Director Sam Peckinpah's version of the Billy the Kid legend is a hauntingly atmospheric Western and follows a favourite theme of his, that of the old having to give way to the new. Billy (Kris Kristofferson), the young outlaw, is forced to accept that 'progress' has come to the American south west, but even so he is reluctant to change his ways. It is up to his former friend Pat Garrett (James Coburn) - an outlaw turned lawman - to hunt down the kid and make him see sense. There's enough action to keep things moving, although it's not as overtly violent as some of Peckinpah's other films. Plus, strong central performances supported by Jason Robards, Slim Pickins, RG Armstrong and Bob Dylan - who also wrote the excellent soundtrack.

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