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Customer Reviews of The Cowboys

Thinking outside of the Duke's
First of all, An Overture, Entr'Acte, and Exit music. Rare indeed for a movie in the 1970's not to mention indicative of an epic (And in this case, also intimate) story. <
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>From Bruce Derns nuanced performance (Many years before other well written Villians like Die Hard's Alan Rickman) to Wil Anderson and the "Cowboys" watching a fight between the old bull's "Smarts" vs. the younger one's "Strength" as a metaphor for the entire movie, (As well as John Waynes place in movies in 1972 among newish names like Hoffman, Voight (Both of whom Wayne beat out at the Oscars for 1969), and Deniro, to Robert Carradines Slim serenading the cattle with Vivaldi on his guitar, Director Mark Rydell set out to (And succeeded) in not making another "John Wayne movie." <
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> Nowhere do we see Harry Carey Jr. or Hank Worden, or Ben Johnson, or even Edward Faulkner (How did this guy end up in so many of the Duke's films anyway?). <
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>In Red River, Wayne's Tom Dunson couldn't imagine being even just a little bit wrong. By the time of The Cowboys the Duke had aged and seasoned like a fine old Oak tree and could now play the subtle shades of a man that was at times deeply stubborn ("Well Mr. Nightlinger, My Civil war regiment called me Old Ironpants...you might wanna' keep that in mind".) but also, haunted by self doubt regarding his Two sons that had both died in their early Twenties ("They went bad on me...or I went bad on them). It wasn't a cattle drive so much as it was a second chance for Anderson to be a Father. <
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>This picture is, I think underated and deserves a new DVD release comprising 2 disc's, complete with a reunion of the "Cowboys" and also Roscoe Lee Brown, plus a Director/Cast commentary. <
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>I can't get into any of the great lines or quotes from this picture because there are just too many of them. <
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>This movie is for anyone who thinks they don't like any John Wayne pictures. It may not change their minds but it might open them. <
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> Michael Earle

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Not your typical Duke flick. Has you cheering and tearing.
While not great by Hollywood standards (how many Duke flicks actually were?), relative to other Duke flicks and westerns in general, "The Cowboys" is actually a great watch. You won't have the constant action of a "Wild Bunch", nor the drama of a "High Noon." But that hardly seems the poiint of this movie. John Wayne is at his avuncular best while still retaining the bravado we all grew to know and love. Unusual story of Wayne's hiring of school boys to help him on his cattle drive brings a different twist to the ending. But the Duke okays the gutsy plot twist that will forever leave "The Cowboys" as one of the most memorable Wayne flicks of all time. Bruce Dern has one of his more effective roles as Wayne's antagonist. Forget those who say this movie isn't for kids. Most westerns weren't designed necessarily to teach kids morals, nor lessons. This film is no exception. But like any great western, you'll cheer, you'll hate, and you just might choke up. Many like myself, wanted the story to continue but were betrayed by a sappy, ill-conceived TV series that went nowhere. This is a must see for John Wayne fans and those who like a different twist to their westerns. I'd even say this is a movie lots of kids would like, especially given the content in most movies that kids watch today,

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every now and then "the duke" reminded everyone of what a great actor he was
the cowboys stands along side the searchers,rio bravo,stagecoach,red river,and the shootest as proof that wayne was a very gifted actor. when his hands leave for a gold strike,mr.anderson(wayne) must take 11 school boys and turn them into cowboys to help him get his cattle to market. the trip is long, dangerous, and a learning time for all. wayne is very good as the rancher and he really shines whenever he is talking(yelling) at the boys. there is a feel here that he really thinks of the boys as sons and the boys hold there own with wayne which must have been tough to do. as for those who feel that the message of the movie is revenge,maybe they have missed the point,it's about pride ,honor,following through with your word,and most of all it's about learning that being a man of honor isn't easy but it is the only way to live your life. <
> i watch westerns with my young sons and because it does have some violent content(not really bad,but there are two shocking deaths)i'll wait to show them this one,but it is very good and as always wayne is the rock that holds it all together.