January 08, 2021

Another perfect pairing of Sound & Vision - Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid


Beautiful isn't a word you often hear used when it comes to the films of Sam Peckinpah but this Bob Dylan scored aftermath of a shootout is one of the most beautiful death scenes you'll ever see. Yes, I said beautiful and I mean it. 

Pat Garrett (James Coburn) has been on Billy The Kid's trail after The Kid murdered a sheriff and then escaped from jail. He's heard of his quarry's location and teams up with a county sheriff called Baker (the wonderfully named Slim Pickens) and his wife (Katy Jurado) to investigate. When they arrive they're ambushed by members of Billy's old gang led by Black Harris (L.Q. Jones).

  

Isn't that a glorious way to spend a few minutes. 4 of the western genre's most iconic actors onscreen together. James Coburn from The Magnificent Seven. Slim Pickens, a genre stalwart before Blazing Saddles made him a punchline. The omnipresent L.Q. Jones, a familiar face from 100's of films and Katy Jurado, the one time lover of Will Kane from High Noon. Even before anything happens we're steeped in western movie lore, surrounded by royalty. Then it all goes down and Harris dies while Baker stumbles away to the opening chords of Bob Dylan's Knocking On Heaven's Door. It might seem cheesy and overdone now but this song was written specifically for this film and it just suits it perfectly. 

Mama take this badge from me 
I can't use it anymore 
It's getting dark too dark to see 
Feels like I'm knockin' on heaven's door 

It's a hell of a way to go ain't it. Taken out while doing the right thing, looking out at the majestic desert sunset while the woman you love lets you go out with dignity. Pickens and Jurado nail it with without saying a word while Coburn looks on sickened at more pointless death while the words overheard remind us of what faces him in his future.

Superb.

More Perfect Pairings.

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