Billy the Kid (1930) is a loud, dusty, and weirdly fun relic

You should probably watch this if you’re into seeing how movies looked when they were still figuring out where to put the microphones. It’s a cool pick for people who like old-school Westerns but might be a bit of a slog for anyone who needs fast editing and explosions every five minutes.

Honestly, it’s worth it just to see the scale of the landscapes. They used this fancy wide film back then, and even on a normal screen, the mountains look huge and very real.

Johnny Mack Brown plays Billy, and he’s got this really bright, wide smile that feels out of place for a killer. He looks like he should be selling you a car or playing football, not shooting people in the desert. 🤠

I liked his energy, though. He’s very athletic and jumps onto his horse in a way that makes you realize he’s doing his own stunts most of the time.

Then you have Wallace Beery as Pat Garrett. Man, he is loud. He talks like he’s trying to be heard by someone in the next county over.

I guess they had to do that because the sound tech was so bad back then. He spends a lot of the movie looking like he’s about to burst out of his vest.

The plot is pretty basic. Billy’s boss, who seems like a nice enough guy, gets killed by these corporate-style goons. Billy doesn't take it well and starts ticking names off his list.

It’s much more grounded than something like Beyond the Rockies. There’s a certain weight to the way people move in this one.

One thing I noticed that was really weird was the sound of the horses. Sometimes they sound like a drum set falling down stairs, and other times they’re completely silent while they're galloping.

There is this one scene where Billy is trapped in a house and the heat is supposed to be unbearable. You can actually see the actors sweating, which I don’t think was makeup. It just looked like a miserable day to be wearing wool in California.

The bad guys are pretty forgettable. They’re just guys in hats who look mean until Billy shows up. 🤷‍♂️

I did find myself wandering off a bit during the middle section. There’s a lot of riding. Just... riding through the dirt. It’s pretty dirt, but it goes on for a while.

It’s not as goofy as Rolling Home, but it has these moments of stiff acting that make you chuckle. People stand very still when they talk, probably so they don't walk away from the hidden microphones.

The Good Stuff

• The desert looks absolutely massive and lonely.
• Billy’s twin-gun setup is actually pretty iconic.
• Wallace Beery is fun to watch even when he’s being annoying.
• The horses are the real MVPs here.

There’s a bit near the end where Pat Garrett has to make a choice. It feels a bit rushed, but I liked that they didn't make it too sappy. It’s just two guys who used to be friends sitting in the dark.

I don't think it's a masterpiece or anything. It's just a solid piece of history that feels like it was made by people who actually liked being outside.

The ending is famously not how it happened in real life. But hey, it's a movie from 1930, they weren't exactly checking Wikipedia back then.

I’ve seen worse Westerns from this era that felt like stage plays. At least this one feels like it has dirt under its fingernails.

If you can get past the hissy audio and the fact that everyone talks like they're in a school play, it’s a fun ride. Just don't expect it to change your life or anything. It’s just a movie about a guy with a gun and a very white smile.