Bobbie Jo and the Outlaw

Bobbie Jo and the Outlaw
Theatrical release poster
Directed by	Mark L. Lester
Written by	Vernon Zimmerman
Produced by	Mark L. Lester Steve Broidy Lynn Ross
Starring	Lynda Carter Marjoe Gortner
Cinematography	Stanley Wright
Edited by	Michael Luciano
Music by	Barry De Vorzon
Production company	American International Pictures
Distributed by	American International Pictures
Release dates	April 28, 1976 (1976-04-28) (LA) July 7, 1976 (1976-07-07) (NYC)
Running time	89 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English
Box office	$5 milliion

Bobbie Jo and the Outlaw is a 1976 crime drama film directed by Mark L. Lester and starring Marjoe Gortner and Lynda Carter. The film marks the big screen debut of Lynda Carter and was released four months after her first appearance as the star of the television series Wonder Woman.

Plot

Bobbie Jo and the Outlaw is a 1976 crime drama that follows the story of Bobbie Jo Baker, a young country singer with dreams of escaping her small-town life, and her lover, Lyle Wheeler, a charismatic drifter with a penchant for trouble.

The film begins with Lyle arriving in a small New Mexico town, where he meets Bobbie Jo, a waitress and aspiring singer. Captivated by Lyle's free-spirited attitude, Bobbie Jo quickly falls for him and decides to leave her mundane life behind to join him on the road. Together, they embark on a journey across the Southwest, with Bobbie Jo hoping to find excitement and a better future.

As their relationship intensifies, Lyle introduces Bobbie Jo to a life of crime. They start with small-time thefts, but their criminal activities soon escalate to more dangerous endeavors. Along the way, they are joined by Bobbie Jo's sister, Pearl, and her boyfriend, Slick, as well as Essie, a friend of Lyle's. The group forms a makeshift gang, committing robberies to fund their adventurous lifestyle.

However, their criminal spree begins to spiral out of control. Lyle becomes increasingly reckless and violent, dragging the group deeper into dangerous situations. Tensions rise among the gang members, leading to conflicts and betrayals. Despite the thrill of their outlaw lifestyle, Bobbie Jo starts to realize that their actions have serious consequences, and the life she once dreamed of is slipping away.

The law eventually catches up with them, and the gang finds themselves on the run from the authorities. Their journey takes a tragic turn as members of the gang are killed in shootouts with the police. The film culminates in a final confrontation, where Lyle and Bobbie Jo face the reality of their situation.

In the end, Bobbie Jo is left alone, her dreams shattered by the harsh realities of their criminal lifestyle. The film closes with her reflecting on the choices she made and the life she left behind, a stark contrast to the excitement and freedom she initially sought.

Cast

• Marjoe Gortner as Lyle Wheeler
• Lynda Carter as Bobbie Jo Baker
• Jesse Vint as "Slick" Callahan
• Merrie Lynn Ross as Pearl Baker
• Gerrit Graham as Ray "Magic Ray"
• Belinda Balaski as Essie Beaumont
• Peggy Stewart as Hattie Baker
• Gene Drew as Sheriff Hicks
• Richard Breeding as Deputy Leroy
• John Durren as Deputy Gance
• Chuck Russell as Deputy
• Virgil Frye as Joe Grant
• Howard R. Kirk as Mr. Potts
• Aly Yoder as Mrs. Potts
• Jesse Price as Buford, The Grocery Clerk
• James Gammon as Leather Salesman
• Jose Toledo as Old Indian
• Bobby Bare as Singer

Production

The film was originally to be called "Desperado" another working title was "Bobbi Jo and the Outlaw Man". The film was shot in New Mexico.

The movie was based on the Billy the Kid story. Sylvester Stallone was almost cast in the lead.

Home media

The film was released on DVD on April 18, 2011 and on Blu-ray on December 8, 2015.

External links

• Bobbie Jo and the Outlaw at the AFI Catalog of Feature Films
• Bobbie Jo and the Outlaw at IMDb
• Bobbie Jo and the Outlaw at Rotten Tomatoes