Film
What's on at the cinema plus reviews of the latest movie and DVD releases
Bookmark this pageDirty Little Billy (1972)
Director: Stan Dragoti
Movie review
From Time Out Film Guide
A surreally realistic account of the pre-fame days of Billy the Kid (characterised by Pollard as the mental retard of history) that culminates in the first of his many killings. A film full of contradictions: Dragoti's vision of the West is truly unromantic, Coffeyville, Kansas, being seen as a mudbath with the saloon as a womb no one wants to leave, yet at the same time the visuals are breathtakingly beautiful. Well worth a look.Author: PH
User reviews of this film
-
- Goblin said...
-
Posted on Oct 26 2008 13:19
Saw it when first appeared on TV (1977?). Long time ago granted but memory serves to concur with the Time out synopsis.
Realistic phycho drama hits the mark and reflects the undevloped nature of the 1870s South West. Pollards makes the Dirty Billy nerd role as his own and someone reminded me of Fay Dunnaway (appeared with Pollard in Bonny and Clyde) or does my memory fail....
Anyway should be seen by the Western genre fan or just as an off the wall counter to the sanitized western fare of the period. Taint glamourous but no less compelling for that. NFT please note. - Report as inappropriate
Cast & crew
Director: Stan Dragoti
Producer: Jack L Warner
Cast: Michael J Pollard, Lee Purcell, Richard Evans, Charles Aidman, Dran Hamilton, Willard Sage, Gary Busey full cast
Genre(s): Westerns
Duration: 100 mins
Most popular on this site
Top Stories
Stephen Poliakoff discusses 'Glorious 39'
Stephen Poliakoff’s ‘Glorious 39’ is his first film for cinema since ‘Food of Love’ in 1997. Dave Calhoun met him
Is 'Paranormal Activity' the new 'Blair Witch'?
How does a film go from DIY experiment to box-office smash? 'Paranormal Activity' director Oren Peli explains
Steven Soderbergh on 'The Informant!' and 'The Girlfriend Experience'
We talk to Steven Soderbergh about his two forthcoming films: one featuring a porn star, the other a chubby Matt Damon
A gateway to all things 'New Moon'
In anticipation of 'The Twilight Saga: New Moon', Time Out is offering the chance to pick up a limited edition pack with three exclusive magazines and a free poster.
London Children's Film Festival
Read our exclusive reviews of films playing at the 2009 London Children’s Film Festival
The films that deserve a TV spin-off
With Roland Emmerich suggesting he'd like to make a '2012' TV spin-off, we propose some more movie-to-TV serialisations
The Coen brothers discuss 'A Serious Man'
Masters of contrary comedy, Joel and Ethan Coen have struck gold again with their latest, ‘A Serious Man’
Michael Haneke discusses 'The White Ribbon'
Dave Calhoun met with Michael Haneke in Munich to mull over the details of his Palme d'Or winner, 'The White Ribbon'
Ten inspirations behind 'Avatar'?
Time Out ponders the influences behind James Cameron's anticipated space-opera on the basis of the trailer
Time Out's 50 greatest animated films with commentary by Terry Gilliam
In celebration of the release of Pixar's 'Up' and Wes Anderson's 'Fantastic Mr Fox', read our rundown of fifty classic feature length animations
What do you think?
Post your review now