Young Billy Young (VHS movie, 1hr,29min) by Young Billy Young

28 Jun

Written by Lee Prosser
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For the jazz historian, this movie is unique. Ask yourself, what big name jazz musician did the soundtrack for YOUNG BILLY YOUNG? What actor who sang the theme song in the movie also was a composer/pianist?

Legendary jazz drummer Shelly Manne composed the music for the movie. Actor Robert Mitchum sang the theme song for the movie. Actor Robert Mitchum was also a composer and pianist, and liked jazz.

A tight, crisp Western drama with fine acting and good dialog, YOUNG BILLY YOUNG has a cast which included the stars, Robert Mitchum and Angie Dickinson, plus Robert Walker, David Carradine, Jack Kelly, John Anderson, Paul Fix and others. Based on the western novel "Who Rides With Wyatt" by Will Henry, it was turned into an excellent screenplay by Burt Kennedy and was directed by Burt Kennedy.

The Shelly Manne touch is evident through out the music of the movie, the placement of drum themes and harmonica themes, with the overlay major theme, and the incidental music all come together into a well-acted western drama set in the 1880s which will entertain jazz listeners who come across the movie or the soundtrack. For jazz fans, who enjoy westerns containing music with jazz motifs, and the music of Shelly Manne, this movie is a treat.