Billy the Kid (1989 film)

Gore Vidal's Billy the Kid, also known as Billy the Kid, is a 1989 American western television film about famed gunman Billy the Kid. It aired on TNT cable channel on May 10, 1989.[1]

Billy the Kid
GenreWestern
Written byGore Vidal
Directed byWilliam Graham
StarringVal Kilmer
Duncan Regehr
Wilford Brimley
Julie Carmen
Music byLaurence Rosenthal
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
Production
Executive producersRobert M. Sertner
Frank von Zerneck
Production locationsTucson, Arizona
Sonoran Desert
Sierrita Mountains
Sedona, Arizona
Continental, Arizona
Cascabel, Arizona
White Mountains
Sabino Canyon
Mescal, Arizona
Redington, Arizona
Mt. Lemmon
San Pedro River
CinematographyDennis C. Lewiston
EditorWilliam B. Stich
Running time96 minutes
Original release
NetworkTNT
ReleaseMay 10, 1989 (1989-05-10)

Written by Gore Vidal and directed by William A. Graham, with Val Kilmer starring in the lead role of William Bonney a.k.a. Billy the Kid, and with a supporting cast including Wilford Brimley, John O'Hurley, Duncan Regehr, and Ned Vaughn.

Cast

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Production

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Vidal said in his memoirs that he had written the original teleplay for The Left Handed Gun, starring Paul Newman as Billy the Kid, decades earlier, and always felt the studio had butchered the material when his television play was used as the basis for a theatrical movie, so he wanted to return to the story for a more accurate rendition. At the time of his original teleplay with Newman, it was thought that the real Billy was left handed. This was based on a photo of Billy that had been inadvertently flipped when printed. Years later, the error was discovered—Billy was right handed.

References

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  1. ^ Goodman, Walter (May 10, 1989). "Review/Television - Vidal Draws a Bead on Good-Bad Old Billy the Kid". The New York Times.
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