This book falls outside the usual scope of this blog, but I’m sure many of us will be interested in it. I know I am! Paul Seydor’s The Authentic Death and Contentious Afterlife Of Pat Garrett And Billy The Kid: The Untold Story of Peckinpah’s Last Western Film will be available in February. I’m not sure I can wait that long.
Pat Garrett And Billy The Kid (1973) could be Sam Peckinpah’s most mangled masterpiece — as you know, he had a lot of them. Slim Pickens’ final scene, featuring Katy Jurado and set to Bob Dylan’s “Knockin’ On Heaven’s Door,” gets my vote as the saddest, most moving scene in cinema history. (Quick, Toby, think of something else!)
From Pat Garrett And Billy The Kid‘s troubled shooting — plagued with everything from schedule-busting camera malfunctions to liver-wrecking substance abuse — to its mutilation by MGM and eventual restoration and reappraisal, Seydor’s got a helluva story to tell. As an editor, his insight into the film’s cutting and re-cutting should be worth the cover price alone. His previous book, Peckinpah: The Western Films—A Reconsideration, and documentary, The Wild Bunch: An Album In Montage (1996), show that he knows his way around this subject. Man, I can’t wait!
50 Westerns From The 50s. 
Too late to put this on my Christmas wish list. However I will save my pennies up to get it at a later date.
Just heard about this the other day and was thinking of posting about it myself. Really looking forward to it.
Great news. In my Amazon shopping cart pronto. Seen versions at the theater, home video, DVD. Seydor is tops when it comes to Peckinpah. This is an absolute must read. Curious about ONE-EYED JACKS comparisons, Monte Hellman associations, etc… Hope it goes there.
I guess it is fair to wonder what is really new here? Seydor does Peckinpah well yes, but he has done him to “death” already in his other books, including discussing this film. Money money?
No, that’s a fair question. And from what I know about getting this movie made, there’s plenty of stuff for a book. I remember wishing he’d spent more time on Garrett when I read his first book.
Note to Maddox:
There’s a lot that’s new. New research puts previously held beliefs into a different light. Dr. Seydor begins with a biographical and historical view of Garrett and the Kid. He looks at the early literature that influenced the films to come. He examines Charles Neider’s thinly disguised novel about Garrett and the Kid, The Authentic Death of Hendry Jones and documents Peckinpah’s involvement developing it into a film, writing the script, and then being cut out when Brando took over and turned it into One-Eyed Jacks. Dr. Seydor probes deeper into Rudy Wurlitzer’s sources for writing a new script, more on the association with Monte Hellman, the drafts it went through, the revisions Peckinpah made, and finds more detail and insight to convey about all phases of the production, distribution, reception and eventual restoration of PG & BTK. He points out that the 2005 Special Edition is in fact Peckinpah’s version as originally released but with the missing footage put back in. Dr. Seydor’s history and analysis of the film elucidates the many problems the film presents and clarifies all the misconceptions and confusion people have about the film and the 2005 Special Edition.
Incidentally, neither Dr. Seydor nor the Peckinpah commentators are responsible for the quality of the transfers or for the poor treatment of the preview version. They had no say in such matters. That was the fault of certain individuals running Warner Home Video. The book goes into that.
As for Dr. Seydor’s motives, the introduction will settle that question, but I will point out there is no “money money” for an author in an academic press. This kind of book doesn’t sell like a paperback novel. Like other academic presses, Northwestern University prints about 2,000 to 3,000 copies. There is no reimbursement for the time invested in such a project, no reimbursement for research expenses, which are considerable, no advance payment, and the royalty of 7-14% is likely to be a dime a book, if that much. Books about movies aren’t as popular as the movies themselves, Star Wars notwithstanding. The readership and customer base for such academic books about westerns is extremely small.
Thanks —
Now you’re REALLY got me wanting to read this thing!
I never tire of viewing or reading about Peckinpah’s westerns. In 1973, I was pumped for this one (even though I didn’t get the Dylan thing). Drove into downtown Chicago to see it opening weekend (when downtown still had movie theaters). Hugely disappointed. It was clearly hacked up in some way, though the only things I knew at the time were from Roger Ebert’s review. In 1990, The Art Institute of Chicago presented what they claimed was Peckinpah’s preferred 121 minute version (I do not know if this is the same as the Turner version). Between baby sitters, parking and admission, that remains my most expensive movie going experience. And well worth it! Not a masterpiece, but it has pieces of greatness in it, doesn’t it?
Can’t wait to read this book. Thank you for bringing it to your readers’ attention.
Great story. I’d love to see this one in a theater.
Here’s Ebart’s review, which is great: http://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/pat-garrett-and-billy-the-kid-1973
One of these days, I’m going to sit down and watch ALL the cuts back to back.
I don’t agree with Roger Ebert’s review and I don’t like it much. There were times when Ebert could be obtuse. He should have taken another look at PG & BTK, perhaps years later when he was in a more receptive state of mind. On the other hand, his review of Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Garcia is right on the money.
What I think is really interesting about all this is that I am so excited to read about a movie that I’m not tremendously fond of. Maybe knowing more of the backstory will change my opinion somewhat.
You’re right, it has moments of greatness — and moments where you have to wonder what everyone was thinking.
While waiting for the new book about Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid, Peckinpah fans can keep themselves entertained with Max Evans’ recent memoirs about his times with Sam — GOING CRAZY WITH SAM PECKINPAH AND ALL OUR FRIENDS. Lots of booze, lots of shenanigans, lots of other things. 🙂 http://www.amazon.com/Goin-Crazy-Sam-Peckinpah-Friends/dp/082633587X/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1418870133&sr=1-1&keywords=Max+Evans+sam+peckinpah
I have seen several versions of PG&BtK but none of them look complete and finished and the good scenes are in all of them so I think its a case of paying your money and taking your choice. So I don’t expect to see one perfect version unlike The Wild Bunch which has always been shown in the UK in it’s complete form. But behind the scenes stories are always gripping so I’m glad to hear of this one.
Muswell, it’s true there is no definitive version of PG & BTK. Paul Seydor’s new book is written for Peckinpah fans and for western fans. It gives the fans what they want. You’re going to love this book.