Review of Young Guns (1988) by Jim M — 24 Oct 2009

New Mexico Febuary, 1878: John Tunstall, an English rancher is gunned down by men in the employ of the "Santa Fe Ring" politicians and businessmen tied together by corruption, most notably Lawrence Murphy whom Tunstall was bidding against for a government contract. Tunstalls ranch hands, young men from the drags of society taken in, fed, clothed and educated form a posse "The Regulators" to exact vengeance, begging the Lincoln County War and the rise to fame of one William H. Bonney alias Billy the Kid.

Excellent if Hollywoodized take on the story of Billy the Kid, depeciting him as a near psychotic and featuring a fair amount of gun fights, horseback riding, peyote and a great cast, Emilio Estevez (Billy the Kid), Kiefer Sutherland (Doc Scurlock), Lou Diamond Philips (Jose Chavez Y Chavez, the best role of his life), Charlie Sheen (Dick Brewer), Terry O'Quinn, Jack Palance and Terence Stamp. Must see.

Note: The Lincoln County War occuired in the first half of 1878, sparked by Tunstalls murder. Well the Regulators existed the film focuses on a few of the "Iron-Clad" the core group. In reality the "Regulators" consisted of up to over 40 men (their memebership fluctutated) in addition to the core group, Billy the Kid was never their leader (Dick Brewer was the original, followed by Frank McNab and Josiah "Doc" Scurlock). Historical events the movie includes are the murder of Tunstall, assassination of the corrupt Sheriff William Brady, Gunfight at Blazer's Mill and the Battle of Lincoln, New Mexico (the last being a smaller affair in the film then in real life). Lawrence Murphy was not killed during the battle (July 1878) but died of cancer in October that same year.