zardoz-13
Veteran writer & director Burt Kennedy's "Young Billy Young" qualifies as a routine law and order oater about the relationship between an older, wiser mentor and a raw green gunslinger. Robert Mitchum stars as a $40-a-month lawman with some unfinished business, and the son of Robert Walker and Jennifer Jones—Robert Walker, Jr.,--is the lanky, wet-behind-the-ears youth who rides alongside him in this disposable western that resembles Howard Hawks' "Rio Bravo." Angie Dickenson, who co-starred in "Rio Bravo" with John Wayne, plays Mitchum's romantic interest, while former "Maverick" star Jack Kelly and perennial villain John Anderson are cast as his adversaries. David Carradine plays the villain's no-account, gun-toting offspring. Kennedy, who made a name for himself back in the1950s writing westerns for director Budd Boetticher and star Randolph Scott, sprinkles some hell-bent-for-leather, tough-guy dialogue between numerous shoot-outs. In fact, anybody who analyzes Kennedy's cinematic legacy will note some of the dialogue that Kennedy recycles from his above-average sequel to "The Magnificent Seven," the "Return of the Seven." When questioned about his decision to ride into Lordsburg, the hero observes that he is "looking for a climate with a little less lead in the air." Yul Brynner told Robert Fuller the very same thing in "Return of the Seven." Unfortunately, "Young Billy Young" isn't one of those seminal westerns for which Kennedy should be remembered. The gunfights are staged without drama and the entire affair possesses a lackluster quality. Reportedly, John Wayne had the good sense to turn down this marginal western. The chief problem with "Young Billy Young" is that it is formula from start to finish with few insights about westerns or departures from genre conventions. Not only does this revenge-themed sagebrusher lack cool confrontations, but also it doesn't spring any surprises on us. Furthermore, the villain doesn't make his appearance until later in the last quarter hour. It is difficult to hate a villain when we know nothing about him. Had "Young Billy Young" lived up to its first scene, perhaps this western might have fared better. Shelly Mane's off-beat, jazz-inspired orchestral score is experimental and doesn't accentuate the few truly dramatic moments. Veteran character actor Paul Fix of "The Sons of Katie Elder" has the best role as a grizzled, old stagecoach driver that the hero thinks is too decrepit to be driving a stagecoach. The first scene ranks as the best. "Young Billy Young" opens with an old train chugging through an arid, mountainous landscape, like in "The Sons of Katie Elder." The train is transporting Mexican soldiers. The leader (Rodolfo Acosta of "Return of the Seven") and his minions arrive in a dusty village in the middle of nowhere. Billy Young (Robert Walker, Jr., of "The War Wagon") and his buddy Jesse Boone (David Carradine of "Boxcar Bertha") are draped in ponchos and loitering at a fountain when the train arrives. The big-hatted leader assembles a firing squad and the peasants are paraded out, stood against a wall and then shot down by troops. Billy and Jesse sneak aboard the train. Once the firing squad carries out the execution, the leader and his soldiers board the train and resume their journey. When the leader and his closest associates are least expecting anybody to interfere with them, Billy and Jesse surprise them and shoot everybody. Our heroes escape with about twenty Mexicans in hot pursuit. Billy's horse takes a fall during the chase, and he finds himself alone on foot with the nearest town lying some 30 miles away. Billy catches a donkey and rides it like a horse. As he approaches a river crossing, Billy rides past Ben. No sooner has Billy and his burro entered the river, they find themselves in quicksand. Meantime, Ben Kane (Robert Mitchum of "The Good Guys and the Bad Guys") rides into Bisbee takes a job as the tax collector for Lordsburg. Actually, Ben plans to avenge the murder of his son in Dodge by the man who runs Lordsburg. While he is in Bisbee, Ben witnesses the town lawman get shot over a disputed poker game by Billy. Thinking fast, Ben helps Billy escape before they can arrest him. A posse pursues them. Ben and Billy split off in separate directions and resume their ride together after they have eluded the posse. Nevertheless, Ben plans to take Billy into custody and get the charges against him for killing the marshal dropped. In Lordsburg, Ben runs into John Behan (Jack Kelly) at the jail and Behan advises him to walk on the right side of the street. Ben clobbers Behan. Later, Ben meets Lily Beloit (Angie Dickinson), a dancehall singer, and she warns him about Behan. Ben gets to see Lily take a bath, but he doesn't molest her. Behan finds out and belts Lily with a belt. Ben clobbers him again. Not long afterward, Ben learns that Billy's former partner (David Carradine) is none other than Frank Boone's son. He arrests Jesse after Jesse takes some potshots at him. During this night-time shooting, Doc Cushman (Willis Bouchey of "The Horse Soldiers"), is killed by a stray bullet. Predictably, Boone sends a small army of riflemen to snipe at Ben from the rooftops. Earlier, Billy had tried to help Ben, but Ben turned down his offer, like John Wayne did Ricky Nelson in "Rio Bravo. Billy storms the jail during the siege, knocks Ben out with a gun, and releases Jesse. Billy feared that Ben would murder Jesse in cold-blood if he could not stand off Boone's riflemen. After Billy lets Jesse go, Ben recovers and cold-cocks him over the head. Ben tries to reach a corral full of horses, but the riflemen thwart his plans. Burt Kennedy made some exceptional straightforward westerns, like "The War Wagon," "Return of the Seven," and "The Train Robbers." He also made some hilarious western spoofs, such as "Support Your Local Sheriff." "Young Billy Young" has its moments, but it is not one of his memorable westerns.
Jay Harris
Burt Kennedy both wrote & directed this western taken from a novel. Kennedy was a well known good writer & director, mostly westerns.Robert Mitchum was a star for over 20 years when he made this. This role was like many he had made already,One can see why he was a big star for so many years.He filled this role easily like a well used glove.The title character is played by Robert Walker Jr. (his father a fine actor Robert Walker--died tragically at age 32---his mother is noted actress Jennifer Jones).Robert was of slight build & even though he had talent only made a few films. (he was in Rita Hayworth's near last film.ROAD TO SALINAS ---the same year & was very good).He looked very much like his father, but seemed to lack his fathers charm. He made only a few more movies. He is still living & I wish him well.Most of his scenes are with another son of a Hollywood great. John Carradine's son David, who is still making movies. they made a nice team.In westerns you always have a female character & usually she is a dance hall performer. (today they call them hookers), Angie Dickinson assays this role nicely. also featured are western stalwarts, John Anderson & Jack Kelly.It was film in Old Tucson )outside of downtown Tucaon Az,. & the scenery is gorgeous.Typical of the older westerns, there is not too much action,there is some good humour & the usual ending shoot out.It is a fast enjoyable 89 minutes.Ratings: *** (out of 10) 84 points(out of 100) IMDb 7 (out of 10)
Bilwick1
Fans of the movie TOMBSTONE and other Wyatt Earp movies may be interested to know that this movie was very loosely based on Will Henry's WHO RIDES WITH Wyatt, a heavily fictionalized novel about Wyatt Earp's war with the Cowboy gang and his feud with Cowboy-sympathizing sheriff John Behan. In the novel, the "Billy Young" character is actually Johnny Ringo, who--in a completely fictional subplot--is at first protected, befriended and mentored by Wyatt (as Billy is by Kane in this movie), until Ringo gets more and more deeply involved with Curly Bill and the Clantons and Wyatt has to come after him. The novel is grim and dark, with an admirable but not very likable Wyatt. The movie is entertaining fluff, with a storyline that has less and less to do with the novel and the real Wyatt Earp as it goes along. Surprisingly, a good bit of the dialogue of the novel is retained, at least in the early scenes with Kane, and the script even retains the Earp-Behan-Lily triangle. The Behan character is even called "John Behan," and gets a surprising comeuppance from a surprising source. David Carradine is his usual watchable self as a more likable version of Ike Clanton.
David Vanholsbeeck
"Young" Billy Young(Walker) is on the run after having killed a ruthless Mexican general. He runs into sheriff Mitchum, who "makes him an offer he can't refuse", i.e. to become his deputy. The young man is reluctant at first, but with bad guy Fred Boone on his way to town, he realizes that his help will be more than welcome.However, if you think that the story centres on any of these events, you are wrong. It's a bit of everything and always too little of it, if you know what I mean. For example,you hear the characters talk every now and then about the bad guy Fred Boone. However, you won't get to see him until the final gunfight, which is over before you know it. Perhaps, the film is most interesting for fans of Robert Mitchum. He has a great part as the aging sheriff and obviously has a lot of fun playing it too. In fact, he must be one of the most enjoyable characters I have ever seen in an old western.(better than most John Wayne parts)The acting is actually overall quite good. Angie Dickinson too has a nice part as a local "dancer". The story isn't too bad either, except then for the fact that it seems awfully shortened. The film as a whole lasts only a mere 89 minutes and that's just too short for the potential it has in it. So: not bad, but not better than 6/10.
