My Heroes Have Always Been Cowboys (1991)

Director:

Stuart Rosenberg

Writer (WGA):

Joel Don Humphreys (written by)

Release Date:

1 March 1991 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Plot Keywords:

Independent Film

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Scott Glenn	...	H.D. Dalton
Kate Capshaw	...	Jolie, H.D.'s Girlfriend
Tess Harper	...	Cheryl
Gary Busey	...	Clint Hornby
Ben Johnson	...	Jesse Dalton
Balthazar Getty	...	Jud, Jolie's Son
Clarence Williams III	...	Deputy Sheriff Virgil
Mickey Rooney	...	Junion, Jesse's Roommate at Retirement Home
Cynthia Mackey	...	Ambulance attendant (as Cynthia H. Mackey)
Bill Clymer	...	Rodeo announcer
Benjamin Rosenberg	...	Gas Station Attendant
Megan Parlen	...	Becky
Jim Robnett	...	Guard at bank
Jennifer Johnson	...	Secretary
Jan Hoag	...	Nurse

Runtime:

USA:106 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

USA:PG

Company:

Home Grown Inc.

Goofs:

Continuity: During one scene, HD and Jesse come out to the truck and find Jud waiting for them. Jud's hair has been cut and his earring is gone. "Starting to get with the program," Jesse says. In a subsequent scene HD and Virgil are jogging behind Jesse and Jud riding on the tractor. In this scene Jud has long hair again and is wearing the earring.

Movie Connections:

References "Hee Haw" (1969)

Good old boy is forced by circumstances to become a good man

I saw the movie when it came out, and I think perhaps it plays much better if you live in a rodeo state (I'm in Texas) so the audience really understands what's going on. They used real rodeo performers, too, like Leon Coffee, and that's the sort of detail the average movie-goer wouldn't notice. As to the movie in terms of plot, it's fairly predictable--hometown boy makes good and saves the day--but the subplots are what make this a good, underrated movie, I think. You have a hero who's almost an antihero till he's forced to grow up and take on a normal man's responsibilities; i.e., caring for his aging father. You have a young widow with a recalcitrant son, basically a good boy who needs a strong masculine role model. You have the dutiful daughter who stayed home and took on the care of her father, even though she's married and has a life of her own. The acting overall is very good. Scott Glenn is a charming scamp, and he has a flair for light comedy. Cate Capshaw--well, she could be better. Ben Johnson is excellent. Mickey Rooney does a star turn in a cameo role. And look for the old TV western character actors from the 1960s. It's a decent movie with very good moments throughout, very honest moments, too. Maybe it didn't play well in New York or Los Angeles, but in Nacogdoches, Texas, the theatre was SRO.