This film presents one of the most interesting stories of the Old West and it is by far one of the best westerns of the 1980's.  Young Guns is the first western that I remember watching, and as such, it left an impression on me.  It also left an impression on other kids from the eighties, and that is why I chose this film to review.
 

THE CAST

Emilio Estevez  ....  William H. Bonney
Kiefer Sutherland  ....  Josiah Gordon 'Doc' Scurlock
Lou Diamond Phillips  ....  Jose' Chavez y Chavez
Charlie Sheen  ....  Richard Brewer
Dermot Mulroney  ....  Dirty Steve Stephens
Casey Siemaszko  ....  Charley Bowdre
Terence Stamp  ....  John Tunstall
Jack Palance  ....  Lawrence G. Murphy
Terry O'Quinn  ....  Alex McSween
Sharon Thomas (I)  ....  Susan McSween
Geoffrey Blake  ....  William J. McCloskey
Alice Carter  ....  Yen Sun
Brian Keith  ....  Buckshot Roberts
Thomas Callaway (I)  ....  Texas Joe Grant (as Tom Callaway)
Patrick Wayne  ....  Patrick Floyd 'Pat' Garrett
 

THE HISTORY

This western tale is based around the life of one of the youngest and most popular outlaws in history, William H. Bonney, aka Billy the Kid. It is based on some of the true events of the Lincoln County Wars of New Mexico in the late 1800's.  Though loosely based, the story has some basis in reality.

THE STORY

The setting is 1878 in New Mexico.  There is a man, named John Tunstall, who helps young gun men from the road.  He has them work on his ranch, while also teaching them to read and be civilized.  His young men our very loyal to him and see him as a father figure.  However, he's a thorn in the side of the rich rancher Lawrence Murphy, a competing cattleman. Murphy wants Tunstall's land, but he refuses to sell.  So one day he's shot by some of Murphy's men.

The judge can't do anything, since the town is corrupted by Murphy. But an attorney friend of Tunstall's persuades the judge to make Tunstall's men into Deputies.  He then gives them warrants of arrest for the murderers and they begin to search for them.

This is where good intentions get out of hand.  Instead of arresting them, William Bonney just shoots them down. Due to Billy's actions, The Regulators are soon branded outlaws and are wanted dead or alive. The ensuing bloodbath makes them famous, but also propels them into infamy.  William's actions earn him the nickname "Billy the Kid" and the rest of the gang begins to follow his lead.

During this time they are being chased by dozens of Murphy's men and the army.  During these chases the relationships between the boys grows much stronger.  They begin to respect each other much more and eventually see Billy as being a good leader though he is daring.  They continue to run from Murphy's men and the Army that is influenced by him.  They can't run forever though and they finally get caught up with back in Lincoln county at the house of Tunstall's lawyer friend.

Caught and outnumbered by the army, they have a standoff.  During this, a few of The Regulators are killed and a few are wounded, but most get away.  During their daring escape, Billy confronts Murphy and shoots him right between the eyes.  This is the very end of the film and allows the boys to get away with their revenge fulfilled.  The men are still fugitives and end the film with their futures in doubt, until the next film, Young Guns II came out a few years later.
 

Background on the Filmmakers

The film was directed and produced by Christopher Cain. Cain grew up in Sioux Falls, South Dakota and was influenced by westerns of his youth in directing Young Guns.  This was his first box office hit. Before this film, he had been more known as an artistic director. Cain has many other films under his belt, but this is his only western.

The film was executively produced by James G. Robinson.  Robinson is an extremely experienced producer and has produced 3 other western besides Young Guns. The other westerns include Last of the Mohicans, American Outlaws, and the sequel to Young Guns, Young Guns II.

The screenwriter for the film was John Fusco. Fusco also wrote Young Guns II. Fusco's has two other western credits. One is the film Thunderheart starring Val Kilmer, and the other is the animated tale Spirit. Fusco is a diversified writer and continues to write quality pieces for the screen.
 

Context of the Film

This film was filmed during the 1980's at the height of many of these actors careers. The film was meant to be the film that people of this generation would associate with westerns. The 1980's were a busy time of prosperity. People were buying things up and spending cash like there was no tomorrow. This is when the "Brat Pack" actors of the day were in full swing. These actors brought a film to a new level because of their popularity and as such could make a film very successful.

The actors in the film brought a lot of hype to the film. Younger people went to see it in order to see their favorite stars of the day ride around the old west. The film was not meant to be a historical take on what "Billy the Kid"s life was like, but to be a shootem up exciting film. There were not many other popular westerns of this decade, and so this was a refreshing change for people. THe film proved to be an entertaining film which is why it is still regarded by many young people as a good western film.
 

Analysis of the Film

This film is entrenched with ideas about the old west.  The myth and legend that surrounds such men as William Bonney has captured the hearts and minds of men since the 1870's. These myths shown in the film are also written about in Engelhardt. The underdog is rooted for and we sympathize with the downtrodden heroes of the film. The film also ties into other films, most notably The Ox-Bow Incident. THe men in the film follow Billy even though they don't always think he is right, and at times they do go against him. This is very similar to what happened in Henry Fonda's film.

The film portrays Indians in good light as well. Chavez, the mixed breed Indian of the film is at first sort of an outcast of the group. After a few of their adventures, the others realize that Chavez distances himself because he is different mentally and culturally than the other boys. Once the others realize some of their differences, they learn a little bit more about being an Indian and start to bond more with Chavez and each other. Chavez takes them on a "spiritual smoke trip" and shows them what the Indians want. Chavez is a good Indian in the film and is treated as an equal, except they do throw out some racial slurs at parts of the film.

Men and brotherhodd in general is a main theme of this film. The boys are already outcasts which is why they are living with Tunstall. Following his death, they are without a guide and so they are forced to take care of themselves. This turns out to be a little harder than expected, but they manage. The loyalty that the boys show for each other is something similar to what you would see in a war film. The boys are essentially at war with Murphy and this is shown throughout the film through their actions for each other.

I believe that this film brings a release to the people who watch it. Westerns are an escape from the realities that we have to face in the big city, and return the viewer to a place where they can roam free. To be an outlaw and free on the range is something that most people will never get to experience. These men were idolized and made into heroes by the people of New Mexico in the film. People loved them for what they did and the adventures that they got to hear about, they were news.

Reviews

"Remember the Alamo, and remember the ‘80s. Young Guns supposedly takes place in the old west, but it actually takes place in front of the cameras. If you use your imagination, behind the impeccably coifed brat pack (Emilio Estevez, Kiefer Sutherland, Lou Diamond Philips, Charlie Sheen), you can almost see their hairdressers, lint removers, personal assistants, entourages, and playmates. Young Guns doesn't have a good reason to exist besides an excuse for these hot young Turks to look good onscreen, pop off their guns, then mosey off the set and indulge in stardom. It might seem unfair to judge the movie this way, but damn if that isn't the way it feels -- an excuse for preening." -  Jeremiah Kipp (www.filmcritic.com)

"This is a very stupid if entertaining western. Loosely based on the Lincoln County War (very loosely, I suspect), the story concerns a group of youthful toughs whose mentor -- (Stamp) a rancher who is trying to teach them some manners and their alphabet as well as cow punching -- is gunned down by a gang hired by a rival rancher. The boys, who call themselves The Regulators, are temporarily deputized to bring in the killers, but the shooting gets out of hand and they find themselves on the run. One of their number will supposedly become Billy the Kid (Estevez). The cast is okay, especially supporting actors Dermot Mulroney and Casey Siemaszko, but writer John Fusco should have been taken out and shot. How do outlaws on the run in the mountains get their hands on a newspaper? How likely are these unlettered toughs to be able to reference Poe? Would a Native American like the brave played by Diamond Phillips really take a bunch of palefaces on a sacred peyote trip? Skip this turkey in favor of a more heartfelt western like "Unforgiven," "The Searchers," or even "The Undefeated." -  David Loftus (www.allwatchers.com)

"OK. Maybe the greatest all time Western ever! I know that's a little excessive, but there is a burgeoning love of this movie sweeping across the underbelly of the US right now. This is Laugh Out Loud funny. But it also manages to leave you with a sense of 'what if'. Imagine a world where a man had to live by his own laws, his own set of six-guns! I'm sold, and that's my word! Billy the Kid travels New Mexico territory righting wrongs, and getting under the skin of every big shot politician and outlaw (read, the same) in the area. It's his home, and he's not about to let anyone get in the way of his ideals! Truly, a great movie, one that every young person should see... and one that every old person should know by heart!" -Billybonney (fan)  (www.allwatchers.com)
 

Fast Facts (www.rottentomatoes.com) and (www.fast-rewind.com)

Company: Twentieth Century Fox

Budget: $13 million.

Location: Filmed in Cerrillos, New Mexico.

Year: Began shooting February 8, 1988; completed shooting March 1988. Released in the USA August 12, 1988. Shown at Deauville Film Festival, September 1988. Released on video January 4, 1989.

Based on a true events.

John Fusco who wrote this film also wrote Thunderheart.

Lou Diamond Phillips grandmother still lives on the reservation where they filmed the hallucination scene.
 

WORKS CITED

Allposters.com. (1988). Movie Promotion Picture. (Accessed from the internet on April 15th at http://www.allposters.com/gallery.asp?aid=15282&item=343428).

Allwatchers.com. (2003). Movie Reviews. (Accessed from the internet on April 15th at http://www.allwatchers.com/Topics/Info_4214.asp).

Fast-rewind.com. (2003). Movie Review Site. (Accessed from the internet on April 15th at http://www.fast-rewind.com/).

Filmcritics.com. (2003). Movie Review. (Accessed from the internet on April 15th at http://www.filmcritic.com/misc/emporium.nsf/VideoHome/738F6A5E3320729D88256D0C005CE8A8/?OpenDocument).

Moviegoods.com. (1988). Movie Poster. (Accessed from the internet on April 15th at http://www.moviegoods.com/movie_product.asp?master%5Fmovie%5Fid=8575&movie%5Fnss=19880083).

Rottentomatoes.com. (2003). Young Guns Facts. (Accessed from the internet on April 15th at http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/YoungGuns-1024349/about.php).