Directed by Mark Rydell
Based on the Novel by William Dale Jennings
The Cowboys starred an aging John Wayne who recruits a group of young boys to move his cattle so he can pay his debts. Wayne gave one of his best performances, taking on a mentor role as Wil Anderson.
The movie is perhaps most known for as the one when Bruce Dern shoots John Wayne. Dern leads a wannabe gang of outlaws who are angry after Wil refuses to hire them. Apparently, shooting Wayne in the movie stigmatized Dern with audiences for a time.
The supporting cast is rounded out by Roscoe Lee Brown as Jedediah Nightlinger who Wil hires to be the cook. Black characters were mostly absent from Westerns, and Brown brings a gravitas and humanity to the film. While few of the boys quite stand out in the ensemble, A Martinez and Robert Carradine went on to have long careers, the entire cast of kids are believable.
The film was also noted for its violence, specifically involving children in the violence and linking it with masculinity. While the violence was foisted upon them, the film's ethos that retribution is sometimes justified cannot be explained away. Wil also dishes out some tough love at a boy who stutters, a scene that would not fly today.
The Cowboys tells its story with confidence. Cinematographer Robert L. Surtees captured the wide landscapes of Colorado and New Mexico. Mark Rydell's direction emphasized character, never flashy or static. John Williams composed the excellent score; the cues will be instantly call to mind his work with Steven Spielberg. Finally, John Wayne plays the reluctant father figure well while carrying a tragic backstory.
(Currently streaming on Tubi)
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