Requiem for Billy the Kid
Documentary, French (also in English)
86 minutes, 2007

This modern-day French-noire film is about Billy as viewed from the present day landscape of Lincoln County.  It features locals from Lincoln, Capitan and White Oaks, while the real star is the way director Anne Feinsilber directed the work.  Get ready to look at the Billy the Kid story in a French-sultry sort of way.  It's worth it just for the smoky rendition of "Knocking on Heaven's Door."  It sort of compares Billy's unfullfilled (?) life to that of a French poet that died before his time. As Netflix put it:  "Amid gorgeous scenic shots and vintage photographs, Feinsilber also explores parallels between the Kid and the short-lived French poet Arthur Rimbaud, whose words are read here by Kris Kristofferson."

The locals still remember the shooting here and the van full of those "crazy French people." They'd be parked at the side of the road for hours waiting for a shot and every pick-up driving by would stop to see if they needed some help. The scenes from the No Scum Allowed Saloon are priceless. 

A Cannes Film Festival entry; it can be esoteric to some, pretty pictures to others, or pass by on a whole other plane along with some of those special brownies...

Short on gunfire; large on characters.

Available on Amazon ($26.99) & Netflix.

The Outfitters
Indie, 1999, 92 minutes

This independent film wanted to be The Milagro Beanfield Wars but, dah...., that had already been made. 

"After their father dies, two brothers, A.J. (Del Zamora) and P.D. Mijants (Danny Nucci), reunite and try to make a go of their dad's New Mexico ranch. Unfortunately, they have no money, and their schemes to come up with cash fall miserably flat. Director Reverge Anselmo's debut feature film is a crazy comedy that boasts a strong supporting cast, including Dana Delany and Paul Le Mat," says the Netflix description.

There's not a local around who can't tell you where every scene is this film was taken, including the No Scum, the defunct Rodeo Bar (outside of Capitan) and the old bean mill out in Claunch.

While billed as a comedy, some thought of it as a drama. A definite B flick (unless you're a card carrying member of the Dana Delany fan club).

Available on Amazon ($9.98) & Netflix.

Young Guns
Morgan Creek, 1988, 107 minutes

What can you say.  This is a modern American classic and the post popular film every made about Billy the Kid, mainly because of an all-star ensemble cast lead by a wild-eyed Emilo Estevez.

It wasn't filmed in Lincoln County, though.

It did establish, though, a film personal for Lincoln, White Oaks and the surrounding countryside. A sign on the outskirts of White Oaks (in the film) saying "No Scum Allowed" is believed to have been the derivation of the current "No Scum Allowed Saloon" in White Oaks.  (With the prior owner it was the "White Oaks Saloon," no scum allowed.

" Young Guns is a fictionalized retelling of the adventures of Billy the Kid during the Lincoln County War, which took place in New Mexico during 1877–1878. It was filmed in and around Los Cerrillos, New Mexico. Historian Dr. Paul Hutton has called "Young Guns" the most historically accurate of all prior Billy the Kid films. It opened #1 at the box office, eventually earning $45 million from a moderate $13 million budget. A sequel, Young Guns II was released in 1990," according to the Young Guns Facebook page (go figure).

This film is required viewing before coming to White Oaks. Along the road into White Oaks a state trooper will likely stop you to ask if you've seen this film (among other things).   His name is "Sir."

Available on Amazon ($8.49) & Netflix.