Movies
The Left Handed Gun
| Rating: | No Rating |
| Genre: | Western |
| Release Date: | May 7, 1958 |
| Running time: | 102 minutes |
| Cast: | Paul Newman, Lita Milan, John Dehner, Hurd Hatfield, James Congdon |
| Director: | Arthur Penn |
| Producer: | Fred Coe |
| Writer: | Leslie Stevens, Gore Vidal |
| Distributor: | Warner Bros. Pictures |
Description: The Left Handed Gun was adapted by Gore Vidal from his own TV play, The Death of Billy the Kid. 33-year-old Paul Newman stars as 21-year-old William Bonney, the hotheaded gunslinger known as Billy the Kid. Avoiding the usual Hollywood glamourization of this controversial character, Newman portays Bonney pretty much as he was: an illiterate, homicidal cretin. Treated with kindness for the first time in his life by rancher Tunstall (Colin Keith-Johnston), Bonney becomes devoted to the rancher; in fact, it is virtually a love affair. Soon after, however, Tunstall is killed, prompting Bonney to go on a murderous spree. In the end, Bonney must face down the other important father-figure in his life, Pat Garrett (John Dehner). In case anyone should miss the Freudian subtext in The Left Handed Gun, the closeups of Bonney fondling his six-shooter will make things crystal clear.~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
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