The Cowboy Way (1994)

As they visit New York City, a pair of cowboys have to become unlikely heroes when their friend is kidnapped.

Director:

Gregg Champion

Writers:

Robert C. Thompson (story) (as Rob Thompson), William D. Wittliff (story) (as Bill Wittliff)

Stars:

Woody Harrelson, Kiefer Sutherland, Dylan McDermott

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Woody Harrelson	...	Pepper Lewis
Kiefer Sutherland	...	Sonny Gilstrap
Dylan McDermott	...	John Stark
Ernie Hudson	...	Officer Sam 'Mad Dog' Shaw
Cara Buono	...	Teresa Salazar
Marg Helgenberger	...	Margarette
Tomas Milian	...	Manny Huerta
Luis Guzmán	...	Chango
Angel Caban	...	Boca
Matthew Cowles	...	Pop Fly
Joaquín Martínez	...	Nacho Salazar
Kristin Baer	...	Melba
Christian Aubert	...	Jacques
Emmanuel Xuereb	...	Gaston
Francie Swift	...	Desk Clerk at Waldorf Astoria

Storyline

Buddies Pepper Lewis (Woody Harrelson) and Sonny Gilstrap (Kiefer Sutherland) who are championship rodeo partners travel to New York to find their missing friend, Nacho Salazar Joaquín Martínez after he disappears in New York City to pick up his daughter, Theresa (Cara Buono). When Pepper and Sonny find that neither is anywhere to be found, they go about the wacky adventure of finding Nacho and Theresa, and in the process, test the foundation of their friendship. Along the way, they find themselves entwined in the inner workings of a New York sweat shop where Theresa has been enslaved after traveling to the U.S.A. from Cuba. Going about doing things in a cowboy way, Pepper and Sonny put their small town skills to the test in a big city kind of way and rescue Theresa from the thugs.

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Plot Keywords:

cowboy | buddy comedy | reference to new mexico | reference to arizona | arizona territory | 

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Taglines:

How the East was won.

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Genres:

Action | Comedy | Crime | Drama | Thriller | Western

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for violence, some language and comic sensuality

Did You Know?

Trivia

At one point Pepper (Woody Harrelson) tells Officer Sam "Mad Dog" Shaw (Ernie Hudson) that there are no real cowboys from Texas. However, later when asked about Bill Pickett, Woody didn't know who he was and replied ,"Oh, William!". Willie M. "Bill" Pickett is from Texas and was called the "Greatest Cowboy" of his day.

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Goofs

When the conductor stops the subway, John Stark and his hostage Teresa are thrown forward towards the camera from the abrupt halt. But the front of the train is to their left, not in front of them.

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Quotes

Boy on Train: Look, Mom!... Cowboys!

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Connections

Referenced in Community: Advanced Criminal Law (2009)

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Soundtracks

Good Guys Don't Always Wear White
Written by Jon Bon Jovi and Richie Sambora
Performed by Bon Jovi
Produced by Andy Johns
Courtesy of Mercury Records

User Reviews

An underrated combo platter of goofy comedy and crime drama

I saw this movie running on cable recently, without commercials, or censorship, which is the only way to watch it. I highly recommended it for Woody Harrelson freaks and Kiefer Sutherland freaks and maybe even Luis Guzman freaks,and, certainly Dylan McDermot freaks will like seeing him as an excellent bad guy. Snappy dialogue and situations, a common plot with the story of two modern cowboys dropped into The Rotten Apple on a mission of search and rescue, this movie is best viewed on widescreen TV. It doesn't break down too much near the end, which is usual for fictions of this type. The writers did a fine job blending the clash of cultures and the director manages to keep control of the project. It will probably be the centerpiece of this director's career, since he's moved into directing "made for TV" movies.

All the incidental characters are well chosen and make the most of their roles. Check it out, really, my wife usually dislikes this kind of movie and she liked it a lot! Remember, however, this is completely fictional, any resemblance to real life style dramas should not be expected.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

3 June 1994 (USA)

Also Known As:

Deux cow-boys à New York

Filming Locations:

Bensonhurst, Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$35,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$5,048,640, 5 June 1994

Gross USA:

$20,280,016

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$20,280,016

Company Credits

Production Co:

Imagine Entertainment, Universal Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

102 min

Sound Mix:

DTS Dolby

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1