A Bullet for Pretty Boy

Larry Buchanan, the Ed Wood of his day, made many bad movies in the '60s for American International. Apparently with this film he tried to elevate his game, took too long, got behind schedule, and got fired. Perhaps he also had artistic differences with Fabian. ;-) Anyway, yeah, the movie is wonderfully bad with many lovely bad touches - the bank robbery scenes occur in derelict buildings on the outskirts of downtown that apparently haven't been used in 35 years, Fabian's hairstyle is pure 1970, Fabian shows no apparent familiarity with the act of reading a newspaper, all the shades on the train are pulled down even though it's daytime, you can see the shadow of the camera against the train (because, um, it's broad daylight), the soulful song, not bad at first, gets used to death, etc. etc. etc. A useful text for stuff to avoid when you're making your first picture.

This one follows the exploits of Charles "Pretty Boy" Floyd (Fabian) and his gang as they rob banks through out Midwestern states (although it was entirely shot in Texas). It is pretty obvious that director Larry Buchanan is cashing in on the success of BONNIE & CLYDE (1967); for the second time actually as he made a B&C ripoff in 1968. For a low budget picture, they capture the small town feel pretty well. But reading any quick online bio for Floyd will show you the filmmakers are playing fast and loose with the truth. Floyd here - perhaps thanks to Woody Guthrie's song - is a romanticized, modern day Robin Hood-type with plenty of love for the ladies. Fabian acquits himself well in the lead role and the gorgeous Jocelyn Lane plays his love interest Betty. Adam Roarke has a small role as the character Preacher. An amazing amount of the supporting cast (Annabelle Weenick, Camilla Carr, Hugh Feagin, Gene Ross) later showed up in the horror works of S.F. Brownrigg.

The movie tells the biography of the gangster Charles "Pretty Boy" Floyd (Fabian) who started his career young aged when he saw his father die and sought out revenge by killing his murderer during a fight.

This film is so historical inaccurate, it almost does not deserve to use the name of Charles Floyd. But then, it is so entertaining, that I think it earned this privilege. And, heck, it is more factual than many uses of Al Capone in movies and books, so in comparison this is a documentary!

Seriously, though, it is a pretty good film. Bank robberies, fights, a pretty food food fight scene (my favorite part of the film). What was holding it back? The music. The music was just too 1970s to really be appreciated today, and there was absolutely no need to use the same song four or five times in the movie. If this ever gets a decent DVD release, I hope someone tweaks the soundtrack.

That being said, a fine addition to the Larry Buchanan filmography. And you thought he only made cheesy horror and science fiction!

Sorry, I mean Bonnie and Clyde get a re run at American International Pictures. I saw this in first release at our wonderful Sydney Capitol Theatre, home of the changed-weekly drive in double feature except this was a glorious 2500 seat plaster picture palace. A BULLET FOR PRETTY BOY + ERIK THE CONQUEROR was the 70c double feature in 1971 and I was there, with lollies and still had change from $2. Handsome pop dude Fabian made a passable Floyd mainly because he was pretty in his Matt Lattanzi way. The only reason this film was made was because of BONNIE AND CLYDE and AIP was always keen to cash in on a fad. Also they probably had access to the props and cars from BOXCAR BERTHA and BLOODY MAMA made the previous year. I miss the days of AIP, they always made trash and treasure and always entertaining. BULLET FOR PRETTY BOY was exactly like a B grade version of BONNIE AND CLYDE, banjo music and all.

Writer,Producer Larry Buchanan Directed 29 Movies, None have a Rating Above 5.something on IMDb. About Half are "Documentaries" Exploiting Super-Star Tabloid Types such as...Marylin Monroe, Howard Hughes...

or Gangsters...or the Conspiratorial...

Lee Harvey Oswald, Loch Ness Monster ("Nessie"), Mary Magdalene, Big-Foot...

and an Unwatchable Mess of Awful Sci-Fi and Horror.

Lacking the Innate Passion of "Ed Wood" for Making Movies, because He Loves Movies, and Always a Front-Running-Favorite in a "Competition" with Fellow-Travelers Like Buchanan and Why Buchanan Loses Repeatedly, for "Worst-Director".

"Eddie"always Remains Way-Ahead in "Polls", Awards and Shout-Outs, Because Buchanan's Work is Simply Irrelevant and Moot, Mainly because Most Buchanan's Work is Unwatchable, Not Interesting and Plain-Awful.

No Pizazz, that is a "Quality" that Make "Bad Movies" a Treat for Certain Fanatics. His Movies are Dull and Life-Less "Artistically".

"A Bullet for Pretty Boy" is Considered 1 of the Best in His Filmography, but Did Not Complete the Making of, Replaced by Vet Maury Dexter, when the Producers Lost Faith in Larry,

Although, Credit is Due, He Did Come-Up with an Iconic Title for a B-Movie that has Become a Catch-Phrase Among Bad-Movie-Maniacs, that Lives in Infamy and Wins by a Land-Side...

Best "Bad-Movie-Title Ever...that be the Unforgettable..."Mars Needs Women" (1968)...Not the Movie...Just the Title.

The Inept "Movie-Maker" is Always "Thinking" about "Exploiting", Buchanan will Forever be Remembered as the "Bad Director" No One Cares-About...

because His Work, to Use the Most Common Word in Negative Film-Criticism in the 2020's..."BORING"...but is Spot-On Referring to Buchanan's Work and Always Applies.

With a 1970 Budget of $350,000, and a Former "Teen-Idol", "Fabian" (Forte), who had Been Buried in the "Trash-Bin" of Musical Insignificance, along with the Other Assorted Throw-Away Rock 'n Roll Impersonators.

A Swath of Prefabricated "Singers" (Fabian could barely carry-a-note"), that Polluted the Lean Days of Rock 'n Roll (between Elvis and The Beatles), with a Notion of an Angelic, Safe, Sanitized Style and Songs that were Manufactured for Good American-Kids with Pocket-Change to Spare.

Fabian Forte, as "Pretty-Boy" shows Signs of being a Better Actor than Singer. But Buchanan's Replacement Shot All the Scenes with Any "Motion", Buchanan Only Managed to Film the Scenes with "E-Motion".

The Result is a Larry Buchanan (sort of) Movie that is Somewhat Colorful and Watchable. But if You are a "Newbie" to the Infamy of the Movie Director...Enjoy this, because its All Down-Hill from Here.

Worth a Watch (Barely)