The Cowboys (1972)

Rancher Wil Andersen is forced to hire inexperienced boys as cowhands in order to get his herd to market on time but the rough drive is full of dangers and a gang of cattle rustlers is trailing them.

Director:

Mark Rydell

Writers:

William Dale Jennings (novel), Irving Ravetch (screenplay)

Stars:

John Wayne, Roscoe Lee Browne, Bruce Dern

1 win.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
John Wayne	...	Wil Andersen
Roscoe Lee Browne	...	Jebediah Nightlinger
Bruce Dern	...	Long Hair / Asa Watts
Colleen Dewhurst	...	Kate
Alfred Barker Jr.	...	Fats - Cowboy
Nicolas Beauvy	...	Dan - Cowboy
Steve Benedict	...	Steve - Cowboy
Robert Carradine	...	Slim Honeycutt - Cowboy
Norman Howell	...	Weedy - Cowboy (as Norman Howell Jr.)
Stephen R. Hudis	...	Charlie Schwartz - Cowboy (as Stephen Hudis)
Sean Kelly	...	Stuttering Bob - Cowboy
A Martinez	...	Cimarron - Cowboy
Clay O'Brien	...	Hardy Fimps - Cowboy
Sam O'Brien	...	Jimmy Phillips - Cowboy
Mike Pyeatt	...	Homer Weems - Cowboy

Storyline

When his cattle drivers abandon him for the gold fields, rancher Wil Andersen is forced to take on a collection of young boys as his drivers in order to get his herd to market in time to avoid financial disaster. The boys learn to do a man's job under Andersen's tutelage; however, neither Andersen nor the boys know that a gang of cattle thieves is stalking them.

---

Plot Keywords:

main character dies | horse riding | rancher | coming of age | mentor student relationship | 

---

Taglines:

The youngest was nine. There wasn't one of them over fifteen. At first, he couldn't stand the sight of them. At last, he couldn't take his eyes away.

---

Genres:

Adventure | Drama | Western

---

Certificate:

GP

Did You Know?

Trivia

Robert Carradine (Slim) is the youngest son of actor John Carradine, who appeared with John Wayne in The Shootist (1976), as an undertaker. He was also in The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (1962), but they didn't appear together. John Carradine also appeared in the movie which John Wayne said " I'm still riding on that stage coach". Carradine was the gun fighter in Stagecoach!

---

Goofs

Jet contrails near the beginning.

---

Quotes

Annie Andersen: I'll think about ya 'fore I go to bed at night.
Wil Andersen: You do and you won't sleep.

---

Alternate Versions

During its roadshow release, the film featured - like most films shown in a roadshow format - an overture (heard on tape just before the film began), an intermission with entr'acte music, and exit music (heard after the film had ended). When the film went on general release, all of those elements were removed and the film was shown from beginning to end with no interruption.

---

Connections

Featured in Tokyo-Ga (1985)

---

Soundtracks

Guitar Concerto in D, 2nd movement (Largo)
(uncredited)
Written by Antonio Vivaldi
Played by Slim and also heard during a scene of the drive

User Reviews

John Wayne's good...Roscoe Lee Browne is better!

This movie, for all that it's a fairly straight forward, shoot-em-up western, has some unique points that make it extremely artful. The boys were well-cast (though A. Martinez seemed to struggle in a role that was not fully developed), and those difficult psychological moments which were so important to the book translated to the screen without too much trouble. As is always the case, the book is able to take more time to expand upon the characters more thoroughly; if the movie left you a bit dry, visit the library to find the rest of the story!

The reasons I watch this show repeatedly are two of my favorite fellows: Roscoe Lee Browne and John Williams. Roscoe Lee Browne is able to sell lines that simply wouldn't work coming from somebody else (his dialogue with Coleen Dewhurst is priceless), and he is the unique feature that makes this film work. He graciously shares the screen with his co-actors as necessary, but he easily walks off with the movie nonetheless. John Williams' fantastic score could stand alone; though it is occasionally a little too cheery for the moment (after all, this is a pretty gruesome film, if you really think about it), it covers all the bases of the movie. Youthful innocence, becoming men, sorrow, success -- it's all right there in the score. Don't expect Star Wars music; frequently understated, the music carries a supporting role. As both John Williams and Roscoe Lee Browne displayed here, it is often the supporting actors that make the show a success!

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English Spanish

Release Date:

13 January 1972 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Cowboys

Filming Locations:

Durango, Colorado, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$6,000,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Warner Bros., Sanford Productions (III), Eaves Movie Ranch

Technical Specs

Runtime:

134 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (35 mm prints) 70 mm 6-Track (70 mm prints) 4-Track Stereo (some 35 mm prints)

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.39 : 1