The Great American Cowboy (1974)

A documentary about the rivalry between veteran Larry Mahan and newcomer Phil Lyne, as the two vie for the National Finals Rodeo Championship title.

Director:

Kieth Merrill

Writer:

Douglas Kent Hall

Stars:

Larry Mahan, Phil Lyne, Joel McCrea

Won 1 Oscar. Another 1 win.

Cast

Cast overview:
Larry Mahan	...	Self
Phil Lyne	...	Self
Joel McCrea	...	Narrator (voice)

Storyline

Filmmaker Kieth Merrill chronicles the hardened lives of professional American rodeo riders and workers as they travel across the country and participate in grueling events. The film draws comparisons between these 20th-century athletes and the true cowboys of the old American West, while focusing on two riders who are battling for the world championship: Larry Mahan, a seasoned veteran of the rodeo circuit, and Phil Lyne, a promising young rookie.

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Plot Keywords:

rodeo | rodeo cowboy | rodeo arena | slow motion scene | split screen | 

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Taglines:

The exciting true story of a vanishing American and his special kind of freedom.

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Genres:

Documentary | Sport

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Certificate:

G

User Reviews

One of the best documentaries ever made about the sport of rodeo.

Great concept for a documentary by covering the race for the world championship all around title between two of rodeo's greatest cowboys.

The highlight of the movie is the outstanding rodeo action which was filmed across the country. For a person wanting the inside story of rodeo, The Great American Cowboy is a great place to start

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

August 1974 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

American National Enterprises, Merrill-Rodeo Film Productions, Rainbow Adventure Film

Technical Specs

Runtime:

89 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1