Cowboys, The (BD)

Classic, family friendly, great for young boys ( girls too). It's a family's favorite 😍.

good movie

One of John's last best movies!

In the wonderful short documentary with director Mark Rydell and Bruce Dern (and three of the original young cowboys, now middle-aged), Dern says he was proud to be part of "the last great Western." With due respect given to "Unforgiven" and "Lonesome Dove," he's not far off. From 1972, this was one of John Wayne's final, fine films - and surely one of his best. As Wil Anderson, he has no choice but to recruit a group of actual "cowBOYS" to lead a cattle drive of 1,500 steer across 400 miles of rough country. Robert Surtees was the cinematographer and one of the greatest in his field - every shot in this picture is a work of art. The music by John Williams is one of his finest scores - indeed it is regularly performed at high schools and colleges across the country, including the Boston Pops. It is uplifting, bittersweet, and rousing all at once. The supporting performances, particularly memorable and timeless ones by Bruce Dern, Roscoe Lee Brown, and Colleen Dewhurst (who praised Wayne in her autobiography as a great actor), and the young cowboys themselves, all so emotionally engaged in their roles that none of it feels like acting, add to the grit and texture of the tale. And then there is John Wayne: timeless, heroic, and, as in the best of his performances, filled with good humor, and a vulnerablity and sensitivity that ignorant critics seem to always miss. He seemed to make it a habit of appearing in several of the greatest films ever made - and this is close to being one of them. Yes, the movie is violent. Yes, the boys forced into becoming killers makes it a strong story. But that is life too. We all wish for an "easy ride" through life - but it never happens. The film's message, beautifully foreshadowed at the beginning of the film with the schoolhouse scenes, which show a well meaning school marm trying to teach the boys genteel and sensitive things, is that life is, as Wil Anderson states in the film, "hard," and these boys, as much as we'd like to see them sheltered, have to learn that sooner rather than later. It's interesting the criticism the film has garnered - which tells you that critics knew it would have staying power because of its many virtues - because SO many of today's films ARE needlessly violent, with no theme, meaning, or story often apparent - and yet these films are regularly extolled for being "real" and somehow justified in their awfulness just because they show scenes of violence or perversion. "The Cowboys" is actually a REAL movie - splendidly filmed, written, scored, and acted - with amazing performances that pit the older star Wayne against the "Method Actors" of his time and he not only holds his own, he towers over them, without ever seeming to. It's a film that has improved with age. It speaks to our own confused era. I was the same age as the "cowboys" in the film when I first saw it. Now, many years later, expecting to find it wanting from my memories, it has only grown in stature - it was made with exquisite craftsmanship and it's there in every frame. Rydell's and the other's memories of John Wayne in the extra featurette, which is a wonderful addition to this DVD - which includes an actual set of 10 black and white postcards, suitable for framing (what a deal!) - may bring you to tears. Wayne almost begged Rydell for the lead part saying, "I'll do a great job for you, if you give me a chance." This is John Wayne speaking here - forthright, sensitive, not full of himself, and one of the greatest actors the film world has ever seen. There is no one even close today - no one. Grab this film and see how it's really done. One last note: this movie also has one other special feature that today's no longer have and which is also missed: an "Overture" of the music's marvelous music before the film begins, which used to let you anticipate the great event you were about to see; then an "Intermission," with more music, and "Exit Music" at the end. Just marvelous. "The Cowboys," along with "True Grit" and "The Shootist," are the three masterpieces of John Wayne's later period. All are worth owning and celebrating.

1 of my John Wayne movies that is worth watching more than once.

Great scenery, character development and plot. I was wowed when I was a boy and continue to enjoy this film as an adult. The film was made at a time when Hollywood still understood how to entertain. John Wayne plays a big brute with a heart. Bruce Dern played his role as a heartless rustler so well that I still can't look at him without resenting his very being. In my mind I was one of those boys, faced with the adventure of a lifetime, imaging how I will deal with both the triumph and tragedy they faced. My life long passion to take the road less traveled and to explore the scenic beauty of the American West was significantly inspired by the cinematography in this film. Hollywoods current obsession with promoting political ideology and divisive theme's will be its downfall. Inspiring films like The Cowboys are what we need more of.

This is not the finest John Wayne movie, but is certainly one of his best...he turned in a lot of his best work during the last years of his life. When I first read the liner notes for this film, I thought it would be on the hokey side...an aging frontier rancher loses his experienced cowhands right before the annual cattle drive; and not being able to find anyone else, hires a crew of kids for the drive...literally, "cow-boys". But don't reject this film, thinking it is lightweight...it is not by a long shot. With excellent production values; a fine directorial effort by Mark Rydell ("On Golden Pond"); breathtaking cinematography; and exceptionally fine performances by the entire cast, this is easily a four-star Western and doesn't miss five stars by much, on a scale of 1-5. Wayne turns in one of his most polished acting performances; Roscoe Lee Brown turns in the best performance of his career (my opinion) and the young men and boys who play the cowboys are perfectly cast...watch for an 18 year old Robert Carradine in his first film appearance. Bruce Dern has been typecast as a villain throughout his career and he plays the villain, Long Hair, to exquisite perfection in this film. In a reported repartee between Wayne and Dern, Wayne said, "The American people are going to hate you after this film."; to which Dern replied, "Yeah, but they'll love me in Berkley." If you love Westerns, especially John Wayne Westerns, you will love this offbeat classic of the genre. Highly recommended

Great price for a colorized classic!