The Outlaw (1943)

The Outlaw is a 1943 American Western drama directed and produced by Howard Hughes, starring Jack Buetel, Jane Russell, Thomas Mitchell, and Walter Huston. Though completed in 1941, the film faced significant censorship delays and was not widely released until 1946, due to its provocative content and Hughes’s battles with the Production Code Administration. It runs approximately 115 minutes in its final release version.

Plot Summary

Set in Lincoln, New Mexico, the film reimagines the tangled relationships between three legendary figures of the American West: Billy the Kid (Jack Buetel), Doc Holliday (Walter Huston), and Pat Garrett (Thomas Mitchell). When Doc arrives in town searching for his stolen horse, he discovers it in the possession of Billy. Rather than arrest him, Doc befriends the young outlaw, straining his relationship with Garrett, who is now sheriff.

Complicating matters is Rio McDonald (Jane Russell), Doc’s fiery lover, who becomes romantically entangled with Billy. As tensions rise between the three men, Rio’s shifting loyalties and Billy’s defiance lead to betrayal, violence, and a dramatic standoff.

Cast

• Jack Buetel as Billy the Kid
• Jane Russell as Rio McDonald
• Walter Huston as Doc Holliday
• Thomas Mitchell as Pat Garrett
• Joe Sawyer as Charley Woodruff
• Mimi Aguglia, Gene Rizzi, and Dickie Jones in supporting roles

Production Notes and Controversy

• Directed by Howard Hughes, with a screenplay by Jules Furthman, based loosely on historical figures
• Cinematography by Gregg Toland, known for his work on Citizen Kane, lends the film a striking visual style
• The film became infamous for its sexualized portrayal of Jane Russell, particularly in scenes emphasizing her cleavage, which led to prolonged disputes with the Hays Office
• Hughes designed a custom brassiere for Russell to accentuate her figure, though she later claimed she never wore it
• The film was initially released in San Francisco in 1943 for a limited run, but was pulled due to censorship objections; it was re-released in 1946 after Hughes launched a publicity campaign that capitalized on the controversy
• Despite mixed critical reception, the film grossed over $20 million, a massive return on its $3.4 million budget
• The film’s notoriety helped launch Jane Russell’s career, making her a sex symbol of 1940s Hollywood