The Left Handed Gun (1958)

Sorry, this movie sucks

hyped garbage

Best movie ever!

It is an exhilarating, distressing, funny and profound film, with one of the more memorable film scores in years,

While wandering in a desert area with the saddle of his deceased horse on his back, the drifter William "Billy the Kid" Bonney (Paul Newman) stumbles with the cattle owner John "The Englishman" Tunstall (Colin Keith-Johnston) that asks him what he wants and William asks for a job. Tunstall hires him to help to bring his cattle to Lincoln to sell the herd to the army and William befriends him. However, the local Sheriff Brady (Robert Foulk) ambushes Tunstal with the rancher Morton (Robert Griffin), his Deputy Moon (Wally Brown) and Hill (Bob Anderson) and kill the cattleman to avoid the business and steal his herd. Billy the Kid promises revenge against the men and together with his friends Charlie Boudre (James Congdon) and Tom Folliard (James Best), he kills Brady and Morton. Billy hides at McSween's house that is burnt down to ashes and Billy is assumed dead by the population. He flees to Madeiro where he meets his friends Pat Garret (John Dehner), Saval (Martin Garralaga) and his daughter Celsa (Lita Milan) that loves Billy. Soon Governor Lew Wallace proclaims amnesty in the New Mexico Territory and Billy is free from any charge. However Moon and Hill are still alive and Billy still wants to revenge his friend."The Left Handed Gun" is a western that tells one version of the Billy the Kid story. Directed by Arthur Penn, the film is uneven, alternating good with silly moments. However, it is mandatory for fans of Paul Newman, Arthur Penn and westerns in general. My vote is seven.Title (Brazil): "Um de Nós Morrerá" ("One of Us Will Die")

A western detailing revenge and its aftermath best describes this 1958 Paul Newman film.Newman starts off a shy, slow-witted young man who is taken in by a cattle raiser who is so kind to him. When the latter is shot down by a rival group, Newman vows revenge and in his process of eliminating the man's killers, he gains quite a reputation which shall ultimately lead to a tragic ending.The story is one of being drawn into further gun play by a variety of circumstances, amnesty gone terribly awry, church wedding shootings and becomes quite violent as the bodies begin to pile up.Revenge begets revenge here. Keep to the good book and remain a lord fearing bible carrying person is the theme here.

This Film has Many Interesting Elements that may Attract Viewers. Director Arthur Penn's Debut, Early Paul Newman as an Iconic Western Outlaw, and a Different Artistic Approach to the Conventional Western.However, the Movie is not the Easiest to Like. Penn's Flourishes are Welcome in a Genre so Ripe with Regularity, but Newman Overacts to the Point of Silliness and can Grate on the Nerves. In Fact, just about Every Actor Emotes to Extreme, Except Perhaps John Dehner as Pat Garrett who Strikes a Concerned Lawman's Pose Quite Well Without Words. But even He is Guilty of One Scene that is Downright Atrocious (the this is my wedding, this is my town part).Visually the Film has Many Interesting Shots and Flourishes, but Newman's Exaggeration of Body Language and Other Fanciful Displays that Misfire bring the Movie Down to just Above Average. There is Enough Curiosity here that is Worth a Watch, but Overall it is the Over Baked Acting that makes this a Disappointment.

If you're looking for the current blockbuster hit....this wouldn't be it. But, if you keep things in perspective, and remember when it was made...this is a very entertaining movie. So what if it doesn't follow the life of Billy the Kid verbatim. It's a western, and like most westerns back then....the acting wasn't the best...neither was the effects. But, back then....we enjoyed the "story" of the movie. This movie is especially close to my heart, since I remember the first time I ever saw it....it was already a late movie, and I think I was about 5! Paul Newman became my favorite actor immediately !! He still is :-) Anyone who knows me, knows this is my "all time" favorite movie. Yea, I've seen better acting, directions, etc....but, I've never been touched by any movie since, as much as I was by this one. So...if I could rate it a 12, I would :-)