The Deadly Companions

The Deadly Companions (1961)

Country	United States
Directed by	Sam Peckinpah
Release Date	1961
Language	English
Studio	Carousel Productions
Distributor	Pathé-America Distributing Company Warner Bros

Main Cast
Character	Actor
Yellowleg	Brian Keith
Kit Tilden	Maureen O'Hara
Billy Keplinger	Steve Cochran
Turk/Turky	Chill Wills

The Deadly Companions is a 1961 Western film directed by Sam Peckinpah and starring by Brian Keith, Maureen O'Hara, Steve Cochran and Chill Wills.

The Deadly Companions stands out for being the first film entirely directed by Sam Peckinpah, who would take some time to establish himself as one of the most appreciated directors of Western cinema.

Peckinpah generally disowned his first film, probably due to the tense experience he endured directing or editing the film, due to his lack of experience in the field, since he had just created and produced the television series The Westerner.

The following weapons were used in the film The Deadly Companions:

Revolvers

Colt Single Action Army (Mocked-Up as a Remington 1858 New Army)

Yellowleg (Brian Keith), Billy Keplinger (Steve Cochran) and Turky (Chill Wills) carry a Colt Single Action Army with a cylinder rod of a Remington 1858 New Army throughout the entire film. This kind of Colt Single Action Armys modified to looks like a Remington 1858 New Army was relatively common in early westerns.

Colt 1873 Single Action Army w/ 7.5" barrel - .45 Long Colt

Remington 1858 New Army - .44 caliber

For comparison: Remington 1875 - .44 Remington Centerfire (CF)

One of the men in the cantina points his Colt SAA at Yellowleg to prevent the latter from preventing Turky from being hanged.

Billy takes out his Colt SAA at the town church, only to terrify the local members.

Billy fires his Colt SAA at the city's bank robbers.

Yellowleg fires his Colt SAA at the city's bank robbers, before being wounded and accidentally deflecting one of their shots.

Billy point his Colt SAA at Yellowleg after an argument about the unnecessaryness of accompanying Hilden, with the danger of being attacked by natives.

A good shot of Yellowlegs Colt SAA on the ground.

Turky fires his Colt SAA at Yellowleg during the film's climactic shootout.

Yellowleg is determined to kill Turky and cocks his Colt SAA to shoot him, before being stopped by Hilden.

Rifles

Winchester Model 1892 (Mocked-up as a Henry 1860)

Yellowleg (Brian Keith) carry a Winchester Model 1892 without the handguard to protect himself and Kit Tilden (Maureen O'Hara) during their trip to the Siringo Cemetery. Generally, the only reason a Winchester Model 1892 has its handguard removed is to make it look like a Henry 1860, probably to avoid anachronisms in the story told in the film..

Winchester Model 1892 w/ 20" barrel - .38-40 WCF
The model used in the film has the forend removed.

For comparison:Henry 1860 w/ iron frame (Modern replica) - .44 Henry

Yellowleg holds his Winchester Model 1892 without forend as he watches Hilden.

A good shot of Yellowleg's Winchester Model 1892 on the ground while the latter sleeps, before being awakened by a native.

Brown Bess Flintlock Musket

At the beginning of the movie, you can see what appears to be a Brown Bess Flintlock Musket hanging on the wall of the cantina where they Turky (Chill Wills) is hanging from the roof.