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Western

Billy the Kid (1930): Cast & Plot

Billy the Kid (1930) movie poster

Billy the Kid is a 1930 western directed by King Vidor, starring Johnny Mack Brown as Billy the Kid, James A. Marcus and Wallace Beery. It runs 1 hour 35 minutes.

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Billy the Kid (1930) movie poster
Released
Runtime
1h 35m (95 min)
Director
King Vidor
Genre
Western
Original language
English
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is Billy the Kid About?

The premise of Billy the Kid without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.

A sweeping Western tale follows Billy after he kills the henchmen of land baron William Donovan in retaliation for the murder of his boss. Pursued, he is captured by his friend, Sheriff Pat Garrett, but escapes and heads for Mexico. Garrett tracks him down again and faces a choice: enforce the law or grant Billy his freedom.

Billy the Kid Themes & Keywords

· 11 tags
  • zion national park
  • swedish storekeeper
  • billy the kid character
  • pat garrett character
  • gunslinger
  • classical western
  • remake
  • land baron
  • revenge
  • henchman
  • sheriff
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Cast & crew

Billy the Kid Cast & Characters

Johnny Mack Brown leads the cast as Billy the Kid, with James A. Marcus as William P. Donovan and Wallace Beery as Pat Garrett. Directed by King Vidor; 29 actors are credited in all.

Also Starring in Billy the Kid

· 25 more
Show all 29 cast members
From the director

More from King Vidor

More films directed by King Vidor, best-rated first: The Wizard of Oz, Solomon and Sheba, War and Peace and Man Without a Star.

Full filmography
Plot

Billy the Kid Plot Summary

What happens in Billy the Kid from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 13 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 3-minute read.

Spoilers ahead

The year is 1880, and William Bonney, already infamous as Billy the Kid, moves through Lincoln, New Mexico with a wary sense of fate. When his friend Pedro Gonzales is jailed by a harsh sheriff, Bonney helps him escape, a bold act that cements a loyalty that will pull him into a widening cycle of conflict. The two men drift back to a saloon where Pedro faces old prejudices, and it is here that a powerful cattle baron, Dan Hickey, spots Billy and sees a chance to manipulate the town’s tensions.

Full summary

The whole story of Billy the Kid, scene by scene

Read the full summary
Quiz

How Well Do You Know Billy the Kid?

10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.

Question 1 of 10

  1. Question 1: not answered
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  10. Question 10: not answered

What is the outlaw's real name in the film?

Details

Billy the Kid Also Known As

5 alternative titles, including “The Saga” and “Geächtet, gefürchtet, geliebt - Billy the Kid”.

Also known as
  • The Saga
  • Geächtet, gefürchtet, geliebt - Billy the Kid
  • 比利小子
  • Billy el niño : El terror de la pradera
  • Billy Kid

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FAQ

Billy the Kid FAQ: Cast, Runtime & Release Date

Runtime, release date, director, cast and post-credit scenes of Billy the Kid, each answered in a sentence.

How long is Billy the Kid?

Billy the Kid runs 1 hour 35 minutes (95 minutes).

When was Billy the Kid released?

Billy the Kid was released on October 16, 1930.

Who directed Billy the Kid?

Billy the Kid was directed by King Vidor.

More films by King Vidor

Who is in the cast of Billy the Kid?

Billy the Kid stars Johnny Mack Brown as Billy the Kid, James A. Marcus as William P. Donovan and Wallace Beery as Pat Garrett, among 29 credited actors.

Does Billy the Kid have a post-credit scene?

No. Billy the Kid has no extra scene during or after the credits.

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