zardoz-13 Review of Young Billy Young

Young Billy Young (1969)

Not One of Burt Kennedy's Better Westerns

[5/10 · 4 September 2010]

Veteran writer & director Burt Kennedy's "Young Billy Young" qualifies as a routine law and order oater about the relationship between an older, wiser mentor and a raw green gunslinger. Robert Mitchum stars as a $40-a-month lawman with some unfinished business, and the son of Robert Walker and Jennifer Jones—Robert Walker, Jr.,--is the lanky, wet-behind-the-ears youth who rides alongside him in this disposable western that resembles Howard Hawks' "Rio Bravo." Angie Dickenson, who co-starred in "Rio Bravo" with John Wayne, plays Mitchum's romantic interest, while former "Maverick" star Jack Kelly and perennial villain John Anderson are cast as his adversaries. David Carradine plays the villain's no-account, gun-toting offspring. Kennedy, who made a name for himself back in the1950s writing westerns for director Budd Boetticher and star Randolph Scott, sprinkles some hell-bent-for-leather, tough-guy dialogue between numerous shoot-outs. In fact, anybody who analyzes Kennedy's cinematic legacy will note some of the dialogue that Kennedy recycles from his above-average sequel to "The Magnificent Seven," the "Return of the Seven." When questioned about his decision to ride into Lordsburg, the hero observes that he is "looking for a climate with a little less lead in the air." Yul Brynner told Robert Fuller the very same thing in "Return of the Seven." Unfortunately, "Young Billy Young" isn't one of those seminal westerns for which Kennedy should be remembered. The gunfights are staged without drama and the entire affair possesses a lackluster quality. Reportedly, John Wayne had the good sense to turn down this marginal western. The chief problem with "Young Billy Young" is that it is formula from start to finish with few insights about westerns or departures from genre conventions. Not only does this revenge-themed sagebrusher lack cool confrontations, but also it doesn't spring any surprises on us. Furthermore, the villain doesn't make his appearance until later in the last quarter hour. It is difficult to hate a villain when we know nothing about him. Had "Young Billy Young" lived up to its first scene, perhaps this western might have fared better. Shelly Mane's off-beat, jazz-inspired orchestral score is experimental and doesn't accentuate the few truly dramatic moments. Veteran character actor Paul Fix of "The Sons of Katie Elder" has the best role as a grizzled, old stagecoach driver that the hero thinks is too decrepit to be driving a stagecoach. The first scene ranks as the best. "Young Billy Young" opens with an old train chugging through an arid, mountainous landscape, like in "The Sons of Katie Elder." The train is transporting Mexican soldiers. The leader (Rodolfo Acosta of "Return of the Seven") and his minions arrive in a dusty village in the middle of nowhere. Billy Young (Robert Walker, Jr., of "The War Wagon") and his buddy Jesse Boone (David Carradine of "Boxcar Bertha") are draped in ponchos and loitering at a fountain when the train arrives. The big-hatted leader assembles a firing squad and the peasants are paraded out, stood against a wall and then shot down by troops. Billy and Jesse sneak aboard the train. Once the firing squad carries out the execution, the leader and his soldiers board the train and resume their journey. When the leader and his closest associates are least expecting anybody to interfere with them, Billy and Jesse surprise them and shoot everybody. Our heroes escape with about twenty Mexicans in hot pursuit. Billy's horse takes a fall during the chase, and he finds himself alone on foot with the nearest town lying some 30 miles away. Billy catches a donkey and rides it like a horse. As he approaches a river crossing, Billy rides past Ben. No sooner has Billy and his burro entered the river, they find themselves in quicksand. Meantime, Ben Kane (Robert Mitchum of "The Good Guys and the Bad Guys") rides into Bisbee takes a job as the tax collector for Lordsburg. Actually, Ben plans to avenge the murder of his son in Dodge by the man who runs Lordsburg. While he is in Bisbee, Ben witnesses the town lawman get shot over a disputed poker game by Billy. Thinking fast, Ben helps Billy escape before they can arrest him. A posse pursues them. Ben and Billy split off in separate directions and resume their ride together after they have eluded the posse. Nevertheless, Ben plans to take Billy into custody and get the charges against him for killing the marshal dropped. In Lordsburg, Ben runs into John Behan (Jack Kelly) at the jail and Behan advises him to walk on the right side of the street. Ben clobbers Behan. Later, Ben meets Lily Beloit (Angie Dickinson), a dancehall singer, and she warns him about Behan. Ben gets to see Lily take a bath, but he doesn't molest her. Behan finds out and belts Lily with a belt. Ben clobbers him again. Not long afterward, Ben learns that Billy's former partner (David Carradine) is none other than Frank Boone's son. He arrests Jesse after Jesse takes some potshots at him. During this night-time shooting, Doc Cushman (Willis Bouchey of "The Horse Soldiers"), is killed by a stray bullet. Predictably, Boone sends a small army of riflemen to snipe at Ben from the rooftops. Earlier, Billy had tried to help Ben, but Ben turned down his offer, like John Wayne did Ricky Nelson in "Rio Bravo. Billy storms the jail during the siege, knocks Ben out with a gun, and releases Jesse. Billy feared that Ben would murder Jesse in cold-blood if he could not stand off Boone's riflemen. After Billy lets Jesse go, Ben recovers and cold-cocks him over the head. Ben tries to reach a corral full of horses, but the riflemen thwart his plans. Burt Kennedy made some exceptional straightforward westerns, like "The War Wagon," "Return of the Seven," and "The Train Robbers." He also made some hilarious western spoofs, such as "Support Your Local Sheriff." "Young Billy Young" has its moments, but it is not one of his memorable westerns.