Los Angeles Times, 08/12/1988, p.C11, "...It has a slick, smoky vigor....[Semler] keeps the landscapes looking stripped down, austerely handsome..."
New York Times, 08/12/1988, p.C18, "...A good-humored exercise....Sustains its spirit of fun..."
Estimated budget of $13 million.
Additional distributors: Star Production (France); Version International Group (international sales)
Filmed in Deluxe color and Panavision in Cerrillos, New Mexico.
Began shooting February 8, 1988; completed shooting March 1988. Released in the USA August 12, 1988. Shown at Deauville Film Festival, September 1988. Released on video January 4, 1989.
Followed by the 1990 sequel "Young Guns II."
Based on a true story.
British ranchowner John Tunstall (Terence Stamp) hires six young men to help him tend and guard his ranch. In addition he also teaches them to read and to be civilized, but soon Tunstall is murdered by a corrupt and ruthless competing cattle rancher. The six 'young guns' go seeking revenge and are erroneously branded outlaws by the law, until they can clear their names. The six young guns are played by Emilio Estevez, Kiefer Sutherland, Lou Diamond Phillips, Charlie Sheen, Dermot Mulroney and Casey Siemaszko.