The color photography of this enjoyable but not truthful look at the life of the infamous western bandit is so breathtaking that it's easy to overlook the untruths foisted upon the viewer, especially the miscasting of its star, Robert Taylor. Like fellow hunk Tyrone Power (who had just played Jesse James at Fox the year before), Taylor was cast mainly for box office appeal rather than the fact that he was right for the part, being a decade older than the real William H. Bonney. Same goes for Brian Donlevy playinga variation of Pat Garrett, even more fictionalized as his character for some reason had a different name completely.
Outside of the photography, music and overall production design, the highlights include Ian Hunter as a local rancher, Gene Lockhart as a conniving cattle baron and Frank Puglia as a gregarious Mexican man Taylor helps break out of jail. Taylor isn't bad. He's just far too mature in looks and spirit, while Donlevy is commanding in spite of the changes in Pat's general identity. But there's plenty of action and tension, and if not as memorable as the 1930 MGM version, it's still a ton better than all those PRC cheapos from around the same time as this.
Outside of the photography, music and overall production design, the highlights include Ian Hunter as a local rancher, Gene Lockhart as a conniving cattle baron and Frank Puglia as a gregarious Mexican man Taylor helps break out of jail. Taylor isn't bad. He's just far too mature in looks and spirit, while Donlevy is commanding in spite of the changes in Pat's general identity. But there's plenty of action and tension, and if not as memorable as the 1930 MGM version, it's still a ton better than all those PRC cheapos from around the same time as this.