U.S. One Sheet Poster
A Bullet for Pretty Boy, an American International Picture directed by Larry Buchanan before being replaced by Maury Dexter, is an action biopic based on the life of 1930's gangster Charles Arthur "Pretty Boy" Floyd, played by singer/actor Fabian Forte. The story begins with Floyd marrying Ruby (Astrid Warner), who is in the early stages of pregnancy with his child. At the reception two brothers show up and cause trouble, insulting Ruby, which leads to a fight in which Charles embarrasses the brothers. One of them then sneaks up to the Floyd home, shooting Charles' father with a shot intended for Charles. Because there is not enough proof, the authorities refuse to arrest the shooter. Eventually Floyd can take it no longer and confronts the man in a barn, and unintentionally kills him in the ensuing fight. Charles is sentenced to six years for manslaughter.
Four years into the sentence, Charles decides that he can't take it any longer. He wants to see Ruby and his son, so he attempts an escape from the prison work gang. He makes it, but his partner does not. Charles hides out at a brothel where the madame was a close friend of his escape partner to let the heat die down. One of the brothel ladies, Betty (Jocelyn), takes a shine to Charles and an affair ensues. The madame eventually sets Charles up with some bank robber friends so that he can get the money that he needs to get Ruby and go west to join his brother and son.
The rest of the movie follows Charles as he robs banks, flees the authorities, is captured, and escapes again. Along the way, he visits Ruby, and his old friend Preacher (Adam Roarke) joins his gang. Eventually Betty starts traveling and robbing with the gang. Ultimately, the gang gets its just reward and meets a bad end (other than Betty, whom Charles broke up with and hid away so that she wouldn't be killed).
A Bullet for Pretty Boy is a pretty good movie, much better than the low rating that it has on IMDB. I have no idea how close the story is to Floyd's real life. Not particularly, would be my guess. Fabian does a credible job in the lead, as do all of the lead actors. Roarke is good as Preacher, Warner is good as Ruby, and Jocelyn gives a strong performance. Warner is attractive in this film, while Jocelyn is gorgeous. With Jocelyn coming across as a tough, sinful woman, the juxtaposition against Warner's nice-girl meekness works well in showing how opposite the two women in Charles' life are and how he is torn between them. There is no hint of a British accent in Jocelyn's delivery.
Shot entirely on location in Texas, the film has a B-movie (which it was), realistic feel to it, sort of like the Walking Tall movies in the 1970's, that I think works well. The film looks good and has plenty of action. There is a nicely-done gas station explosion scene. There is even a scene where Betty is in bed with Charles and her butt is exposed. Because Jocelyn's face is never seen, it could be a body double. The soundtrack works fairly well, although one of the songs gets a little too much play and gets a bit old.
A Bullet for Pretty Boy should definitely be on the must-see list for movie fans interested in Jocelyn Lane.
Production started in mid-June of 1969, shot entirely on location in Texas, and it was completed by mid-October. Opening in the U.S. in July of 1970, the film was reviewed in the July 13, 1970 Variety based on a July 8, 1970 viewing at an L.A. screening room, with a running time of 88 minutes:
"'The Bonnie and Clyde' follow-up backlog isn't played out yet, latest evidence being American International's 'A Bullet For Pretty Boy,' based on the crime career of Charles (Pretty Boy) Floyd. Larry Buchannan produced better than he directed this sluggish Depression era meller, with Fabian Forte top-featured in the title role. A fair amount of bloodshed (pic has a domestic GP rating) provides action where the script, acting and direction do not. Commercial prospects are so-so on action duals, though a hard sell or counterbooking could per b.o. outlook in some areas.
...
Production has an overall good look to it, mainly from the Texas exteriors, effective lensing by James R. Davidson, a lot of period autos, good costuming by Ron Scott and makeup by Lynn Brooks. Though skimp in the few interior scenes, film's overall production polish exceeds that of AIP's current 'Bloody Mama.' But it's story drags itself through a long-seeming 88 minutes, as edited by Miguel Levin.
Fabian, now using his surname Forte in billing, lends the desired sympathy to the key role, though his overall impact is too low-key. Jocelyn Lane, as his away-from-home girl, has some good moments, while Adam Roarke, a fallen preacher who joins the gang, is entirely too urbane for the role; Roarke belongs in more important parts. As the madam, Miss MacAdams comes on strong for a good effect. But in genera, the cast emotes in a range too narrow to blame solely on the thesps.
Buchanan's direction is lame. Considering the period of the story, the succession of bank robberies could have been effectively enlivened by montages; as it is, flip-frame is used occasionally, but it sticks out like a sore thumb. Harley Hatcher wrote the score, supervised by Al Simms, which is virtually half-a-dozen song inserts every reel or so; not all are inappropriate to the dramatic mood."
Here is a July 1970 U.S. trade ad touting the film's strong opening:"'The Bonnie and Clyde' follow-up backlog isn't played out yet, latest evidence being American International's 'A Bullet For Pretty Boy,' based on the crime career of Charles (Pretty Boy) Floyd. Larry Buchannan produced better than he directed this sluggish Depression era meller, with Fabian Forte top-featured in the title role. A fair amount of bloodshed (pic has a domestic GP rating) provides action where the script, acting and direction do not. Commercial prospects are so-so on action duals, though a hard sell or counterbooking could per b.o. outlook in some areas.
...
Production has an overall good look to it, mainly from the Texas exteriors, effective lensing by James R. Davidson, a lot of period autos, good costuming by Ron Scott and makeup by Lynn Brooks. Though skimp in the few interior scenes, film's overall production polish exceeds that of AIP's current 'Bloody Mama.' But it's story drags itself through a long-seeming 88 minutes, as edited by Miguel Levin.
Fabian, now using his surname Forte in billing, lends the desired sympathy to the key role, though his overall impact is too low-key. Jocelyn Lane, as his away-from-home girl, has some good moments, while Adam Roarke, a fallen preacher who joins the gang, is entirely too urbane for the role; Roarke belongs in more important parts. As the madam, Miss MacAdams comes on strong for a good effect. But in genera, the cast emotes in a range too narrow to blame solely on the thesps.
Buchanan's direction is lame. Considering the period of the story, the succession of bank robberies could have been effectively enlivened by montages; as it is, flip-frame is used occasionally, but it sticks out like a sore thumb. Harley Hatcher wrote the score, supervised by Al Simms, which is virtually half-a-dozen song inserts every reel or so; not all are inappropriate to the dramatic mood."
Here is the U.S. pressbook:
The U.S. one sheet poster is shown at the top of this post. I have not seen the window card. Here are the 40x60, half sheet, and insert posters, along with the lobby card set:
The soundtrack album:
A theater program (tri-fold that is folded out in these scans):
U.S. Stills:
British quad posters:
An Australian daybill poster:
An Italian locandina:
A Spanish poster:
A Mexican lobby card:
