The Cowboys (1972) Movie Poster

The Cowboys (1972)

The Cowboys (1972)

In one of John Wayne's more interesting late Westerns, The Duke plays Will Anderson, a crusty veteran cattleman preparing a 400-mile drive to get a herd of steers to market. Shortly before the trip is scheduled to begin, Will's crew quits when they get word of a nearby gold strike. With little time and few alternatives, Will recruits eleven boys, ages nine through 13, and teaches them the basics of herding cattle and riding the range. Bruce Dern plays a memorably foul villain and cattle rustler named Long Hair, while Roscoe Lee Browne portrays Jebediah, the cattle drive cook, and Colleen Dewhurst is Kate, a madam.
Cast: Slim Pickens, Roscoe Browne, Lonny Chapman, Bruce Dern, Robert Carradine, John Wayne, A Martinez, Colleen Dewhurst, Alfred Barker Jr., Nicolas Beauvy, Steve Benedict, Norman Howell Jr., Stephen Hudis, Sean Kelly, Clay O'Brien, Sam O'Brien
Director: Mark Rydell
Writer(s): Irving Ravetch, Harriet Frank Jr., William Jennings