Billy Two Hats

directed by Ted Kotcheff
Category: "Western"
Year of Release:1974
Date Added:05/28/2026
Date Watched:05/28/2026
Description:Outlaw Arch Deans (Gregory Peck) and his young sidekick Billy (Desi Arnaz Jr.), a half-breed, rob a bank and kill a man. They're tracked down by Sheriff Gifford (Jack Warden). Arch gets away, but Billy is captured. Gifford travels across the desert with Billy to take him to jail. On the way, they stop at an inn. Arch shows up, shoots Gifford in shoulder, and rides off with Arch. The innkeeper has a buffalo gun and shoots Arch in the leg and kills his horse. Billy fashions a travois, and they ride away. Gifford comes after them. Arch and Billy come across a remote ranch where a man named Spencer lives with his young mail-order bride, Esther, whom he despises. Arch offers Spencer $100 to take him to a doctor. Billy stays behind with Esther to watch the ranch. She has never been treated well, and when Billy is kind to her, she seduces him. Arch and Spencer are ambushed by Apache. Spencer is killed, and Arch is wounded and without water. Meanwhile, Gifford finds the ranch and captures Billy again. They head toward town and find Spencer's wagon just in time to chase the Apache away from Arch, who is dying. When he doesn't die soon enough, Gifford threatens to kill him. Billy, with a gun Esther hid, Billy kills Gifford. Arch dies, and Billy and Esther ride off together.
My Rating:5

Reviews for Billy Two Hats

Review - Billy Two Hats

It wasn't terrible, but it was weird that it was centered on a rather bland character who had no backstory and no ambitions. The movie was also slow-moving in places. It was shot in Israel, and the "west" looked harsher than even the American west generally is.

Reviewed by Roger on 2026-05-28 14:59:19

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