Joe Kidd (1972)

User Rating:

6.2/10   

Director:

John Sturges

Writer:

Elmore Leonard (written by)

Release Date:

14 July 1972 (USA)

Genre:

Western

Tagline:

If you're looking for trouble - - - he's JOE KIDD

Plot:

An ex-bounty hunter reluctantly helps a wealthy landowner and his henchmen track down a Mexican revolutionary leader.

Plot Keywords:

Landowner | Mexican | Land | Bounty Hunter | Shotgun

US TV Schedule:

Tue. July 7	10:30 PM	AMC
Wed. July 8	6:00 PM	AMC

Cast

Clint Eastwood	...	Joe Kidd
Robert Duvall	...	Frank Harlan
John Saxon	...	Luis Chama
Don Stroud	...	Lamarr Simms
Stella Garcia	...	Helen Sanchez
James Wainwright	...	Olin Mingo
Paul Koslo	...	Roy Gannon
Gregory Walcott	...	Sinola County Sheriff Bob Mitchell
Dick Van Patten	...	Hotel manager
Lynne Marta	...	Elma
John Carter	...	Judge
Pepe Hern	...	Priest
Joaquín Martínez	...	Manolo (as Joaquin Martinez)
Ron Soble	...	Ramon
Pepe Callahan	...	Naco
Clint Ritchie	...	Deputy Sheriff Calvin
Gil Barreto	...	Emilio
Ed Deemer	...	Harry (bartender)
Maria Val	...	Vita
Chuck Hayward	...	Eljay
Michael R. Horst	...	Deputy

Directed by
John Sturges

Writing credits
Elmore Leonard		(written by)

Produced by
Sidney Beckerman	....	producer
Robert Daley	....	executive producer

Original Music by
Lalo Schifrin

Cinematography by
Bruce Surtees		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Ferris Webster

Art Direction by
Henry Bumstead
Alexander Golitzen

Set Decoration by
Charles S. Thompson

Production Management
Ernest B. Wehmeyer	....	unit production manager (as Ernest Wehmeyer)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
James Fargo	....	assistant director (as Jim Fargo)

Sound Department
James R. Alexander	....	sound
Waldon O. Watson	....	sound

Stunts
Buddy Van Horn	....	stunt coordinator
Steven Burnett	....	stunts (uncredited)
Tap Canutt	....	stunts (uncredited)
Running Deer	....	stunts (uncredited)
Mickey Gilbert	....	stunts (uncredited)
Chuck Hayward	....	stunts (uncredited)
Bob Herron	....	stunts (uncredited)
Kim Kahana	....	stunts (uncredited)
George Orrison	....	stunts (uncredited)
Walter Scott	....	stunts (uncredited)
Buddy Van Horn	....	stunt double (uncredited)
Autry Ward	....	stunts (uncredited)

Other crew
Jack N. Young	....	location manager (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Universal Pictures
• Malpaso Company, The

Distributors

• Universal Pictures (1972) (USA) (theatrical)
• CIC (1972) (West Germany) (theatrical)
• National Broadcasting Company (NBC) (1974) (USA) (TV) (broadcast premiere)
• MCA/Universal Home Video (1991) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• Universal Home Entertainment (1998) (USA) (DVD)
• Universal Home Video (2003) (Brazil) (DVD)
• Universal Pictures Benelux (2003) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• CIC Vídeo (19??) (Brazil) (VHS)

Other Companies

• Cinematique  cosmetics
• Universal Title  titles & optical effects

Also Known As:

Sinola (USA) (working title)
Sinola (Austria) (West Germany) [de]
Belâ arayan adam (Turkey: Turkish title) [tr]
Joe Kidd (France) [fr]
Joe Kidd (Brazil) [pt]
Joe Kidd (Denmark) [da]
Joe Kidd (Spain) [es]
Joe Kidd (Greece) [el]
Joe Kidd (Finland) [fi]

Runtime:

88 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Spanish

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Certification:

UK:15 (1987) | UK:AA (1972) | Iceland:16 | Spain:13 | West Germany:16 | Australia:M | Finland:K-16 | Norway:15 | Norway:16 (1972) | Sweden:15 | USA:PG

Filming Locations:

Alabama Hills, Lone Pine, California, USA

Company:

Universal Pictures

Goofs:

Factual errors: Joe Kidd fires more than ten shots with his standard ten round Mauser C96 without reloading the gun once.

Quotes:

[Joe is putting the moves on Elma]
Elma: How long have they had you locked up?
Joe Kidd: Two days.
Elma: What would you be like after two months?
Joe Kidd: We wouldn't even be talking now.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Major Movie Star (2008)

As memorable as a Hopalong Cassidy B-flick

Everything about "Joe Kidd" suggests quality of the highest order. Here you've got Clint Eastwood co-starring with Robert Duvall (in one of his first post-"Godfather" roles), to say nothing of an excellent supporting cast that includes John Saxon, in a western directed by John Sturges whose name I will always utter with reverence because he gave us "The Great Escape." And it's based on an Elmore Leonard novel. Prepare to be impressed.

"Joe Kidd" opens well with Clint Eastwood all duded up in the most splendid threads he ever wore in a movie. In no time at all, though, it all goes rapidly downhill, becoming as memorable as a Hopalong Cassidy B-flick. Everyone involved acknowledged it was a disappointment, but why? Patrick McGilligan's recent bio of Eastwood (which is close to a hatchet job) suggests Sturges had succumbed to alcohol by then and simply wasn't up to the job, but star and co-producer Eastwood, humble in the presence of a man who directed so many fine films, was reluctant to usurp the reins. The movie's inferior reputation may now be in its favor. Having read so many bad reviews of the film, Eastwood fans who haven't seen it yet may have such low expectations that it may seem better than it is. If so, enjoy.