Hughes was completely UNAWARE that his leading lady was not wearing his INVENTION when she returned to the set. Russell quipped that she told him that she had it on, knowing that he was not going to take her clothes off to check. The famous bra that was supposedly adorned by Jane Russell during the making of THE OUTLAW (1943) is displayed in a Hollywood museum as a
PIONEER to the PUSH-UP BRA.
The opening of our highly fictionalized HORSE OPERA has a stagecoach coming into the town of Lincoln, New Mexico. Quickly SHERIFF Pat Garrett ( Thomas Mitchell ) RECEIVES word that GUNSLINGER Doc Holiday was on board from his deputy. Garrett has NO INTENTIONS of making any trouble for the famous gunslinger. Instead, Garrett tells his deputy that Doc Holiday is his BEST FRIEND and as far as he was concerned the town is his.
After being REUNITED with his OLD FRIEND Garrett discovered that Doc is SEARCHING for his horse Red. Which explains why Doc was a PASSENGER on the stage. Garrett gives his old friend the heads up that he has been the sheriff of this one-horse town for two whole weeks. Garrett doesn't want to know or be involved in any of Doc's shady dealings because he is now the DEFENDER of the LAW.
Outside the barn, Billy PLAYFULLY takes out the tobacco from Doc's pocket in a COY manner. When Sheriff emerges from the barn, behaving like a JILTED LOVER orders Doc and his new BROMANCE to leave town by SUNDOWN. Something tells me that the HAYS CODE might have been too preoccupied with Jane Russell's cleavage instead of detecting the UNDERLYING homosexual context.
After Doc and Billy the Kid had received their warning " GET OUT OF TOWN BY SUNDOWN" by Sheriff Garrett, they head over to the saloon. Doc decides to get in some ACTION at the card table to make FAST CASH. Billy the Kid learns that Doc Holiday does not play an honest card game.
Following the game, the two head over to the hotel. Billy INVITES the Doc to BUNK with him for the night. Doc declines Billy's offer stating that he has a girl nearby. The conversation leads to Doc ASKING why a good-looking fella like The Kid doesn't have a girl. Billy states that he has NOTHING but a HORSE. He further explains that he doesn't TRUST girls. Doc decides to make Billy a present of RED. Billy ACCEPTS but his SKEPTICAL of Doc's intention. And for good reason, Billy catches Doc trying to SKIP town with Red.
Hell breaks loose when Sheriff Garrett tries to ARREST The Kid. Billy decides now might be a good time to get out of town, but is shot by Garrett before he could EXIT the saloon. Doc DEFENDS his new SIDEKICK by SHOOTING up the place and KILLING a couple of Garrett's men in the process. After Doc SHOOTS the rifle right out of Sheriff Garret's hand. Garrett INFORMS Doc that they are DONE. Doc HELPS the WOUNDED Billy the Kid to his feet and make their break riding out of town.
During their escape, Billy the Kid falls off of Red and into the creek. Red fishes his master out of the cold water. Doc brings Billy to his girl and her aunt to keep him undercover. Doc's girlfriend turns out to be Rio McDonald, the girl The Kid raped in the barn. Rio never tells Doc about her ordeal with The Kid or that she had met him before.
Doc informs Rio that her new patient is Billy The Kid. Doc proceeds to tell her that the bullet went clear through and didn't hit anything vital. The Kid is NOT to be moved or he could BLEED to DEATH. Doc INSTRUCTS Rio to keep The Kid warm and dry and to avoid him from getting the CHILLS or he's a goner. Doc kisses Rio goodbye and rides off with Red.
Rio returns inside, HOVERING over The Kid at his bedside with a KNIFE. For a split moment, Rio WRESTLES with the THOUGHT of SAVING or TAKING The Kid's Life. Instead of KILLING the OUTLAW that MURDERED her brother and RAPED her, Rio decides to do the right thing.
The Kid begins to COMPLAIN of being COLD. Rio PILES the BLANKETS on her very sick patient. Nothing seems to help, Rio decides to STRIP DOWN and climb in bed with her rapist. This was a very risque scene back in the day. I can't imagine why? No FLESH is EXPOSED nor do you see Rio CLIMB into the BED with The Kid. I guess it was the mere suggestion of the act that made it so RACY.
The morning after, The Kid makes a complete RECOVERY. It seems that Rio's BODY HEAT is just what the doctor ordered. Rio insists that Billy still needs plenty of BED REST. Billy has something else in mind which may include a BED but not REST. Billy pulls Rio down on the bed next to him. Rio advises The Kid, that he is not STRONG enough for that yet. The camera quickly pans in on an extreme close- up of Rio's passionate reactions to The Kid advances. Suddenly before the flames of heated passion could ignite, Rio's Aunt barges in and insist that Rio go with her to the store.
When Doc RETURNS to check on The Kid, he DISCOVERS that Rio has not been FAITHFUL. Doc INFORMS The Kid that he can't have Red and Rio too. The Kid tells Doc to CHOOSE the one he wants either the HORSE or the GIRL. Of course, Doc chooses Red over Rio to The Kid's dismay. Unfortunately for Rio, The Kid doesn't want her either and rides off into the sunset with Doc LEAVING poor Rio in the DUST.
Doc and The Kid discover that Sheriff Garrett is HOT on their trail ALONE. It seems like Rio is playing the part of the SCORN woman informing Garrett and filling their canteen with SAND instead of WATER.
At the campfire, The Kid plots in his mind, how he is going to get even with Rio. Doc seems to know what The Kid is plotting and tries to discourage any notions of MURDER. The following morning, Doc discovers The Kid had deserted him in the middle of the night with Red. But Doc is not ALONE, his old buddy Sheriff Garrett has caught up with him. This time it's not a social call, more like PAYBACK time. Sheriff Garrett tosses Doc a pair of HANDCUFFS instructing him to put them on.
The Kid seems to be in the mood for PAYBACK as well when he visits Rio. The Kid wanted to thank Rio personally for putting sand in the canteens and for putting the Sheriff on his trail. Rio tells The Kid to get it over with and finish her off. The Kid seems to like Rio ASKING for it and WANTS her to BEG for MORE. The Kid asks Rio if she would KEEP her eyes Open while he does it. The Camera again pans on those extreme close-ups on the BUDDING stars and FADES out.
The Next time, we see Rio, she is all TIED-UP in OLD INDIAN TRICK. Thankfully Doc and Sheriff Garrett find her before the RAWHIDE completely SHRUNK. Doc tells Rio that he thinks The Kid in love with her. The sheriff comes up with a scheme to catch The kid. That night, The Kid returns to free Rio just like Sheriff Garrett said he would. The Kid becomes a PRISONER of Sheriff Garrett, along with Doc Holiday.
The Kid brings attention to the SMOKE SIGNALS in the distance to his captor. Sheriff Garrett affirms with Doc that The Mescaleros and talking about them. Doc claims that they are TIPPING OFF another HUNTING PARTY to close in on them. Sheriff Garrett asserts that they're best chances are to HIGH TAIL it to Fort Sumner instead of going back to Lincoln. Sheriff Garrett decides to uncuff his prisoners during this STRESSFUL time as long as they BEHAVE themselves. Both The Kid and Doc agree that they would.
Down the road, Sheriff Garrett finds himself having to return the guns to prisoners, just in case they have to SHOOT their WAY OUT. The Kid has an idea which involves lassoing cactus and dragging them creating his own SANDSTORM.
As they ride for their lives, Rio is FRONT and CENTER with her BREASTS bouncing every step of the way as Howard Hughes intended. The scene seems to go and on and on with Rio 's tousled hair blowing about and her open blouse displaying Russell's infamous CLEAVAGE.
A GUNFIGHT is in the making or should I say COCKFIGHT. Standing like two roosters ready to kill the other. Sheriff Garrett certainly won't stop it he wants Doc to kill him. Garrett is neither a selfish friend or jealous lover. until The Kid came along. Rio, on the other hand, is a different story. Either she 's too IGNORANT or enjoys being abused. Rio is defiantly NOT part of this three-sided love triangle.
Fearing that Doc will KILL The Kid, Rio tries to PERSUADE him that he can get another horse. But The Kid is too STUBBORN to listen. Doc and The Kid face each other ready to DRAW on the last strike of the CUCKOO CLOCK. Before the GUNFIGHT commences, Doc gives an analogy on what going on between comparing them to kids in a schoolyard. After Doc's sentimental speech The Kid has second thoughts. But apparently its too late, when the clock strikes Doc is ready to fire. But The Kid 's hands still remain by his side, not on his holster.
Doc doesn't accept The Kid 's refusal to draw, thinking that he would another draw on him another day. Doc tries to make The Kid draw by goating. When that fails, Doc starts shooting. First Doc nicks The Kid's Hand with no response. The Kid remained still even after Doc NICKED a PIECE out of his EAR. Quickly Rio runs in front of The Kid PROTESTING that Doc has gone LOCO.
The Kid pushes Rio away to get into an intense staring contest with Doc. Finally, the ice is broken leading to Doc and The Kid to continue their BROMANCE. Doc and The Kid make plans about riding off in the sunset together, which does not sit well with Sheriff Garrett. Before Doc and The Kid could break away, Sheriff Garrett draws his gun on them. It appears that Sheriff Garrett has reached the POINT OF NO RETURN. The forlorn Sheriff starts babbling once again like a JILTED LOVER: "I might have known you'd do this to me... Ever since you MET HIM ( The Kid), you've TREATED me like a DOG...You stand there SIDE BY SIDE, with that little SNIP of a kid, AGAINST ME, ME. who's always been the BEST FRIEND you ever had. And I still would be if it wasn't for HIM."
Doc tries to peacefully talk down his old chump from making a grievous mistake. Doc makes it perfectly clear that he does not want to kill Sheriff Garett and doesn't want The Kid to do it either. Unfortunately, Sheriff Garrett is so JEALOUS of the relationship between Doc and The Kid that he can 't see straight. Doc reminds Sheriff Garrett that he can't OUTDRAW him. Foolishly Sheriff Garrett attempts to outdraw Doc. One BULLET was fired, Doc was SHOT. Doc pleaded with The Kid not to KILL Sheriff Garrett and then collapses. Quickly, Sheriff Garrett ran over to Doc asking him the agonizing question to WHY he didn't shoot. Garrett continues to say that Doc had him BEAT by a MILE He had him COLD. Doc quipped : "Maybe, I don't like COLD meat, Pat." and then dies.
After Doc was buried, The Kid sees the things in a different light from Sheriff Garrett's perspective. The Kid apologizes to The Sheriff for disrupting the relationship he had with Doc. The Sheriff gives his INSIGHT on how 2 or 3 trails can cross and get all tangled up.
Rio decides to make another play for The Kid since her competition lies COLD in a SHALLOW grave. Rio INFORMS The Kid That Sheriff Garrett is going to let him go free. It seems that Sheriff Garrett may have had second thoughts, requesting to see The Kid before he DEPARTS. Once inside, Sheriff Garrett OFFERS Doc's guns as a KEEPSAKE. the Kid rushes over to COLLECT them. Apparently, there are STRINGS attached, Sheriff Garrett wants The Kid's guns in EXCHANGE.
The Kid Becomes Suspicious of Sheriff Garrett's intentions. Sheriff Garrett explains if he has The Kid's SIX-SHOOTERS he could pass Doc's GRAVE as his and all his TROUBLES would be BURIED. Against his better Judgement, The Kid hands over his guns to Sheriff Garrett, which turns out to be a PLOY to get him ARRESTED. Sheriff Garrett OUTFOXED The Kid this time by taking the FIRING PINS out of Doc's guns. But Sheriff Garrett quickly learns that the tables have been turned when he ends up with the guns without the firing pins.
Before our HORSE OPERA concludes, The Kid leaves his SIX-SHOOTER behind like Sheriff Garrett requested. But not until he HANDCUFFED the Sheriff to a tree. The camera pans over to Doc's grave which reads: Here lies Billy The Kid killed by Pat Garrett, July 13, 1881
Just in case you were wondering what happened to Rio? Well, she finally gets to RIDE OFF into the SUNSET with her OUTLAW. Which I personally cannot fathom why she would want to, after how cruel he treated her throughout the film... not to mention that he killed her brother and raped her when they first met.
FILM FACTS
Jack Buetel made his screen debut in THE OUTLAW (1943). Buetell signed a seven-year contract with Howard Hughes for a 150.00 a week with a promised of becoming a big star.
Ben Johnson makes his screen debut in THE OUTLAW (1943)
Veteran Actors Walter Huston and Thomas Mitchell were hired to support THE OUTLAW(1943) due to the inexperience of newcomers Jack Buetell and Jane Russell.
Howard Hawks wanted Jack Buetel in RED RIVER (1948), but Howard Hughes refused to loan out Buetel for the picture. The role eventually went to Montgomery Clift making him an overnight sensation.
Many film Historians and critics suggest there are homosexual overtones in THE OUTLAW (1943) with the relationship between Doc Holiday and Billy the Kid. Author James Lang wrote that Doc Holiday falls in love with Billy the Kid, which drives Sheriff Pat Garrett into a rage of jealousy.
IMMORTAL DIALOGUE
" You think it was me? "
" Say you're a cool one. Better get you over to the hoosecow before this gets around."
" Hey Pat, How many fingers do you see? Ha Ha. You should only use that on your friends."
" Billy, many a true word is spoken in jest. Hmm."
" I want the two of you out of town by sundown."
Rio: You came back.
The Kid: You don't think I did on your account. Do you?
"I don't want her. Cattle don't graze after sheep."
Billy the Kid ... Jack Buetel
Rio McDonald ...Jane Russell
Pat Garrett ... Thomas Mitchell
Doc Holiday ...Walter Huston
Auntie Guadalupe ... Mimi Augila
Charlie Woodruff ...Joe Sawyer
Stranger who draws on The Kid ...Gene Rizzi
Deputy (uncredited role )... Ben Johnson
MY BOTTOM LINE IS ...
THE OUTLAW (1943) missed its opportunity to be a great western under the helm of Howard Hawks. However, as the film stands under Howard Hughes's direction, it doesn't deliver what it promised in its sensationalized posters. THE OUTLAW (1943) falls short in comparison to the steamy pulp western DUEL IN THE SUN (1946). After that being said, Hughes did have an opposition with The Hays Code at every turn, which did delay the film for years. DUEL IN THE SUN (1946) was the kind of motion picture THE OUTLAW (1943) was trying to be.
Hughes desperately try to deliver his promise making this picture like a dime store novel but was constantly re-edited. Hughes's obsession with Jane Russell's charms is quite noted throughout the picture especially in the " Fleeing from the Mescaleros "scene. The focal point becomes Russell riding hard to escape with her ample bosoms in plain view. As Neely O' Hara from VALLEY OF THE DOLLS (1967) would say it's all about the "BOOBIES , BOOBIES, BOOBIES."
Jack Buetel is the true victim of this sagebrush saga. Buetel showed great potential in becoming a big star in THE OUTLAW (1943) even though his acting ability was criticized. Buetel definitely had the charm and the good looks of a matinee idol, which did not go unnoticed by Howard Hawks. Buetel was offered a role in Howard Hawk's upcoming picture RED RIVER. Hughes refused to loan out Buetell or even use him in any of his films at RKO. Buetel became Hughes's "Kept" actor to the end of his seven-year -contract.
THE OUTLAW (1943) is a testament in how to outwit the Hays Code, by hiring a well-endowed bombshell like Jane Russell created a smokescreen away from the homosexual context of the film. Russell's character is clearing on the outside looking in on this three-sided love triangle between two gunslingers and a forlorn sheriff. This B-grade western is certainly ahead of its time breaking down barriers under the radar.
