The Cowboys (1972)
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- GP
- 2h 14min
- Adventure, Drama
- 13 Jan 1972 (USA)
- Movie
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:
Stars:
Award:
- 1 win.
- See more »
Photos and Videos
Cast verified as complete
| John Wayne | ... |
Wil Andersen
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| Roscoe Lee Browne | ... |
Jebediah Nightlinger
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| Bruce Dern | ... |
Long Hair / Asa Watts
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| Colleen Dewhurst | ... |
Kate
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| Alfred Barker Jr. | ... |
Fats - Cowboy
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| Nicolas Beauvy | ... |
Dan - Cowboy
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Steve Benedict | ... |
Steve - Cowboy
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| Robert Carradine | ... |
Slim Honeycutt - Cowboy
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| Norman Howell | ... |
Weedy - Cowboy
(as Norman Howell Jr.)
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| Stephen R. Hudis | ... |
Charlie Schwartz - Cowboy
(as Stephen Hudis)
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Sean Kelly | ... |
Stuttering Bob - Cowboy
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| A Martinez | ... |
Cimarron - Cowboy
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| Clay O'Brien | ... |
Hardy Fimps - Cowboy
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Sam O'Brien | ... |
Jimmy Phillips - Cowboy
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Mike Pyeatt | ... |
Homer Weems - Cowboy
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| Slim Pickens | ... |
Anse Peterson
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| Lonny Chapman | ... |
Homer's Father
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| Charles Tyner | ... |
Stonemason
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| Sarah Cunningham | ... |
Annie Andersen
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| Allyn Ann McLerie | ... |
Ellen Price
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Maggie Costain | ... |
Phoebe
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| Matt Clark | ... |
Smiley
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| Jerry Gatlin | ... |
Howdy
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| Walter Scott | ... |
Okay
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| Richard Farnsworth | ... |
Henry Williams
(as Dick Farnsworth)
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Wallace Brooks | ... |
Red Tucker
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Charise Cullin | ... |
Elizabeth
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Collette Poeppel | ... |
Rosemary
(as Colette Poeppel)
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Norman Howell Sr. | ... |
Jim's Father
(as Norman Howell)
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Rita Hudis | ... |
Charlie's Mother
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Margaret Kelly | ... |
Bob's Mother
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Larry Randles | ... |
Ben
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| Larry Finley | ... |
Jake
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Jim Burk | ... |
Pete
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Fred Brookfield | ... |
Rustler
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Tap Canutt | ... |
Rustler
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| Chuck Courtney | ... |
Rustler
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| Gary Epper | ... |
Rustler
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Tony Epper | ... |
Rustler
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Kent Hays | ... |
Rustler
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| Glenn Randall Jr. | ... |
Rustler
(as J. R. Randall)
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| Henry Wills | ... |
Rustler
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| Joe Yrigoyen | ... |
Rustler
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| Rest of cast listed alphabetically: | |||
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Ivan Brutsche | ... |
Towns Person (uncredited)
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Ralph Volkie | ... |
Ralphie (uncredited)
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Directed by
| Mark Rydell | ||
Written by
| William Dale Jennings | ... | (novel) |
| Irving Ravetch | ... | (screenplay) & |
| Harriet Frank Jr. | ... | (screenplay) and |
| William Dale Jennings | ... | (screenplay) |
Produced by
| Mark Rydell | ... | producer |
| Tim Zinnemann | ... | associate producer |
Music by
| John Williams | ||
Cinematography by
| Robert Surtees | ... | director of photography |
Editing by
| Neil Travis | ||
Editorial Department
| Robert Swink | ... | supervising film editor |
| Skip Nicholson | ... | laboratory: Technicolor (uncredited) |
Casting By
| Lynn Stalmaster | ||
Production Design by
| Philip M. Jefferies | ... | (as Philip Jefferies) |
Set Decoration by
| William Kiernan | ||
Costume Design by
| Anthea Sylbert | ||
Makeup Department
| Pat Abbott | ... | hair stylist (as Patricia Abbott) |
| Dave Grayson | ... | makeup artist |
| Emile LaVigne | ... | makeup artist (as Emile La Vigne) |
Production Management
| Nate H. Edwards | ... | production manager |
| Dick Moder | ... | unit production manager |
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
| Robert 'Buzz' Henry | ... | second unit director (as Robert Buzz Henry) |
| Tim Zinnemann | ... | assistant director |
| Jerry Ballew | ... | trainee assistant director (uncredited) |
| Frederic W. Brost | ... | second assistant director (uncredited) |
| Dick Moder | ... | first assistant director: second unit (uncredited) |
| Andy Siegel | ... | second assistant director (uncredited) |
Art Department
| Robert Schultz | ... | property master |
| Jose Abrignani | ... | plasterer (uncredited) |
| Henry Alvarado | ... | laborer (uncredited) |
| Ray Barone | ... | painter (uncredited) |
| Frank L. Brown | ... | set dresser (uncredited) |
| Joe Butterworth | ... | greensman (uncredited) |
| Joseph De Franco | ... | constructor (uncredited) |
| Albert Ellis | ... | construction gang boss (uncredited) |
| Hayes Ewing | ... | constructor (uncredited) |
| Guy Faria | ... | constructor (uncredited) |
| Frank Hafemann | ... | construction foreman (uncredited) |
| Oscar Hall | ... | constructor (uncredited) |
| Buck Hawkins | ... | construction coordinator (uncredited) |
| Jack Jancich | ... | painter (uncredited) |
| John Jensen | ... | illustrator (uncredited) |
| Maurice Larson | ... | painter (uncredited) |
| Ben Massi | ... | painter (uncredited) |
| Ed Mulay | ... | second props (uncredited) |
| Angel Perez | ... | constructor (uncredited) |
| Bob Stahler | ... | assistant art director (uncredited) |
| Weston Webb | ... | constructor (uncredited) |
| Marty Wunderlich | ... | third props (uncredited) |
Sound Department
| Richard Portman | ... | re-recording |
| Kay Rose | ... | sound editor |
| Jack Solomon | ... | sound |
| John Ferguson | ... | radio man (uncredited) |
| Joe Kenworthy | ... | cable person (uncredited) |
| Don MacDougall | ... | re-recording mixer (uncredited) |
| Al Yaylian | ... | boom operator (uncredited) |
Special Effects by
| Daniel Hays | ... | special effects (uncredited) |
| George Peckham | ... | special effects (uncredited) |
Stunts
| Floyd Baze | ... | stunt double (uncredited) |
| Fred Brookfield | ... | stunts (uncredited) |
| Jim Burk | ... | stunts (uncredited) |
| Tap Canutt | ... | stunts (uncredited) |
| Bill Catching | ... | stunt double Bruce Dern (uncredited) / stunts (uncredited) |
| Chuck Courtney | ... | stunts (uncredited) |
| Gary Epper | ... | stunts (uncredited) |
| Tony Epper | ... | stunts (uncredited) |
| Jerry Gatlin | ... | stunts (uncredited) |
| Kent Hays | ... | stunts (uncredited) |
| Robert 'Buzz' Henry | ... | stunt coordinator (uncredited) / stunts (uncredited) |
| Norman Howell | ... | stunts (uncredited) |
| Walt La Rue | ... | stunts (uncredited) |
| Glenn Randall Jr. | ... | stunts (uncredited) |
| Larry Randles | ... | stunts (uncredited) |
| Chuck Roberson | ... | stunt double: John Wayne (uncredited) / stunts (uncredited) |
| Walter Scott | ... | stunts (uncredited) |
| Casey Tibbs | ... | stunts (uncredited) |
| Buddy Van Horn | ... | stunts (uncredited) |
| Henry Wills | ... | stunts (uncredited) |
| Walter Wyatt | ... | fight double John Wayne (uncredited) / stunts (uncredited) |
| Joe Yrigoyen | ... | stunts (uncredited) |
Camera and Electrical Department
| Glen Bird | ... | gaffer |
| James R. Connell | ... | camera operator |
| Armando Contreras | ... | grip |
| Bill Krattiger | ... | lighting technician |
| Don Lambert | ... | key grip |
| Terry K. Meade | ... | camera operator (as Terry Meade) |
| Richard Barth | ... | first assistant camera (uncredited) |
| Mark H. Davis | ... | photographer: second unit (uncredited) |
| Edward Morey III | ... | second assistant camera (uncredited) |
| Gregory Nowak | ... | second grip (uncredited) |
| Dave Sutton | ... | special photographer (uncredited) |
| Mel Traxel | ... | still photographer (uncredited) |
| Joseph M. Wilcots | ... | first assistant camera (uncredited) |
| Robert Willoughby | ... | special still photographer (uncredited) |
Costume and Wardrobe Department
| Luster Bayless | ... | costumer: John Wayne (uncredited) |
| Lambert Marks | ... | costumer (uncredited) |
| Neva Rames | ... | costumer: women (uncredited) |
| G. Tony Scarano | ... | costumer (uncredited) |
Location Management
| Bill Gallant | ... | location manager (uncredited) |
| George Leslie | ... | location auditor (uncredited) |
Music Department
| Donald Harris | ... | music editor |
| John Audino | ... | musician: trumpet (uncredited) |
| Robert Bain | ... | musician: guitar (uncredited) |
| Israel Baker | ... | musician: violin (uncredited) |
| Arnold Belnick | ... | musician: violin (uncredited) |
| Ray Brown | ... | musician: bass (uncredited) |
| Larry Bunker | ... | musician: percussion (uncredited) |
| James Decker | ... | musician: french horn (uncredited) |
| Joseph Difiore | ... | musician: viola (uncredited) |
| David Duke | ... | musician: french horn (uncredited) |
| John Ellis | ... | musician: oboe (uncredited) |
| Dominick Fera | ... | musician: clarinet (uncredited) |
| Carl Fortina | ... | musician: accordion (uncredited) |
| Sam Freed Jr. | ... | musician: violin (uncredited) |
| Ralph Grierson | ... | musician: piano (uncredited) |
| Maurie Harris | ... | musician: trumpet (uncredited) |
| Norman Herzburg | ... | musician: bassoon (uncredited) |
| William Hinshaw | ... | musician: french horn (uncredited) |
| The Hollywood Studio Symphony | ... | music performed by (uncredited) |
| Tommy Johnson | ... | musician: tuba (uncredited) |
| Anatol Kaminsky | ... | musician: violin (uncredited) |
| Artie Kane | ... | musician: piano (uncredited) |
| Armand Kaproff | ... | musician: cello (uncredited) |
| Nathan Kaproff | ... | musician: violin (uncredited) |
| Milton Kestenbaum | ... | musician: bass (uncredited) |
| Myra Kestenbaum | ... | musician: viola (uncredited) |
| Manny Klein | ... | musician: trumpet (uncredited) |
| Jacob Krachmalnick | ... | musician: violin (uncredited) |
| Raphael Kramer | ... | musician: cello (uncredited) |
| Bernard Kundell | ... | musician: violin (uncredited) |
| Abe Luboff | ... | musician: bass (uncredited) |
| Alfred Lustgarten | ... | musician: violin (uncredited) |
| Edgar Lustgarten | ... | musician: cello (uncredited) |
| Virginia Majewski | ... | musician: viola (uncredited) |
| Shelly Manne | ... | musician: drums (uncredited) |
| Jack Marsh | ... | musician: bassoon (uncredited) |
| Peter Mercurio | ... | musician: bass (uncredited) |
| Tommy Morgan | ... | musician: harmonica (uncredited) |
| Richard Nash | ... | musician: trombone (uncredited) |
| Dick Noel | ... | musician: trombone (uncredited) |
| Richard Perissi | ... | musician: french horn (uncredited) |
| Dorothy Remsen | ... | musician: harp (uncredited) |
| Meyer Rubin | ... | musician: bass (uncredited) |
| David Schwartz | ... | musician: viola (uncredited) |
| Frederick Seykora | ... | musician: cello (uncredited) |
| Paul Shure | ... | musician: violin (uncredited) |
| Eleanor Slatkin | ... | musician: cello (uncredited) |
| Sheridon Stokes | ... | musician: flute (uncredited) |
| Milton Thomas | ... | musician: viola (uncredited) |
| Louise Di Tullio | ... | musician: flute (uncredited) |
| Dan Wallin | ... | music scoring mixer (uncredited) |
| Ken Watson | ... | musician: percussion (uncredited) |
| Jerry Williams | ... | musician: percussion (uncredited) |
| John Williams | ... | conductor (uncredited) |
| Kurt E. Wolff | ... | orchestra contractor (uncredited) |
| Graham Young | ... | musician: trumpet (uncredited) |
| Tibor Zelig | ... | musician: violin (uncredited) |
Script and Continuity Department
| Bob Forrest | ... | script supervisor |
| Lester Hoyle | ... | script supervisor: second unit (uncredited) |
Transportation Department
| James Antúnez | ... | driver: mobile home (uncredited) |
| George Coleman | ... | driver: s/w (uncredited) |
| Jerry Courion | ... | driver: crane (uncredited) |
| Bob Edwards | ... | transportation captain (uncredited) |
| Bob Goodrich | ... | driver: horse truck (uncredited) |
| Jack Lietzke | ... | driver: bus (uncredited) |
| Wilbur Munson | ... | driver: honeywagon (uncredited) |
| Frank Olmstead | ... | driver: special effects/wardrobe (uncredited) |
| Jack Schroetter | ... | driver: grip electric (uncredited) |
Additional Crew
| Red Burns | ... | riding instructor |
| Phill Norman | ... | title designer |
| Joan Arnold | ... | production secretary (uncredited) |
| Harold Bates | ... | wrangler (uncredited) |
| Jack Casey | ... | unit publicist (uncredited) |
| Joe Catalfo | ... | first aid (uncredited) |
| Wayne Cutlip | ... | Wrangler (uncredited) |
| Marty Dark | ... | timekeeper (uncredited) |
| Robert Davenport | ... | wrangler (uncredited) |
| James W. Gavin | ... | helicopter pilot (uncredited) |
| Rolly Harper | ... | caterer (uncredited) |
| Billy Jones | ... | ramrod (uncredited) |
| Gordon G. Jones | ... | wrangler (uncredited) |
| Ray Kennedy | ... | wrangler (uncredited) |
| Frank D. Lane | ... | wrangler (uncredited) |
| Joe Lomax Sr. | ... | wrangler (uncredited) |
| Stanley Mark | ... | auditor: Sanford (uncredited) |
| Gene O'Brien | ... | wrangler (uncredited) |
| Paul Ray | ... | wrangler (uncredited) |
| Buddy Sherwood | ... | wrangler (uncredited) |
| Nanette Siegert | ... | secretary: Mark Rydell (uncredited) |
Production Companies
Distributors
- Warner Bros. (1972) (United States) (theatrical)
- Columbia Filmes (1972) (Portugal) (theatrical)
- Columbia-Warner Distributors (1972) (United Kingdom) (theatrical)
- Warner Bros. Pictures (1972) (Argentina) (theatrical)
- Warner Bros. (1972) (Canada) (theatrical)
- Warner Bros. (1972) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
- Warner Bros. (1972) (Norway) (theatrical)
- Warner Bros. (1972) (Sweden) (theatrical)
- Warner-Columbia Film (1972) (France) (theatrical)
- Warner-Columbia Films (1972) (Finland) (theatrical)
- Warner-Columbia Filmverleih (1972) (West Germany) (theatrical)
- American Broadcasting Company (ABC) (1973) (United States) (tv)
- Audio Visual Enterprises (1988) (Greece) (VHS)
- Yleisradio (YLE) (1996) (Finland) (tv)
- Warner Home Video (1998) (United States) (DVD)
- Sandrew Metronome Distribution (2000) (Finland) (DVD)
- Warner Home Video (2000) (Germany) (DVD)
- Warner Home Video (2001) (Germany) (VHS)
- Warner Home Video (2005) (United States) (DVD)
- Warner Bros. Entertainment Finland (2006) (Finland) (DVD) (6-disc John Wayne Prestige Collection)
- Warner Bros. Entertainment Finland (2007) (Finland) (DVD) (Deluxe Edition)
- Warner Bros. Entertainment Finland (2008) (Finland) (Blu-ray) (also HD DVD)
- Rete 4 (2016) (Italy) (tv)
- Warner Home Video (Canada) (DVD)
- Warner Home Video (Canada) (VHS)
- Warner Home Video (United States) (VHS)
- Warner Home Video (United States) (video) (laserdisc)
Special Effects
Other Companies
- Cinefx (opticals by)
- International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) (this picture made under the jurisdiction of: affiliated with A.F.L.-C.I.O.)
Storyline
| Plot Summary |
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.
Written by Jim Beaver |
| Plot Keywords | |
| Taglines | All they wanted was their chance to be men...and he gave it to them. See more » |
| Genres | |
| Parents Guide | View content advisory » |
| Certification |
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Additional Details
| Also Known As |
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Box Office
| Budget | $6,000,000 (estimated) |
| Cumulative Worldwide Gross | $41,965,460 |
Did You Know?
| Trivia | Roscoe Lee Browne was urged by his friends not to work with the right-wing John Wayne. He ignored them and the two actors refrained from discussing politics during filming. See more » |
| Goofs | When Andersen sends one of the boys back to find Mr. Nightlinger, he is riding a pale Appaloosa. He rides ahead to talk to another boy, but is now riding a red sorrel. See more » |
| Movie Connections | Featured in The Breaking of Boys and the Making of Men in 'the Cowboys' (1972). See more » |
| Soundtracks | The Star Spangled Banner See more » |
| Quotes |
Jebediah Nightlinger:
[praying to God before he's about to hanged by Long Hair and his gang]
I regret trifling with married women. I'm thoroughly ashamed at cheating at cards. I deplore my occasional departures from the truth. Forgive me for taking your name in vain, my Saturday drunkenness, my Sunday sloth. Above all, forgive me for the men I've killed in anger [eyes shifting to Long Hair] Jebediah Nightlinger: ... and those I am about to. See more » |