The Left-Handed Gun

This psychological Western stars Paul Newman as Billy, portrayed here as a tortured youth haunted by trauma. Based on a teleplay by Gore Vidal, the film rejects folk-hero romanticism in favor of a Freudian case study in alienation and rage. Newman’s intense, Method-inspired performance anticipates director Arthus Penn’s later Bonnie and Clyde, transforming Billy into a modern rebel whose violence is as much inward as outward.

This screening is part of our series Dead or Alive: Billy the Kid at the Movies, held in conjunction with the exhibition The Resurrection of Billy the Kid.

Western Spirit, Chief Curator, Dr. Andrew Patrick Nelson will introduce the film and lead a post-screening discussion with the audience.

Program Info:

Sunday, November 2, 2025
2 p.m.
1 hours 42 minutes
FREE for Museum Members (Members, log-in first to reserve tickets)
FREE with Museum Admission
$10 for just the program