Coming on Blu-ray - John Snadden welcomes the imminent return of PAT GARRETT AND BILLY THE KID (Sam Peckinpah, USA, 1973

Well, it's about time for Canto actress Kara Hui to make way for director Sam Peckinpah - in a new cover pic on my Facebook Page. 

One of my all-time favourite screen images is from the 1973 Peckinpah Western, PAT GARRETT AND BILLY THE KID (the 2005 cut), which has Billy crossing the wilds of New Mexico heading towards sanctuary at Fort Sumner (see below). 

This languid, yet haunting vista is the centrepiece of a stunning cinematic triptych - and one of the many reasons why I adore this film. 

This dark, rough hewn image was shot by the movie's second-unit director, Gordon Dawson, who considers the footage as being "one of the proudest achievements of my career". An opinion difficult to disagree with...

(click to enlarge)