MovieChat Forums > Big Jake (1971) Discussion > What happened to Billy Devries?

What happened to Billy Devries?

posted 17 years ago by wtl471629
4 replies | jump to latest

He was the young one of the outlaws at the first part of the movie. His brother was Walt and before they attacked the ranch he told young Billy to stay close to him. They attack the ranch and in a few scenes it shows Bobby Vinton as Jeff shooting Walt from his horse but there is no sign of Billy. When they leave two of the kidnappers are missing - Walt and his younger brother Billy. Do we just assume that Billy was shot during the gunfighting or maybe fell from his horse and got killed? I don't think they actually had a death scene for Billy. It has been a while since I have seen this movie. Can anyone help?

[–] wtl471629 17 years ago

Of course the movie also mentioned this was his first job and maybe when the fighting started he decided he didn't have the desire to be an outlaw and he may have fled.

[–] wtl471629 17 years ago

I rechecked the dvd last night for a week and watched the first part of it. Before the attack by the outlaws Bill's older told him to stay close to him. During the attack Jeff (Bobby Vinton) shoots Billy's brother but Billy isn't around. I still don't know what happened to him so I guess we can assume since he isn't seen again that he either was killed in the fighting off scene or perhaps decided an outlaw's life wasn't for him and he fled. The narrator did say that was supposed to be his first job and he was about 21 so he was young.

[–] duke07 17 years ago

according to the Novel (based on the screenplay). Jeff mccandles runs onto the porch & sees the Teenager (Billy) "who's eyes were wide with fear" he turns his gun on jeff but jeff fires first hitting Billy in the face. Jeff then shoots Walt who saw Billy get shot.

Hope this helps. Great film i never picked up that Billy disappears.

An interesting note is that the Duffy character (Dean Smith) was not a regular part of the Gang & was not going to get a share of the loot. His gun was hired for $100.00 a week for 2 weeks only.

[–] 17 years ago

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