Billy Two Hats

See it – One of the best of Gregory Peck's later westerns, this is actually a very underrated movie. Also, if you like listening to Peck speak in a Scottish accent, that'll give you another reason to like it. Not particularly unique or smart, but an enjoyable western with a classic feel just the same. Peck and his young half-breed sidekick, Billy Two Hats, are outlaws on the run. We never hear much about their past, but their camaraderie is evident as they save each other's lives multiple times while being chased through the desert by a relentless lawman. When things turn south, they'll have to use their wits, not just their guns, to survive. 3 out of 5 action rating.

It's a bit bitty this western, and you do have to get past Gregory Peck's "haud yer whisht" Scots accent, but apart from those it's actually quite a solidly presented story with a good effort from all concerned. Jack Warden steals the show as the sheriff ("Gifford") pursuing "Archie" (Peck) and his half-breed sidekick "Billy" (Desi Arnaz Jr.) after they committed a robbery in which a man was - accidentally - killed. The story follows the chase - but not in a conventional sense. The balance of power frequently shifts between the pursuing and the pursued; there are some rather fancily dressed and menacing Apache on the warpath (for whisky) and when they alight on the rather venal homesteader "Spence" (John Pearce) and his nervous wreck of a pretty young wife "Esther" (Sian Barbara Allen) there is even room for a tiny bit of romance for the young man. There is quite a strong undercurrent of racism here. The young man's heritage earns him the enmity of many, especially the rather odious "Cope" (David Huddlestone) who runs a remote outpost with his squaw (Dawn Little Sky) whom he treats little better than a chattel. Indeed, even the title of the film suggests a double standard that is writ quite large into the narrative here. There's a bit of long-distance sharp shooting, quite a bit of gentle witty repartee and though not at his best, the star has a curmudgeonly charisma that helps hold the other characters firmly in place. I hadn't heard of this film before I saw it in a cinema yesterday, and I really did quite enjoy it.

This movie gets broadcast so often that I am surprised there are no other comments. All the performances are excellent, the typical plot of pursuit of the outlaws is well handled, and the racism theme that would probably not fly if the movie were made today is realistically dealt with.

The surprise is Desi Arnaz Jr. in one of his few roles. No great acting is required of him, but he does a very creditable job, and the already handsome young man is smashing in his dark Indian make-up.

Please rest assured that this little gem of a western will be very appealing to you. Having past it by many times for more modern films, I viewed it on a whim and was very pleased. A straight forward story of hate being defeated, love being found, loneliness lost and adversity faced. Easy to understand for any viewer requiring no interpretation. A gem well played by all actors. The stark scenery that others have noted as being filmed in Israel provides a great background for this simple story. The evils of bigotry and prejudice towards native Americans is well covered and evaluated without being preachy. Subjugation of women during this early western period is also exposed for its cruelty.

I saw this film on Turner Classic Movies (TCM).

It seems others have made a virtue out of this film's odd credentials and quite possibly used these against the film itself. On the face of it and if you didn't know (most folks won't, or care) then this is a decent western, with a Sam Peckinpah sense of gritty realism and dynamism.

The story follows a familiar one; an aged Scottish Gregory Peck and a young half-caste youth become fugitives - then friends - after a bungled bank robbery. They are pursued by racist and violent sheriff Jack Warden who hounds the pair, right to the bloody finale. There's good action and the unusual Israeli scenery actually adds a bit of variety to the surroundings.

The interestingly titled Billy 'Two Hats' is given an unusually sympathetic and approachable role, especially considering the western genre's tendency to the opposite toward native American characters. This again, adds to the flavour of the film, giving it a nuance that marks it apart from dozens of others.

I'd not heard of 'Billy Two Hats'; its title got me interested in the TV listings and found it well worth the time and effort but not quite enough to buy it on DVD.