Emelio Estavez
Emilio Estavez’ western creds are thin. Aside from Young Guns and the sequel the only other is Dollar for the Dead spaghetti western. Estavez role as Billy the Kid in Young Guns and Young Guns II earns Estavez his prominence in this series. Billy the Kid is a character portrayed in countless films by countless actors, some of them quite talented; but from my perspective, Emilio Estavez’ Billy is the ‘Best Billy the Kid Ever’.
The Young Guns films recount the outlaw career of Billy the Kid, beginning with the Lincoln County War. The films cover the period and events of my Bounty Trilogy. I researched those characters and events for my books. I’ve walked the street in Lincoln (there is only one). Put my finger in the bullet hole in the wall made when the Kid shot Deputy Bell, while breaking out of jail. I landscaped those books from the saddle of a gaited horse named Grant. In addition to firsthand knowledge, we have the considerable professional opinion of Billy the Kid expert, Paul Andrew Hutton, Distinguished Professor of History at the University of New Mexico. Paul, who you may recognize from numerous made for television historical documentaries, holds Young Guns “The most historically accurate” of all the Billy the Kid films.
Emilio Estavez nailed Billy the Kid. Billy is a complex character, part fun-loving friendly boy next door, part misguided mischievous pecks bad boy, part psychopathic killer. He’s also controversial. There are plenty of folks who see one side of his persona or the other and stop there, unable to distinguish the cold blooded killer from the troubled young man beloved by a legion of friends. Emilio Estavez captured it all.
Like the ‘Best Ever’ portrayals previously discussed in our Tombstone posts, Estavez’ Billy benefitted from a strong supporting cast including, Kiefer Sutherland (Doc Scurlock), Lou Diamond Phillips (Jose Chavez), Charlie Sheen (Estavez’ brother as Dick Brewer), Brian Keith (Buckshot Roberts) and Jack Palance (Lawrence Murphy). Phillips would go on to co-star as Henry Standing Bear in the hit TV series, Longmire. The ensemble completed an authentic portrayal of a complex chapter in history.
Next Week: Robert Duval
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Ride easy,
Paul
The Young Guns films recount the outlaw career of Billy the Kid, beginning with the Lincoln County War. The films cover the period and events of my Bounty Trilogy. I researched those characters and events for my books. I’ve walked the street in Lincoln (there is only one). Put my finger in the bullet hole in the wall made when the Kid shot Deputy Bell, while breaking out of jail. I landscaped those books from the saddle of a gaited horse named Grant. In addition to firsthand knowledge, we have the considerable professional opinion of Billy the Kid expert, Paul Andrew Hutton, Distinguished Professor of History at the University of New Mexico. Paul, who you may recognize from numerous made for television historical documentaries, holds Young Guns “The most historically accurate” of all the Billy the Kid films.
Emilio Estavez nailed Billy the Kid. Billy is a complex character, part fun-loving friendly boy next door, part misguided mischievous pecks bad boy, part psychopathic killer. He’s also controversial. There are plenty of folks who see one side of his persona or the other and stop there, unable to distinguish the cold blooded killer from the troubled young man beloved by a legion of friends. Emilio Estavez captured it all.
Like the ‘Best Ever’ portrayals previously discussed in our Tombstone posts, Estavez’ Billy benefitted from a strong supporting cast including, Kiefer Sutherland (Doc Scurlock), Lou Diamond Phillips (Jose Chavez), Charlie Sheen (Estavez’ brother as Dick Brewer), Brian Keith (Buckshot Roberts) and Jack Palance (Lawrence Murphy). Phillips would go on to co-star as Henry Standing Bear in the hit TV series, Longmire. The ensemble completed an authentic portrayal of a complex chapter in history.
Next Week: Robert Duval
Return to Facebook to comment
Ride easy,
Paul
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