Bronco Billy (1980)

An idealistic, modern-day cowboy struggles to keep his Wild West show afloat in the face of hard luck and waning interest.

Director:

Clint Eastwood

Writer:

Dennis Hackin (as Dennis E. Hackin)

Stars:

Clint Eastwood, Sondra Locke, Geoffrey Lewis

2 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Clint Eastwood	...	Bronco Billy
Sondra Locke	...	Antoinette Lily
Geoffrey Lewis	...	John Arlington
Scatman Crothers	...	Doc Lynch
Bill McKinney	...	Lefty LeBow
Sam Bottoms	...	Leonard James
Dan Vadis	...	Chief Big Eagle
Sierra Pecheur	...	Lorraine Running Water
Walter Barnes	...	Sheriff Dix
Woodrow Parfrey	...	Dr. Canterbury
Beverlee McKinsey	...	Irene Lily
Doug McGrath	...	Lt. Wiecker (as Douglas McGrath)
Hank Worden	...	Station Mechanic
William Prince	...	Edgar Lipton
Pam Abbas	...	Mother Superior

Storyline

Bronco Billy McCoy is the proud owner of a small traveling Wild West show. But the business isn't doing too well: for the past six months he hasn't paid his employees. At a gas station he picks up Antoinette, a stuck-up blonde from a rich family, who was left behind without a penny by her husband on their wedding night. Billy likes her looks and hires her as his assistant. She seems to bring them bad luck and the business gets even worse. In these hard times she loses her reluctance and starts to like her new way of life... and Bronco Billy.

---

Plot Keywords:

cowboy | circus | title spoken by character | character name in title | cult favorite | 

---

Taglines:

The most outrageous of 'em all.

---

Genres:

Action | Adventure | Comedy | Drama | Romance | Western

---

Certificate:

PG

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

11 June 1980 (USA)

Also Known As:

Bronco Billy, o Aventureiro

Filming Locations:

Boise, Idaho, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$6,500,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$3,708,710, 15 June 1980

Gross USA:

$24,265,659

Company Credits

Production Co:

Warner Bros., Second Street Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

116 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Both uncredited, the movie featured two of Clint Eastwood's children, Kyle Eastwood and Alison Eastwood.

---

Goofs

When Bronco Billy meets with the sheriff alongside the road you can see a microphone rise up next to Billy's car, parked behind him.Then you see it lowering slowly down next to the car.

---

Quotes

Dr. Canterbury, Head of Sanatorium: Billy, my considered diagnosis is that you have the worst ailment known to man - no money!

---

Connections

Featured in Fejezetek a film történetéböl: Amerikai filmtípusok - A western (1989)

---

Soundtracks

Cowboys and Clowns
Written by Steve Dorff (as S. Dorff), Gary Harju (as G. Harju), Larry Herbstritt (as L. Herbstritt) and Snuff Garrett (as S. Garrett)
Sung by Ronnie Milsap

User Reviews

A minor classic

Here's a picture that works beautifully on several levels, including the philosophical (I kid you not). Approach it as a lighthearted caper, and you will be entertained. If you enjoy whimsy with a trace of fantasy, it will not disappoint you. How about a picture questioning the nature of reality, in which characters challenge and re-shape the identities that life seems to have foisted upon them? There are not many movies with such powerful ambitions, and fewer still that develop them in an oblique, yet perfectly comprehensible, manner. There is nothing the least bit heavy handed about this film; quite the opposite. Enter the special world it creates, and you will be rewarded both emotionally and intellectually.

(See what I mean? Now make sure you haven't missed "Finding Graceland" and "Pennies From Heaven.")