I’ve always had a warm spot in my heart for The Cowboys (1972). In my quest to replace my favorite 100 movies (yes, I’m working on that list, Rick!) with Blu-ray versions, I found The Cowboys at BJ’s Warehouse for $7.99. What a deal! John Wayne, abandoned by his regular cowhands, takes a chance and hires 11 greenhorn schoolboys to assist him in a grueling 400 mile cattle drive. The supporting cast of Colleen Dewhurst, Bruce Dern, and Roscoe Lee Browne deliver memorable performances. Special Features include an interview with director Mark Rydell, a cast reunion featurette, and the original trailer. If you haven’t seen The Cowboys you’re missing a wonderful film. GRADE: A-
One of my favorites as well. At the time, it was the firs t Wayne movie I ever saw where he was killed and before the end of the movie.
Bruce Dern was concerned his career might be affected by his role in THE COWBOYS, Randy.
I used to have trouble with John Wayne’s acting style so I missed this. Now I don’t mind it at all. Funny.
THE COWBOYS is well worth a look, Patti. Over the decades, I think John Wayne evolved.
Good one. Not my favorite Wayne but definitely one worth seeing.
Any movie with Slim Pickens is fine with me.
You’re right, Jeff. In the immortal words of Bill Crider, THE COWBOYS is good, but not great .
Yes but Slim Pickins is great.
You and Jeff are right about Slim Pickins, Rick.
It’s a really good Blu-ray and a terrific movie too – I could watch it just for Roscoe Lee Browne and Colleen Dewhurst but in fact Wayne and Dern are superb and Robert Carradine has probably never been better (except maybe as the Sam Fuller surrogate in THE BIG RED ONE). And a great score by John Williams too!
Thanks for reminding me about the John Williams score, Sergio. People who watch THE COWBOYS and Westerns like it miss a lot if they’re not watching in Blu-ray.
Believe it or not, I saw only the first half of this movie, several times, because we studied it in a micro seminar on the western, and never got around to the rest. I thought the first scenes were excellent, especially the aging Wayne and Slim Pickens in a bar scene. And I’m like Patti, not crazy about all Wayne’s performances.
THE COWBOYS is well worth watching all the way through, Ron. I agree with you on the bar scene with Wayne and Pickins. Classic!