Rent The Outlaw (1943)

Dud Western - The Outlaw review by Steve

Amateurish comedy-western which of course became infamous for the censorship kerfuffle caused by Jane Russell's debut appearance in the cantilever bra. Which she says she didn't even wear. It's the 116m censored version which is widely shown. Though even hardcore fans of the star surely do not want to see more of this than absolutely necessary.

There is historical interest for students of the Production Code... but little for anyone else. It's astonishingly badly directed. Howard Hughes obsessed over the released version for years, as he often did. But the problems start earlier, with the witless script, and the departure of Howard Hawks as director. The cast is all dreadful, even the Oscar winners...

Thomas Mitchell gives the worst performance of his career as Pat Garrett. Walter Huston is a saucy, elderly Doc Holiday, who shouldn't even be in this particular legend. Jack Buetel as Billy the Kid has the looks, but zero charisma. Everyone overacts to send up the material. It'd be nice to claim Russell saves the film given her creepy treatment. But she's not yet an actor.

Though she looks right as the sultry señorita. Worst of all is the infantile score with comical effects which belong in a Laurel and Hardy film. There is an obvious gay subtext which doesn't bring any depth to the situations; this has the profundity of Republic's Three Mesquiteers series. The sole positive is Gregg Toland's high contrast b&w photography. Enjoy!