The Cowboys is a 1972 western American film starring John Wayne, Roscoe Lee Browne, Slim Pickens, Colleen Dewhurst and Bruce Dern. Robert Carradine made his film debut with fellow actor Stephen Hudis, as a cowboy. It was filmed in various locations in New Mexico, Colorado and at Warner Brothers Studio in Burbank, California. Based on William Dale Jennings novel, the scenario was written by Irving Ravetch, Harriet Frank, Jr., and Jennings, and directed by Mark Rydell.
Video The Cowboys
Plot
When his farm left him to join the gold rush, old rancher Wil Andersen (John Wayne) was forced to find a replacement drovers for his 400 mile (640 km) livestock ride. He rode to the remote Bozeman, Montana. There, Anse Peterson (Slim Pickens) advised to use local schoolchildren. Andersen visited the school but was unsure. The next morning, a group of boys appeared on the Andersen farm to volunteer for the drive. Andersen tested the ability of boys to keep using horse bucking. When the children succeeded alternately, Cimarron (A Martinez), another young man slightly older than the others, went upstairs. Having managed to subdue and ride a test horse, Cimarron was involved in a fight with Slim (Robert Carradine), the eldest of the boys. Andersen, though impressed by Cimarron's ability, was alarmed by his temper and sent him away. Andersen reluctantly decided to hire boys.
While Andersen and the children were preparing to ride the cattle, a group of mysterious men led by Asa Watts (Bruce Dern) "Long Hair" appeared to ask for a job. Andersen captures Watt in a lie about his past, and refuses to hire them. Jebediah "Jeb" Nightlinger (Roscoe Lee Browne), a Kamp Kamp Black cook arrived with a chuck cart, making Anderson's crew finish.
Under Andersen's supervision, children learn ropes, brands and herds and horses. Much to Andersen's concern, Cimarron follows the journey from afar. However, as he crossed the river, Slim let off his horse and, unable to swim, began to sink. Although Slim was saved by Cimarron, Andersen scolded one of the boys for his stuttering problem that nearly caused Slim's death. The stammer boy swears at Andersen repeatedly, losing his stutter in the process. Satisfied, Andersen decides to let Cimarron stay. During another episode, the kids stole Nightlinger's whiskey and drank it, all drunk. After that, one of the boys, Charlie, fell from his horse and was trampled to death by a herd. Slowly, the children learn under Andersen's guidance and become good cowhands, impressing both Andersen and Nightlinger.
Soon after that, Mr. chuck wagon. Nightlinger threw the steering wheel. As the cowboys continue to push the flock, Mr. Nightlinger stays behind to fix the cart. The Watts-led rustler began aligning the herd, and that night, surprising Andersen and the cowboys in their camp. Watts announces his intention to steal the herd and taunt the children, but Andersen intervenes and says Watts is between them. The brutal fight then began between Andersen and Watts where Andersen finally won. An angry Watt takes a gun, shoots Andersen unmanned several times, and steals the herd.
The next day, Nightlinger followed the group to find the boy who was caring for the dying Andersen. Before surrendering to his wounds, Andersen tells the children how proud he is of them all, that every man wants his children to be better than he is, and that they have become so. After Andersen's burial and on a prearranged signal, the boys defeated and tied Nightlinger, grabbed the weapon that was stored in his cart and vowed to take back the herd and finish the path. When the group captures herds and rustlers, Nightlinger offers to help the boys make plans to overcome the criminals. Using tricks, tricks, and ambushes, the boys murdered the rustlers to a man, including Watts, caught in a rope. Cimarron fired a gun into the air that scared the horse and brought Watts to his death.
After the children had completed the journey to Belle Fourche and sold the cattle, they used a portion of the proceeds to pay the masons to carve the markers under the name Andersen and the legend of "Beloved Husband and Father", with clear references to Andersen's acceptable position in life they. They place markers at Andersen's grave location and head for home.
Maps The Cowboys
Cast
Reception
Some critics have debated the implications of films that boys become men or assert their masculinity through acts of violence and revenge. Jay Cocks of Time Magazine and Pauline Kael of The New York Times are very critical of the aspects of this film.
Film historian Emanuel Levy notes that Wayne often appears in a father-like role: "Recognizing the role of the recurring screen as a father figure, [Wayne] says the film is based on a formula that works at Goodbye Mr. Chips and Sands of Iwo Jima. In the three films, an adult takes a group of young people and starts them into adulthood by giving them the right skills and values.Headne does not hesitate to perform at <"Cowboys despite the fact that 'no sane actor, will try to match the antics of eleven children on screen,' but to him it becomes 'the greatest experience of my life.' "
The film won the Wrangler Bronze Award (best theatrical film of the year) from the Western Heritage Awards.
The Cowboys received a 75% rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on 12 critics.
The film is recognized by the American Film Institute in this list:
- 2005: AFI 100 Years Movie Score - Nominated
- 2006: AFI 100 Years... 100 Cheers - Nominated
Television adaptation
In 1974, Warner Bros. developed The Cowboys as a television series for ABC starring Jim Davis, Diana Douglas, and Moses Gunn. David Dortort, famous for Bonanza
See also
References
External links
Source of the article : Wikipedia
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