Bad Company (1972)

A god-fearing Ohio boy dodging the Civil War draft arrives in Jefferson City where he joins up with a hardscrabble group of like runaways heading west.

Director:

Robert Benton

Writers:

David Newman, Robert Benton

Stars:

Jeff Bridges, Barry Brown, Jim Davis

1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Jeff Bridges	...	Jake Rumsey
Barry Brown	...	Drew Dixon
Jim Davis	...	Marshal
David Huddleston	...	Big Joe
John Savage	...	Loney
Jerry Houser	...	Arthur Simms
Damon Douglas	...	Jim Bob Logan (as Damon Cofer)
Joshua Hill Lewis	...	Boog Bookin
Geoffrey Lewis	...	Hobbs
Raymond Guth	...	Jackson
Ed Lauter	...	Orin (as Edward Lauter)
John Quade	...	Nolan
Jean Allison	...	Mrs. Dixon
Ned Wertimer	...	Mr. Dixon
Charles Tyner	...	Egg Farmer

Storyline

A group of naive boys find that life as desperadoes in the west is more serious that they understood when they embark on abortive careers in bushwhacking. Violence, betrayal, sombre colours and a Beckettsian whimsy mark this ironic western.

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Plot Keywords:

betrayal | runaway | farmer | outlaw band | marshal | 

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Genres:

Drama | Western

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Certificate:

PG

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

8 October 1972 (USA)

Also Known As:

Banda

Filming Locations:

Wichita, Kansas, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Jaffilms, Paramount Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

93 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The classic rock band Bad Company named itself after this film.

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Goofs

When Jake is describing what Simms is doing at the stagecoach, he says, "He's opening the door ... he's getting in ... he's closing the door," but when we see the stagecoach, it's driving away and Simms has only just managed to open the door.

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Quotes

Drew Dixon: I resolve never to do a dishonest act, or take part in any thieving, robbing, or false undertaking. I will always keep to the straight and narrow, so help me God. It's still a sunny day.

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Connections

Referenced in Murphy Brown: Bad Company (1995)

User Reviews

Underrated and shamefully neglected

Another reviewer said that this film has been widely ignored and that is a crying shame. I've only seen the once in ten years, it's not on tv/satellite and is unavailable on video in the UK.

But I never forget watching it and being capitivated by its charm and depiction of the real, sometimes very brutal West (I cannot forget one of the young gang getting shot for stealing a chicken). The two leads are excellent, perfectly balancing the other, Bridges as the streetwise tearaway and Brown (RIP) as the well educated, mother's boy lead astray after dodging the draft (Vietnam echoes?).

The final scene is a gem as the two partners, shaped by their experiences in a lawless West, turn to crime.