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The Cowboys

The Cowboys

Western · Adventure · Drama · 1972

When his cattlemen abandon him for the gold fields, rancher Wil Andersen is forced to take on a collection of young boys as his cowboys in order to get his herd to market in time to avoid financial disaster. The boys learn to do a man's job under Andersen's tutelage, however, neither he nor the boys know that a gang of cattle thieves is stalking them.

Movie details

The Cowboys

“All they wanted was their chance to be men... and he gave it to them.”

1972 Western · Adventure · Drama 2h 14m

Critical arithmetic

One number, for now.

TMDB

7.1 / 10

Community rating

When his cattlemen abandon him for the gold fields, rancher Wil Andersen is forced to take on a collection of young boys as his cowboys in order to get his herd to market in time to avoid financial disaster. The boys learn to do a man's job under Andersen's tutelage, however, neither he nor the boys know that a gang of cattle thieves is stalking them.

CriticWise case file

What this film says about your taste.

Not a recommendation score. A measure of how closely the film’s taste signals resemble yours.

The archetype split

Who fights over The Cowboys?

The split comes from the same five-axis model used by the test, not audience ratings or review sentiment.

Taste neighbourhood

Nearby on the taste map.

TMDB supplies the candidates. CriticWise reorders them by craft, strangeness, prestige, emotion, and pace.

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Names above the title

The people responsible.

Directed by

Mark Rydell

Written by

Irving Ravetch · William Dale Jennings · Harriet Frank Jr.

John Wayne

John Wayne

Wil Andersen

Roscoe Lee Browne

Roscoe Lee Browne

Jebediah Nightlinger

Bruce Dern

Bruce Dern

Long Hair

Colleen Dewhurst

Colleen Dewhurst

Kate

Alfred Barker Jr.

Alfred Barker Jr.

Cowboy Fats

Nicolas Beauvy

Nicolas Beauvy

Cowboy Dan

Steve Benedict

Steve Benedict

Cowboy Steve

Court is in session

Put The Cowboys on trial.

Two incompatible taste archetypes. One film. Read the arguments, then issue a completely binding cultural ruling.

The defence The Sentimental Softie

“Momentum is a formal choice.”

The velocity sharpens instinct and tension, making every beat land before self-importance can settle in.

The prosecution The Cool Ironist

“Speed as an alibi.”

The film races past its weak spots and hopes acceleration will keep the audience from inspecting the evidence.