comedic out of nowhere and never works well. It kills any momentum this ever gets going and the humor just lands flat constantly. The story also feels like it has no point and while I'm no expert on Billy the Kid I feel like this isn't even close to being accurate even taking into account "adaptaion changes". This feels like it wants to be about Billy the Kid while also being a Western adventure and it never makes the two work together cohseively at all. The 25 minute scene where Billy is recovering from the gunshot wound is soooooo boring and drags terribly. That's the other big problem the story makes sense but has no point really. But the bigger issue is there is almost no character devlopment in this at all and any there is feels wooden and stilted. I have no idea why Russell would fall in love out of nowhere with Billy also becuase they never show any love or chemistry at all. This feels like it has all the pieces for a story but none of the human connection and poor direction and miscasting to boot. Skip This

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

02/09/24

Full Review

Kate L

Hard to believe such talent as Walter Huston or Thomas Mitchell agreed to have their names on this film. The acting is horrible, direction wooden, dialogue amateurish & some of the action is so improbable as to be hilarious. Doc Holliday shoots Billy the Kid in the hand AND knicks both of his earlobes (as if that would ever happen) & the kid doesn't flinch & minimal blood flows. Seriously? Who's kidding who? Guess Howard Hughes just had some money he wanted to throw away. But Jane Russell's nubile loveliness is impressive. My husband gives it 2 stars: one for each breast. Hope no one wasted $ on a ticket for it in 1943.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

05/30/23

Full Review

Steve D

The writer does know these were real people right?

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

05/29/23

Full Review

Bex W

My first country western. The misogyny and view on female sexuality and consent makes rather uncomfortable viewing at times, but understandable in the context of the time period. Either way, I'm eager to explore this genre further.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

03/27/22

Full Review

Audience Member

A great little fun film . Great cast jane russell beautiful . Doc holiday also great

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/11/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Hard to say what to make of Howard Hughes' "The Outlaw." Allegedly its main feature is the electricity between Jane Russel and Jack Beutel. Both have that smokey look of sexuality - until they open their mouths. Then, as with 90% of this hodge-podge, their awkward scenes crumble into something unintentionally hilarious, the sort of thing you love to hate - in this much, "The Outlaw" is a fucking gem. Maybe the best chuckles come from the overwrought background music, especially the so-called sex scenes, where even a kiss is accompanied by a magnificent, triumphant, kettle drum-pounding crescendo, like Heston bringing down the tablets in "The Ten Commandments." This really gives "The Room" a run for its money.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

02/19/23

Full Review

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Howard Hughes

Director

Jane Russell

Rio McDonald

Jack Buetel

Billy the Kid

Walter Huston

Doc Holliday

Thomas Mitchell

Pat Garrett

Mimi Aguglia

Guadalupe

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Synopsis

The life of legendary outlaw Billy the Kid, including his partnership with Doc Holliday and his clashes with lawman Pat Garrett. The film was notorious in its day because of producer/director Howard Hughes concentration on newcomer Jane Russell's cleavage, and national release in America was delayed by some years.

Director: Howard Hughes
Screenwriter: Jules Furthman
Distributor: Howard Hughes Productions
Production Co: Howard Hughes Productions
Rating: G
Genre: Western
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Feb 5, 1943, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Sep 1, 2012
Runtime: 1h 43m

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