I think this is a new genre that they're all sort of working their way through it and haven't got all the kinks worked out yet but it's a genre that works for me.

I enjoyed watching this film and would recommend other to give it a try , (as I am) but this movie, although enjoyable to watch due to the better than average acting fails to add anything new to its storyline that is all too familiar to these types of movies.

The movie's not perfect, but it sticks the landing of its message. It was engaging - thrilling at times - and I personally thought it was a great time.

An old-fashioned movie made with new-fashioned finesse.

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 think this movie is underrated as a western. Or maybe it's just under-seen, which is really a pity. With nice color photography, it's got some really great western visuals, a meaty storyline, a collection of disparate characters whose fates you really start to care about, and some memorable, quotable dialogue here and there. Jack Warden is excellent as a gruff frontier sheriff "just doing his job," as it were. He's a toned-down and more accessible version of Gene Hackman's over-the-top bastardly sheriff in "Unforgiven." Gregory Peck, playing a words-of-wisdom-spouting Scottish outlaw with a big heart, is really quite good with his Scottish accent (no, it's not perfect, but passable), and has some memorable lines. Desi Arnaz Jr. is quite the sympathetic character as a half-breed Kiowa Indian outlaw being brought to justice by the sheriff. The supporting cast is quite good, and oh.. that nasty little band of outlaw Apaches they run into is truly a scary lot. You can't help but wonder how many white settlers they raped, murdered and pillaged.All in all, the movie is packed with memorable western images and meaningful lines of dialogue . See it if you get a chance. I'd love for this movie to get more air time.

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.

Billy Two Hats was made at a dry spell in Gregory Peck's career. He himself admitted he was taking roles just for the work and the loot and possibly the thought of doing a western shot in the Negev desert in Israel may have appealed to him. It probably would be more feasible today. In 1974 Menachem Begin and Anwar Sadat hadn't sat down at Camp David and made peace. I wonder just how much danger Greg and the cast were in.The title role is played by Desi Arnaz, Jr. and Gregory Peck plays a Scottish outlaw from the old west. A pair of amiable bankrobbers, Arnaz prevents Peck from being captured by Marshal Jack Warden. Of course Arnaz is caught, but later Peck rescues him at the cost of a broken leg. Actually the most interesting part in the film is that of Jack Warden as the Marshal. He may have the badge, but he's not exactly Wyatt Earp as the Wyatt Earp legend has him. In fact Gene Hackman may very well have studied this film for his portrayal of a nasty town marshal in Clint Eastwood's The Unforgiven.I wouldn't recommend this film for anyone other than fans of Gregory Peck.