The old west and the 20th century

[vicious_sid]

Were any infamous american outlaws OR famous shootists
filmed (except annie oakley, I've seen footage of her)

many thanks

[dot.haukes]

found this on a website devoted to Buffalo bill:

'Since the earliest days of the movies, people have been making films about Buffalo Bill. William F. Cody himself appeared in some of the first silent films recorded by Edison, and later played himself in Life of Buffalo Bill (Pawnee Bill Film Company, 1912) and The Indian Wars (Essanay, 1913). '

[Clanad]

Photos (verified) exist of Jesse James, Wild Bill Hickock, Wyatt Earp (and brothers) and many more. Most of the "shootists" had their heyday in the decades following the Civil War (which ended in 1865)... especially the 1880's and photography was well established. I live in the western U.S., by the way and in a very short time can drive to the haunts of many of the well known.

You may have had an opportunity to see a Robert Redford movie a number of years ago entitiled "Jeremiah Johnson"). The movie was based (very loosely) on the life of Johnathan Johnston, known by the moniker of Liver Eating Johnston for his supposed habit of eating the livers of the Crow Indians whom he hated for some unspecified reason. Mr. Johnston was the sherrif for few years in Red Lodge, Montana, served previously in the Civil War and was buried in California in a War Veteran's cemetery but his body was moved to Cody, Wyoming due to the influence of Redford's movie. Even Johnston was photographed as seen here: http://www.johnlivereatingjohnston.com/ ...

[Andyvon]

I remember seeing an interview with Wyatt Earp which was filmed in about 1928. Wyatt Earp was about 88 at the time and it was filmed just before he died. The film was obviously black and white and it was quite short but it was still very interesting to see Earp sitting there in a chair with a big moustache talking about the OK Corral gunfight.

I believe that if those events took place now then Wyatt Earp would be arrested for murder and almost certainly convicted.

[Andyvon]

Me again! I've just remembered another interesting film I saw recently, although it's wandering off the subject a little.

The film was shot in 1913 and it was a re-enactment of the Battle of Gettysburg which took place in 1863. The film was made on the 50th anniversary and all the participants were elderly veterans of the battle! The film showed the Union vets sheltering behind the same stone wall they used during the battle and the Confederate vets were shown re-enacting their suicidal charges uphill to attack the wall. The film was accompanied by text which described the action and it ended with the elderly veterans all smiling for the camera and shaking hands over the wall.

Film is a wonderful invention. Imagine being able to watch actual footage taken during the Battle of Waterloo, Trafalgar or Agincourt!

[vicious_sid]

Many thanks for all answers,

Andyvon do you know if the wyatt earp interview or the gettyburg movie are available to view online anywhere

[chrisraub]

Would be great to find any Wyatt Earp movie!, I'm searching on the web and other places. Anyvon, you say that in 1928 "film was obviously black and white". Well, Germany had colour movies from WW1 (world war one), so a movie of Wyatt Earp in colour wouldn't be strange (if there's any recorded). Let's hope we find!