Le retour de Billy the Kid

There's nothing deadlier than a western that fails to come alive.

Maybe it's the pedestrian script, the sluggish direction, the actors who all look bored with their roles--but THE PARSON AND THE OUTLAW never comes alive despite some rough and tumble moments and some shootouts between Billy the Kid (ANTHONY DEXTER) and the henchmen of badman ROBERT LOWERY involved in some kind of land dispute.

MARIE WINDSOR drifts in and out of the story with a thick Mexican accent that never seems less than phony and is playing hard at being a hot-tempered gal who sets her sights on Dexter the moment she sees him. SONNY TUFTS has a thankless role as a gunslinger who wishes he could have met up with Billy the Kid (whom he thinks is dead) so he could put some slugs into him. Tufts has never looked more bored with a role, even when he's doing his quick on the trigger act.

Between the slow pace and the uninspired direction, along with a banal script, THE PARSON AND THE OUTLAW never has a chance. The outdoor scenes are photographed skillfully and look good in color, but there are some obvious stock shots used that are blurry and poorly photographed.

The supporting cast includes CHARLES "BUDDY" ROGERS and JEAN PARKER, both of whom are saddled with bland roles as a parson and his wife which they play without a hint of enthusiasm.