Wild Bill (film)
| Movie | |
|---|---|
| German title | Wild Bill |
| Original title | Wild Bill |
| Country of production | United States |
| original language | English |
| Publishing year | 1995 |
| length | 94 minutes |
| Age rating | FSK 16 |
| Rod | |
| Director | Walter Hill |
| script | Walter Hill |
| production |
Lili Fini Zanuck Richard D. Zanuck |
| music | Van Dyke Parks |
| camera | Lloyd Ahern II |
| cut | Freeman A. Davies |
| occupation | |
| |
Wild Bill is an American western directed by Walter Hill from 1995. The film shows the life of James Butler ("Wild Bill") Hickok . The story is based on the point of view of Bill's friend, the Englishman Charlie Prince, who accompanies Bill. The film, which tells the story of Wild Bill very freely, makes use of some flashbacks and memories presented as black and white sequences.
action
The action begins with Wild Bill ending when he is buried in Deadwood . Charlie Prince can be heard off-screen and he talks about Bill, the man who was never too good to fight. While searching for buffalo, Bill comes across a grieving Indian who had a prophecy that he would have to fight a white warrior with long hair. Bill accepts the request and shoots the Indian in a duel.
The story jumps on to some scenes from Bill's life, such as B. in a saloon to amuse the audience with the help of a mirror shoots shot glasses over his shoulder from a dog's head. Or how he got involved in a fight in Nebraska in 1867 when he refused to buy a drink for a stranger.
The times as law enforcement officers are also told; the Hays City incident when he fought five US cavalrymen in the saloon there, of which he eventually killed two. Or his work as a City Marshal in Abilene, where he accidentally shot his Deputy Mike Williams.
After this event, Bill became more and more addicted to alcohol and drugs. It is shown briefly how Wild Bill appeared on Buffalo Bill 's show, but presented himself as an extremely bad actor.
Finally, the path leads Bill and Charlie Prince to Deadwood, where Bill wants to give in to his passion for gaming. On arrival, he is greeted by Calamity Jane and dragged into the saloon, where those present pay homage to him. Some old companions happen to be there and brag about some stories in which the number of dead is exaggerated. There is also a young man named Jack McCall present who harasses and challenges Bill. He claims to be the son of the woman who left Bill a few years ago, which finally wrecked her so that she was admitted to an institution with a nervous condition. A flashback shows the story of Bill and the young woman, whom he makes beautiful eyes at a party, but who soon leaves. When he returns later, she is married to a certain McCall, with whom she also had a child. McCall takes Bill's pocket watch at a poker game. The following day the two men confront and Bill shoots McCall. These events shaped the son Jack McCall so that his goal is to kill Bill. The audience in the saloon mocks young McCall, humiliates him and throws him out of the saloon.
The next day, the people took Bill into the street where they were holding McCall, who had boasted all over town that he would shoot Bill. Bill rebukes him and knocks him down - McCall thanks him for not killing him right away. Instead of deterring McCall from his plan, this disgrace incites him even more. Found at the young prostitute Lurline Newcomb, she suggests hiring professionals. McCall refuses.
Bill, meanwhile in pain (he suffers from cataracts), seeks relief in the opium dens in the Chinatown of Deadwood. Spurred on by Lurline, McCall pursues Bill into the opium den and holds a gun to his head - McCall does not manage to pull the trigger and is finally knocked out by the owner of the pub.
Apparently Bill is likely to have a relationship with Calamity Jane, and he sleeps with her every now and then.
Meanwhile, McCall has followed the prostitutes' advice and hired a group of hit men. They make their way to Saloon No. 10 up to ask Bill. There are only Bill, Jane and Charlie Prince present, as well as the saloon owner. When the crowd rushes in, Bill and Jane are surprised having sex while the other two had already slept. Everyone is disarmed, McCall is unable to shoot Bill, who turns away from him and plays cards. There are long discussions between the killers and McCall. Eventually the group leaves without having achieved anything. Jane runs to her room on the first floor, takes two loaded Colt Navy 36s out of the box and hands them over to Bill. He immediately gets up and puts the gang in a barn, where they are saddling the horses to get out of town again. A gunfight ensues in which Wild Bill shoots all five killers, but McCall spares him and takes him back to the saloon. McCall pretends to be purified, but is humiliated by Jane. Bill sits back at the table and begins a game of poker. When McCall notices that Bill is not sitting with his back to the wall for the first time, he suddenly pulls a derringer he had up his sleeve and shoots Bill.
Charlie Prince can be heard off-screen as he says the last words about Bill and the film ends again at Deadwood's cemetery.
Reviews
- Mick LaSalle wrote in the San Francisco Chronicle (December 1, 1995 issue) that Jeff Bridges was "perfect" for the role of Wild Bill. The character of Calamity Jane is not historically real, but tailored to the actress Ellen Barkin.
- Roger Ebert wrote in the Chicago Sun-Times (December 1, 1995 issue) that Jeff Bridges was miscast. The film tries to be "poetic" in the final scenes.
- Desson Howe wrote in the Washington Post (December 1, 1995 issue) that the film showed numerous fight scenes, all of which were equally "uninspired." John Hurt, Keith Carradine and Ellen Barkin were miscast; the character of Charley Prince is dispensable for the dramaturgy.
background
The plot of the film is based on the novel "Deadwood" by Pete Dexter and on the play "Fathers and Sons" by Thomas Babe .
The film was shot in California . He brought 2.2 million at the US box office dollars a.
Web links
- Wild Bill in the Internet Movie Database (English)
- Wild Bill on Rotten Tomatoes (English)