Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid (Two-Disc Special Edition)
by Sam Peckinpah
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DVD Cover Information
Actor: Bob Dylan, James Coburn, Jason Robards, Katy Jurado, Kris KristoffersonDirector: Sam Peckinpah
Brand: Warner Brothers
Producer: Gordon Carroll
DVD: Region Code 1
Audio: English (Unknown), Dolby Digital 1.0; English (Subtitled); Spanish (Subtitled); French (Subtitled); English (Original Language), Dolby Digital 1.0
Format: Closed-captioned, Color, DVD, NTSC, Special Edition, Subtitled, Widescreen
Picture Format: Widescreen, 2.40:1
Running Time: 115 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2006-01-10
Audience Rating: R (Restricted)
Studio: Warner Home Video
Movie Reviews of Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid (Two-Disc Special Edition)
Movie Review: AN UNDERAPPRECIATED MASTERPIECE... BUT AN EDITING BLUNDER!
Summary: 5 Stars
As a film teacher and Peckinpah scholar, I had put together my own cut of this film in the early 90's compiled from several video versions (and the TV version), and showed it in a special class devoted to the film. As someone who is probably somewhat an expert on this film, I'd like to make a few important points about the two versions included here in this set.
First, the Turner cut (mislabeled "director's cut") seemed to be merely a workprint Peckinpah had assembled at one point but was missing several sequences (including the scene with Garrett's wife), seemingly cut out to include in the television print. I say SEVERAL scenes -- no one, not even the experts (e.g., Seydor, Weddle, Simmons et al) mention the other omitted scenes, not even in their respective studies. One is a short sequence with Billy bringing a blanket to Maria and then wrestling with the kids (as it cuts right into the chickens continuing the kids' movements). It is in NO print of the film released (beyond the early television showing) -- but I do still have a (poorly dubbed) copy of that scene. It must still exist someplace. There are other minor tiny sequences (Poe walking down the hall, etc.) that are still missing from these two versions.
My second point, the newly restored 2005 version has an UNFORGIVABLE editing blunder: a wrong shot is inserted when R.G. Armstrong cocks his gun --!!! What happened??? Some editor obviously tripped up and messed up the shot sequence. This totally destroys this great scene which is so electrifying with Armstrong's dialogue and the shocking cocking of his gun. This NEEDS to be fixed and a newly mastered DVD should replace this edition! Why doesn't anyone else seem to notice this incompetent blunder? And who's responsible for this? I'd love to hear Seydor or another Peckinpah expert respond to this!
Also, I believe some of the choices the experts made in reediting the film in the 2005 version (which seems to favor the theatrical print over the "Turner" cut) is really debatable. I would tend to favor including some of what they omitted (like Dub Taylor's sequences) even though they play a little clumsy -- after all, they still reflect elements of Peckinpah's conception. I don't like second-guessing what he "might have" cut out later. And, although I somewhat like the ending to the "2005" version (with the kid throwing stones at Garrett and ending on that shot), that is, in my opinion, an act of all-too-much "rethinking" the film by others instead of respecting Peckinpah's own vision that I can't help but think is reflected more accurately in the return to the framing story and Garrett's dying (as in the Turner print). Even if perhaps "less polished", it does seem very much like Peckinpah. It's obviously what he wanted!
So it's hard not to come to the conclusion that neither version is completely satisfactory, but of the two the Turner cut is far superior (and, arguably, the only valid cut). To me perhaps the ideal version would be to try to include all of the shot footage in Turner's version, but to insert the Garrett-Wife scene AND the Billy-bringing-Maria-the-blanket sequences in their proper places (as well as the long prostitute sequence including the Ruthie Lee beginning which is an important sequence). I would also honor Peckinpah's own adamant decision to leave "Knocking on Heaven's Door" OUT of the Baker death scene as he was not ambiguous about his wishes here. (Who cares if the experts like the song?) If I were still teaching the Peckinpah class that would be the version I would prefer to screen for the attendees.
All in all, it must be said, however, that this motion picture, in any version, is one of Peckinpah's greatest triumphs and a masterpiece (albeit truncated). It deserves a wide audience and a future recognition of it as a brilliant classic western for the ages.
(One additional note: The Garrett-and-his-wife sequence, the blanket sequence, the Ruthie Lee segment and the few other short pieces were NOT removed from the Turner "workprint" until the film's national television showing to pad it out in time. These scenes were literally clipped out and never re-inserted -- probably nobody cared to take the trouble. My point is that it seems obvious that whenever Peckinpah screened this print for his friends in his home those scenes WERE in the print. There is NO WAY Peckinpah would have accepted a showing of this film, even as a workprint-in-progress, without those missing scenes. On this point alone the Turner "workprint" cannot be considered a "director's cut" by any standard. It would have been great if Seydor & company had themselves taken the trouble to reinsert these scenes back into the Turner cut before making the DVD master of this DVD. And now, especially with the terrific editing blunder on the 2005 version, fans of the film as I am ( although STILL waiting for a proper release of this Peckinpah masterpiece) must ignore the 2005 version and turn to the Turner cut.)
Summary of Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid (Two-Disc Special Edition)
PAT GARRETT & BILLY THE KID:SPECIAL E - DVD Movie