Max’s Drive-In Movie – Pat Garrett and Billy The Kid

I saw this movie for the first time in the early nineties in my apartment, which I shared with a cousin. I watched it initially for Bob Dylan, but ended up loving the movie. This movie, above all else, treats silence better than any other movie I’ve seen. The characters get to breathe. No one is in a hurry, but when action happens, it makes it all the more dramatic. 

In Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid, director Sam Peckinpah trades the mythic grandeur of the Old West for something slower, lonelier, and far more tragic. This is a Western all about finality,  a farewell to freedom, friendship, and the open frontier. Pechinpah created a great movie out of this. 

Set in 1881 New Mexico, the film dramatizes the final days of William Bonney,  better known as Billy the Kid (played by Kris Kristofferson)  as he’s hunted down by his former friend turned lawman, Pat Garrett (James Coburn). There’s no rush to the inevitable confrontation. Instead, the film moves slowly with purpose, soaking in the dusty landscapes, long silences, and uneasy glances between men who understand their roles in their vanishing world.

Coburn delivers a wonderful performance as Garrett, a man who’s made peace with compromise but not with himself. Kristofferson, younger and looser, plays Billy with charm and recklessness. Their scenes together are understated but filled with unspoken history and mutual resignation. It stands as one of the most introspective and mournful Westerns ever made. It’s not a shoot-’em-up spectacle; it’s a meditation on regret, inevitability, and the bitter cost of survival.

The studio clashed with Peckinpah and released a terrible version in 1973 that was a pale version of Peckinpah’s vision. It was jagged, choppy, and stripped of its emotional weight. Critics panned it. Audiences stayed away. Like many films ahead of their time, Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid didn’t stay buried. A bootlegged “preview print” started circulating in the 80s—rougher but far more coherent. It showed what Peckinpah had been aiming for: a slower, sadder, more deliberate tone piece about friendship, death, and the slow extinction of the outlaw soul. Critics and fans alike loved his original version.

In 2005, a “Special Edition” came out, restoring much of what had been lost (though not fully satisfying the purists). Still, it was enough to elevate the film from cult obscurity to a rightful classic. And make no mistake…it IS a classic!

I never thought about cinematography until recently, but John Coquillon did a hell of a job on this movie. It looks beautiful, and the landscapes jump out at you as you watch. 

Now let’s talk about the soundtrack by Bob Dylan. Bob Dylan was in the movie and did a good job, but it’s the soundtrack that will be remembered. This isn’t your typical Dylan record. It’s mostly instrumental, often minimalist, and was stitched together for the film. But what you get here is an eerie, atmospheric tone throughout the entire album. Let’s get this out of the way: Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door is the anchor, the standout, the one track that broke free and carved a permanent space in classic rock airwaves. It’s a song so simple it feels like it always existed. Unfortunately, it overshadows the other songs, which I like a lot. Billy 1, Turkey Chase, Bunkhouse Theme, and the rest. It’s an album I like to put on and just soak it in and relax. 

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Author: Badfinger (Max)

Power Pop fan, Baseball, Beatles, Alternative music, old movies, and tv show fan. Also anything to do with pop culture in the 60s and 70s... I'm also a songwriter, bass and guitar player. Not the slightest bit interested in politics at all.

53 thoughts on “Max’s Drive-In Movie – Pat Garrett and Billy The Kid”

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  5. “Knockin’ On Heaven’s Door” describes the movie scene in the 70s western “Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid.” Over the years, the song got his own message, one that works without the movie. Cover versions by Guns n’ Roses or Eric Clapton, however, have nothing to do with the western, more with the hope that even in bad times, heaven will await us.

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    1. It did get it’s own message didn’t it? The song did separate itself from the movie after the covers and radio play. I always though go back to Bob’s version.

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      2. I use the album…for the lack of a better word a vibe album or atomospheric….I guess that is a better word.

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  6. I saw it when it first came out. I might have even had the soundtrack album. I didn’t realize there were other “better” versions, but I see my library has a Blu-Ray with two versions, the second called the “Final Preview Cut”. I just put it on reserve at the library. Thanks for the tip.

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    1. I didn’t know the studio did that either. It doesn’t surprise me but with the version I have it fits well with the movies at that time. I love the non-action in the movie.

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  7. Never seen the movie but I think my dad loved it when I was a kid. Interesting your perception on it, which I agree with from what you say, the room to breathe, slower pace. Do you think Hollywood would give them a chance to do that if they remade it now or make it a non-stop action 85 minute shoot ’em up? Now ‘Knockin on Heaven’s Door’… that’s a good song. I’d say one of Dylan’s better songs and as a recording, my favorite song sung by him

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    1. Today’s Hollywood would have to have action every few minutes. It’s hard to find a newer movie that builds tension like that anymore. The silence works so well. You knew what the actors were thinking by just a glance.
      Yea and it’s one of Dylan songs that many people like the original best. If you ever get a chance watch this…the song fits it well.

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  10. I have only seen the movie once – a long time ago, but I enjoyed it and perhaps requires a revisit.
    The soundtrack is another matter. I’ve heard that perhaps more times than what’s considered healthy. My favourite from it is ‘The Main Title Theme’.

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    1. “I’ve heard that perhaps more times than what’s considered healthy.”….Matt that was brillant! It is a great movie and I had to revisit it recently.

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      1. Hehe. I forgot to mention, such is my awe of the ‘Main Title Theme’, I learnt a lot of it on guitar and even wrote silly lyrics to it when I was a teenager and called it ‘Pretty in Pink’ – and I’m not kidding.
        I’m glad you thought so highly of the movie from a recent viewing.

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      2. I love how music relates to people. Well we are close. In bars we played Knocking on Heavens Door but we wanted it to go longer and I didn’t want to repeat a verse…so I made up one and did that…if I remember I’ll tell you what it was.

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      3. I think you can be forgiven for adding another verse. Man, would I like to read those if you miraculously remember it!
        Yeh, the album related too well, where I penned lyrics based on that 1986 movie of the same name because I had a thing for Molly Ringwald.
        Can I just say right now, when people play G&R’s version of ‘Knocking on Heavens Door’ I nearly go insane. A bit like when people play ‘Kokomo’ by the supposed ‘Beach Boys’ Haha
        That does my head in.

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      4. I was going to ask you if that movie inspired a young Matt. Yea I can’t stand Axl’s yammering at the end of it at all…I also don’t like their version of Live and Let Die but it’s better than their version of Knocking on Heavens Door.

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  11. Up for a rewatch. A Sam P movie that can do no wrong with me. Just about every great character actor going. The scene you tagged below with L. Q, Coburn, Picken, and Jurado is in my hall of fame. A perfect use of a song. I still get goose bumps watching Slim and Katy.
    Soundtrack? Yup my fave Dylan by far.

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    1. I rewatched it recently. I wrote this as I was watching it…which really helped. I simply love the stillness…the silence that speaks more than action in this movie. Yep…the acting in my opinion was great of course.

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      1. I’m on a western ride (Did Hanging Tree like I said and re-loved it). These films are like a treat I bring out to remind myself why i love movies. I’ll leave you with R. G. pointing a shotgun at Kristofferson and telling him to “repent”. I would have went along with R. G.

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      2. I would have been right behind ya! I’ve never seen teh Hanging Tree I don’t believe…I must check that out.

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  13. oh yes…what a great collection…Kristofferson for sure, he had that look a voice (he even managed to make Convoy watchable) and James Cobern….Dylan was a perfect fit…..reading your review reminds me of another favorite…..Emporer of the North with Lee Marvin

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      1. It might be early 60s/70s? with Lee Morgan a hobo traveling in boxcars battling with Earnest Borgnine as the railway conductor tracking him down….next to Doc Zhivago I think one of my all time faves, though Stalin is Dead is climbing up that chart

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  14. Perfect on-point review Max. ‘Heavens Door’ matches the scene perfectly. I saw this about a year back, I appreciate the whole feel of it more now than when I first saw it.

    For one of those odd reason my mind files this film away beside ‘There Was A Crooked Man.’ Why? I don’t know!

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    1. Thank you obbverse I really appreciate that. Now I find it so much easier writing these while I’m watching them. If I don’t, I’ll miss things. As Dave was saying, they really don’t make them like this anymore. The audience would want more action all the time and thats a shame.
      I’ve never seen that movie! I never heard of it…it has some big people in it. That will be on my list now.

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      1. It’s a forgotten one but one that stuck in my mind. There were one or two Westerns still going in the 70s but as we know that genre was going the way of Slim Pickens. Another was ‘The Ballad of Cable Hogue.’

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      2. Wait…I heard of ‘The Ballad of Cable Hogue….just the other day! Thats not a name that you forget and I never heard of it before. Maybe it was when I was searching for information on this one?
        CB pointed out one on his site called “Doc” that is under the radar….it’s a good western from 1971.
        Let me ask you…not counting the Clint Eastwood trilogy…what is a spaghetti western you would suggest? Thanks Obbverse…I’m lining these up.

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      3. Well ‘Once Upon A Time In The West’ but you must have seen that. ‘Shalako’ just for Sean ‘Kid Connery’ in a western- and Bridgette Bardot adds to the scenery very nicely. (Sexist? OK, shoot me then.) There were a few OKish ones, ‘McKenna’s Gold’ Chuck Bronson ‘Chato’s Land’, mmmm. A lot I’ve forgotten, but they can’t have been memorable, sort of B actors, Stephen Boyds, Ty Hardin. Then the Bud Spencer stuff, but that’s too juvenile for me. A couple of wild cards ‘Paint Your Wagon.’ Clint Eastwood in a musical! Even ‘better’ hear Lee Marvin ‘sing!’ An oddball, Lee and Jane Fonda in the comedy ‘Cat Balou,’ and a memorable old black and white one early 60s one ‘Lonely Are The Brave.’ Talk about an eclectic mix!

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      4. I’ve read where the director wanted Bronson instead of Eastwood at the time. I would watch Bardot just stand there so I’m right with you. ‘Once Upon A Time In The West…I have the movie, a buddy gave it to me but have I seen it??? I don’t think so. That will be the first one.
        Oh I have read about that one with Marvin singing. Oh cool…thanks so much…through my IT channels..I could have all of these in a couple of hours. Well now my spare time will be to belly up to the spaghetti bar!

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      5. ‘Once Upon’ is classic. Henry Fonda ain’t no hero here. Lee Marvin won an Oscar as Kid Shaleen in ‘Cat Balou.’ LOL with the Spaghetti bar. Duh, of course ‘Blazing Saddles!’

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  15. I watched this movie and I really didn’t think it was so bad at all. Did not know there was a “Special Edition” and I would be interested to see that. You have connected the dots nicely here Max..

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  16. Cool, I’ve never saw the picture, which looks like it doesn’t romanticize outlaws in the American West. “Knockin’ On Heaven’s Door,” obviously, is a timeless classic, though similar to The Who’s “Pinball Wizard”, I always felt the song was faded out somewhat arbitrarily.

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  17. Every time I see this movie I break in tears. Especially when the Sherif Pickens dies. End of the day, end of an era, barbed wires murdering the open range, and melancholy haunts every string of Dylan’s chords.
    I wrote something on it if course. Maybe my favorite Peckinpah with the Wild Bunch.

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  18. Hi Max
    I saw this film just when it came out and immediately liked it. Generally, I didn’t like Dylan’s songs, but not here in this film.
    Have a happy weekend
    Klausbernd
    The Fab Four of Cley
    🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

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