Belle Starr (1980 film)

• Elizabeth Montgomery as Belle Starr • Cliff Potts as Cole Younger • Michael Cavanaugh as Jesse James • Gary Combs as Frank James • Fred Ward as Ned Christie • Jesse Vint as Bob Dalton • Alan Vint as Grat Dalton • Geoffrey Lewis as Reverend Meeks • Sandy McPeak as Sheriff Pratt • David Knell as Ed Reed • Geno Silva as Blue Duck • Michelle Stacy as Pearl Younger ==Production==

The film was one of several Western-themed roles Montgomery played, others including Mrs Sundance. It was the second film Montgomery made under her $1.5 million contract with CBS to make two films a year over three years. She first read the script in 1977. "James Lee Barrett's a wonderful writer," she said. "I liked the way he handled her because it showed her as she was - her relationship with her son and how she was sleeping with everyone." The network censor insisted scenes depicting Starr's incestuous relationship with her son were deleted. ==Reception==

The Los Angeles Times called it "a silly, trashy little fantasy." ==References==