Billy Two Hats is directed by Ted Kotcheff and written by Alan Sharp. It stars Gregory Peck, Desi Arnaz Junior, Jack Warden, David Huddleston and Sian Barbara. Music is by John Scott and cinematography by Brian West.Interesting. Peck plays a grizzled Scottish outlaw and Arnaz Jr. the half-breed Indian of film's title. They rob banks and have a sort of father and son relationship as they try to escape from vengeful racist Sheriff Gifford (Warden). So in essence it's a buddy Western, albeit one that's a bit off-beat and has grand ideas to be a religio parable of sorts.Unfortunately away from the unusual casting decisions which happen to entertain, it's immeasurably dull on narrative terms and blandly photographed (in Israel) into the bargain. It's not hard to see why it flopped upon release to theatres.The sporadic action passages are adequately performed, and the intentional humour hits the required mark, but by the time the boorish inter-racial relationship comes to the fore, you may find it hard to stay awake. 5/10

I saw this film on Turner Classic Movies (TCM).It seems others have made a virtue out of this film's odd credentials and quite possibly used these against the film itself. On the face of it and if you didn't know (most folks won't, or care) then this is a decent western, with a Sam Peckinpah sense of gritty realism and dynamism.The story follows a familiar one; an aged Scottish Gregory Peck and a young half-caste youth become fugitives - then friends - after a bungled bank robbery. They are pursued by racist and violent sheriff Jack Warden who hounds the pair, right to the bloody finale. There's good action and the unusual Israeli scenery actually adds a bit of variety to the surroundings.The interestingly titled Billy 'Two Hats' is given an unusually sympathetic and approachable role, especially considering the western genre's tendency to the opposite toward native American characters. This again, adds to the flavour of the film, giving it a nuance that marks it apart from dozens of others.I'd not heard of 'Billy Two Hats'; its title got me interested in the TV listings and found it well worth the time and effort but not quite enough to buy it on DVD.

This unknown Western deals about a Scottish bandit named Deans(Gregory Peck) along with the mestizo Billy Two Hats, both participate on a robbery which goes wrong. Meanwhile an accomplice is killed by sheriff Gifford ( Jack Weston), after that he tracks the thieves and capturing Billy(Desi Arnaz Jr). Then grizzled Deans is shot while breaking Billy out. But Deans is wounded and must rely on Billy . The half-breed not wishing to abandon his veteran partner builds an Indian cot to drag him. Meantime they're pursued by the Sheriff and Copeland (David Huddleston) and hot on the trail. They spend most of it running throughout the desert, being pursued and chased.This is a Western-pursuit, in that a pair of bandits pull off a failed heist ,confronting many obstacles and risks threatening their lives . The two leading men are quite well in the hostile environment with the flick is set in. There are still nice scenes to watch such as the final images when Gregory Peck is besieged below a cart by Indian warriors that hold a remarkable resemblance to Burt Lancaster surrounded in 'The Ulzana's raid (1972)' by Robert Aldrich. The actors supporting the lead roles are very fine as Jack Weston , David Huddleston and Barbara Allen playing a stuttering young wife. However , the cinematography ,filmed in Israel, is lousy and in faded colors, for that reason is urgent a necessary remastering. Atmospheric and rare musical score , including some of guitar sounds by John Scott. This first Western shot in Israel is professionally directed by Ted Kotcheff and skillfully written by Alan Sharp. Kotcheff got great success on action cinema ( First blood, Uncommon valor, The shooter ) and comedy (Switching channels, Fun with Dick and Jane ). Nevertheless , today he only realizes TV episodes (Law and order, Family of cops, Red shoes diaries). Rating : Acceptable and passable. If you are fan of Gregory Peck, you will want to see this one.

This movie gets broadcast so often that I am surprised there are no other comments. All the performances are excellent, the typical plot of pursuit of the outlaws is well handled, and the racism theme that would probably not fly if the movie were made today is realistically dealt with. The surprise is Desi Arnaz Jr. in one of his few roles. No great acting is required of him, but he does a very creditable job, and the already handsome young man is smashing in his dark Indian make-up.