sol- Tensions between Billy the Kid, Pat Garrett and Doc Holliday reach boiling point as they vie for the affections of a voluptuous young woman in this western drama from Howard Hughes. The film is best known for being banned upon initial release due to the size of Jane Russell's bust, and many have denigrated it over the years, citing its historical inaccuracy, the admittedly poor music choices and Jack Buetel's bland performance as the Kid. All things considered though, 'The Outlaw' is a surprisingly decent motion picture. Russell brings a lot of zest and charisma to her role, cleavage aside, and the film is excellently visualised by the dynamite combination of Gregg Toland and Lucien Ballard. Interesting shots include Russell throwing a pitchfork towards the camera and gradual zooms in towards her eyes and lips at pivotal points. Academy Award winners Thomas Mitchell and Walter Huston also give it their all as Garrett and Holliday respectively, even if the script does not give them that much to do (it is more geared towards Buetel romancing Russell than Buetel squaring off with his co-stars). Whatever the case, this is a film worth a look for more than just Russell's bust.

grantss More famous for Jane Russell's curves, the furore they caused, and Howard Hughes' resulting struggles to have the movie released, than for anything else. Still, it is a reasonable story, though the plot verges on the random from time to time. Howard Hughes' direction is OK, though maybe a bit wayward in spells. It should be remembered that, for all his fame in the movie business, Howard Hughes was essentially a producer. He only directed two movies - this and Hell's Angels (1930). Good performance by Jack Beutel, especially, as Billy the Kid. Clint Eastwood would have taken cues from his cool and confident demeanor. Walter Huston is solid as Doc Holliday. This all said, Jane Russell is the best thing about this movie. Jane Russell, or, more accurately her assets, steal(s) the show. She is stunningly beautiful. So curvy that Hughes had problems getting the movie released. The movie is very tame by today's standards, but by 1943 standards it was regarded as semi- pornographic.Worth seeing, for Jane Russell, and for historic reasons, as this is a movie that help push the boundaries of artistic freedom.

lepoisson-1 Contains major spoilers.People have been totally slamming this movie, and I don't feel that's completely fair, since the photography is pretty good. OK, so the acting (if you can call it that: it's more like reciting lines) is wooden. The screen-writing is hilarious, and not because this is supposed to be a comedy (or was it? I've seen this three times and I'm still not sure). Maybe it's supposed to be British humor, where all absurd situations get treated as if it were normal: Example 1: Doc's girlfriend falls in love with Billy, and Doc appears upset but doesn't display any emotion. Example 2: Doc shoots Garrett's friends, and Garrett says - with a straight face - something akin to "this isn't going to help our friendship". Oh yes - and the music is sometimes vaudevillian comedy style, usually at inappropriate times.I've usually limited my bad movie watching to science fiction or drama...and now I can add a Western to the mix.Highly recommended.

thinker1691 Stories of the old West abound and Hollywood is no stranger to putting them onto the silver screen. However, tinsel town is not very careful when it comes to historical accuracy. Take this film for instance, the original script was written by Jules Furthman, for a special project directed by none other than Howard Hughes. The movie is called " The Outlaw " and is supposedly one of a few the late Hughes touted as his best. However, playing fast and loose with history is sure to cause historians to scratch their heads. In this fanciful tale, audiences are treated to a make believe story wherein we have two western legends 'Billy the Kid' aka, William Bonny (Jack Beutel) and 'Doc Holiday' aka, John Henry Holiday (Walter Huston) arriving in Lincoln, New Mexico and becoming fast friends. Unlikely as that is, we are also treated to Sheriff Pat Garrett (Thomas Mitchell) who comes to dislike both men. Not because they are outlaws, but because they form a closer bond which many suggest boarders on the suspicious. Jane Russell is the Buxom bombshell Rio McDonald, who was the surprising sex-sensation and X-rated Eye-candy of the 1940s. The actors are likable enough and carry the fictional story along to it's rather slow, almost torturous ending. The motion picture has its ardent proponents, which equal it's cinematic detractors. However, the special reason why this film is sought after is due to its depiction of Jan Russell in a 'super' bra (Which she never wore). Indeed, I watched the movie with anticipation and realized in the year 2010 we have a whole plethora of "Full-Figure' want-to-be's who've revealed more than Russell ever did. I believe that were it not for the trashing of western myths, this movie might rank as a Classic, but as it is, many would warn its director to stick to airplanes. ****